Weather and course conditions couldn’t have been much better – a big THANK YOU to Mike Lor who took the time to roll the greens after working a full day at his job at that other course in Margaretville. I wasn’t slacking off… honestly… I arrived at MGC at 6AM and all shady greens were FROSTY and stayed that way until I was compelled to leave at 7:30 AM … I ended up placing flagsticks at 50 yard intervals on the driving range – I’ll set the yardage signs next. But enough about me and my frosty issues…
Team 1 member John Zummo played with longtime leaguer and for 2022 substitute Mike Rockwell when his partner Ivan Luxama was stuck downstate. They faced Team 2 Justin Callahan / Zach Golden. John/Mike started strong with a 7-1 pop on the first hole but immediately yielded their advantage losing the 2nd hole 8-0. Over the next 5 holes Justin/Zach outscored John/Mike 28-12 but John/Mike tightened the match on #8 Little River with an 8-0 shutout. The die was cast, however, and Justin/Zach ultimately took the match 59-41
Team 3 James Litaker / Ken Steinbuch also tapped the substitute pool with James engaging fellow Andean and former leaguer Tim Maxim. Tim/Ken faced off against team 13: veteran leaguers Brian Wheaton and Harry Saslow. After 5 holes Tim/Ken were cruising – up 29-11… but Brian/Harry came back strong over the final 4 winning that stretch 22-10 … Overall final score Tim/Ken 61, Brian/Harry 39
Team 4 – Tony Tanner / Lou Capello played team 12 – Gary / DanO’ … after dropping the par 4 first hole 8-0, Tony/Lou put there best foot forward and after 4 holes were up in the match 18-14. They dropped the last 5 holes in a row and the final score reflects this… Gary/DanO’ 77, Lou/Tony 23
Team 6 – Ron Kutkiewicz / Kenny Joseph drew team 10 Mitch / Larry Hull… Starting on the 4th tee they immediately dropped holes 4 & 5 8-0 and couldn’t recover… they exchanged 7-1 scores on holes 6 and 7; dropped hole 8 8-0 but finished strong on holes 9,1,2,3 outscoring the Hulls 18-14. Final score 72-28…
Team 7 – Jamie Wilson / Christopher Stevens faced off against Skip Purcell / Bill Drew. The 5 holes they won all went 8-0 with Skip / Bill only winning 1 hole, #8, 6-2. Final score 82-18.
Team 8 – Dustin / Casey played Mike Lor / Jonathan. Down 24-16 after 5 holes, Dustin / Casey drew even with an 8-0 6th hole. Mike / Jonathan pulled ahead with a 7-1 8th hole but squandered the win losing the 9th hole 7-1. The margin of victory proved to be the net totals as Dustin and Casey won by 1 net stroke each and took the match by winning the medal (stroke) points 14-2. Final score 56-44
Lenny / Derek played Russ / Sub Kenny Perry (actually Joseph) on Friday when partner Sam Joseph was given an ultimatum “golf or job”… He’s young and chose job. Russ/Kenny jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead after 3 holes but when Russ’ “Juju Swing” got lost and Kenny briefly lost his putting touch Lenny/Derek took holes 4,5,6 with a 23-1 margin and the match was all but lost. The last three holes restored a bit of respectability to Russ/Kenny’s effort (14-10) but when the card was posted the final score was 63-37 for Lenny/Derek.
Skins! 15 played: $75 in the pot $45 for skins, $30 for near pin… He who once campaigned for the Nick Malaxos Sandbagger of the Year came out on top in so many ways on Wednesday… Justin Callahan, low gross (35)… low net (29) … closest to the pin on #6 (15’9″), skin for his birdie on #6, skin for his par on #2… payoff? $60! The other skin? Mike Lor birdied #1 … $15… Others came close… Mike Lor’s par 3 on #3 cancelled out Tony Tanner’s par. Any par on #4 would have claimed a skin. Justin’s par 3 on #5 pushed Dan O’ out of the money. Jamie parred #7 but Harry Saslow did too… no skin. Finally… but for a short birdie putt on #9 that would have been his first on #9 (second toughest hole at MGC) Kenny Joseph just lipped out of a skin.
Rules! Came to my attention that there was an “unplayable lie in a bunker” yesterday. (keep in mind that the whole idea of the pot bunker on #5 is that you just might have to hit the ball sideways away from the green to get out) In any case I looked up the rule (googled “unplayable lie in a sandtrap”) and found this from the USGA
Match 2 features 1st place Jamie/Chris vs 3rd place Mitch/Larry Hull … 2nd place Gary/DanO’ face off against 4th place Lenny/Derek… Hope this summer weather holds up for another week!
