This link includes an accumulation of the published news stories of each event. For those seeking updated team standings, event box scores, and individual statistics please press the “STATS & STD.” button.

 

April 5, 2008: 2007 Big Blue Classic @  Seaview

 

The Big D Leads the Money Shot’s Bookends Attack…

 

STAFF WRITER CL

 

(Galloway Township, NJ) – If only one lesson is to be learned from this year’s 12th Annual Big Blue Classic at the Seaview Resort & Spa, it should be noted for the record that weather forecasts are very crude estimates, at best. I believe that we have a conspiracy brewing somewhere here. Could it be that the folks who predict the weather are seriously invested in retail shopping malls, and casinos, and their aim is to keep people from making outdoors plans that would keep them away from their businesses? Their track record is not good, and once again, over and over, they blow the call. Long 5-day plus forecasts are truly horseshit, and I believe their sole purpose is to prevent your fat lazy ass from channel surfing with your remote, so that you will watch their sponsor’s promote the latest pill that will cure your heartburn, although it’s side affects, may destroy your liver, and cause your penis to fall off. The forecast for Saturday, April 5, was very gloomy and bleak, however, it turned out to be a warm, sunny beautiful day. It was a great day to be outdoors, and I recall feeling good and wondering if Old Man Winter was calling it quits, as I rode by their tennis courts and noticed many players swatting tennis balls, and wearing shorts. Warm weather is good thing.

 

In life you win some, and you lose some. On the weather angle we won. On playing conditions we lost. GM, our Top Scout, played the course on Wednesday, and was the first bearer of bad news. We posted the difficulties on the tee time link, and called their general manager with concerns, and GM recalled afterwards that Saturday’s conditions certainly exceeded Wednesday’s. The course had been aerated three weeks back, and had not healed. I was told they were in the process of making lots of repairs, and were trying to get the course in good shape for the weekend. The comments on the scorecards were so negative, that a return trip in early spring of 2009 is very doubtful. The following is a small sample of the most passionate critiques: “The Greens Keeper should be drawn and quartered. There is more bare ground here than a batter’s box.” “I want my money back for this sh*t.” “Cancel it. Course not fit to host this event.” “Rubbish!”  The Caveman, Johnny Garland, suggested, “Yank it, and re-schedule inland to avoid the strong winds coming off the Bay.” That suggestion seems pretty sound, and has made it to the 2009 Improvement List.

 

In the early afternoon, when I first became aware that Mark Donoghue, a.k.a. “The Big D” posted a 38-39-77, I figured that output might take home the Low Gross Title considering the numerous comments about bumpy greens, and scorched earth rough. A 77 in mid-season under quality conditions, has very slim prospects for even a Top 3 Low Gross Finish, but these were different circumstances. In addition, the big low gross guns of the Mission, seemed to have peaked out in 2006, and this factor, also, played into thinking that the Big D may capture the Big Blue. He would tee off early on this morning in Group No. 5, at 9:10am, and as he left homeward bound with more than half the field still on the course, he was eyeing the hardware he had a bone for, the Bronze Golfer.

 

Mr. Donoghue who just turned 30 last June, was recruited into the league by one of his Wall Street buds, Daniel Penza, of The Money Shot in 2006, and this marks his third season on the GMA Tour. Like many green horns coming into the league he struggled in his first two seasons, and was often pressing the Handicap Chairman with his case for additional strokes. In 2006, he was a resident of Rhode Island attending Grad School in New York I believe for an MBA, and he managed to play in 11 Tours and posted a Gross Average of 88.1, without any Top 3 Finishes. In 2007, he would play in 15 Regular Season Tours, and would bring that Adjusted Gross Average down to 82.2, which ranked him No.19th in the league. He got game somewhere near the end of last season, and exploded onto the scene, and was the driving force of The Money Shot, catapulting them into their first Post Season appearance. He was red hot in the Post Season, and tournament tough. At the Bethlehem Semi Finals last year, I saw a guy who embraced and excelled under pressure somewhat akin to the great Dom Cerreto. Quite frankly Mr. Donoghue’s beginnings are very reminiscent of the Glenn Morello story, and his rise to power in the league. Mr. Morello struggled through nearly two season’s before he shined. The “Big D” would crack his first Low Gross Title in last year’s final Regular Season Tour on October 6 at The 16th Annual Bay Park Financial Italian Open at Whitetail. It was a day when The Money Shot needed his services, and he delivered taking no prisoners, and posting a 37-36-73. Finally, in his 26th Regular Season Tour he he secures his first Low Gross Blood.

 

Hot from last season’s strong finish, Mr. Donough could not attend this year’s season opener at Sea Oaks. Suiting up for his first time this year at Seaview Pines, Mr. Donoghue picked up where he left off last year, and pounded both the net and gross fields with respective three, and two stroke victories. His net 34-36-70 over Joe Jarosiewicz was by a landslide three blows, which is very impressive, and doesn’t happen that often in net unflighted play. His gross 38-39-77 bested the perennial Bridesmaid and Runner Up Michael Gordon by two blows. In his last two consecutive Regular Season Tours he has come home with the purest, and most coveted awards, The Low Gross Title. Although I may be stepping ahead of myself, I truly believe that this young 30-year old buck, is hungry, and could easily be the new torch holder for the Low Gross contingency. The latest version of the Bermuda Triangle is not getting any younger, and their victories don’t taste as sweet as they once did as complacency takes it’s natural course and sets in. I believe the Mission may have a new Sheriff in Town, and he goes by the alias of “Big D.”

 

 

March 29, 2008: 2007 Polar Bear Open  @ Sea Oaks

 

THE MAILBOX LEADS LAKESIDE RB’s TO BOOKENDS VICTORY…

THE OLD MAN GRABS NUMBER 38…

 

STAFF WRITER CL

 

(LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ) – Flashback to March 23rd 1991, the Inaugural Polar Bear Open at Cream Ridge Golf Club. That was a rainy miserable, punishing day, back in time when Gortex wasn’t in vogue. In the good old days, you wore heavy corduroys and long johns on days like these. It was freaking cold, it was windy as hell, and we had the Registration Area set up outdoors under a large canopy. Papers were flying everywhere, and drenched rats were dropping out at the turn like flies. We pulled the plug, and converted it to a 9-hole tournament. That’s how the Polar Bear Open started, many moons ago. This year’s 18th Annual Polar Bear Open presented low temps at the beginning, but about two hours into the starting times, the sun would break into play and shine, and it turned out to be a rather fair day as Polar Bear Opens go. Carmine “The Calzone” Mandato, a member of the Newark Bears, and our Calcutta Wizard, would get the 23rd Season off to a start at 9:15am, with his opening drive.

 

Yes, the bombshell acquisition of the Year 2008 was now official. The league’s best team ever, The Evil Empire, a.k.a., NUNI, hears heart breaking news before the start of the year when their former Captain, Steve Palazzolo, who led them to three World Championships, and three Pennant Championships between 2001 and 2007, cancelled his membership. Mr. Palazzolo, the feisty Captain, and a four time World Champion, and the architect and spiritual leader of the NUNI dynasty will certainly be headed to the GMA Hall of Fame, and we will certainly miss him. The loss of Mr. Palazzolo from the NUNI roster left one veteran spot opening, and NUNI’s Captain Santo made history by recruiting the leagues most decorated gross player, and 37-time Low Gross Champion, Glenn Morello, a.k.a. “GM”. NUNI’s gain was Hogan’s Heroes loss. GM, had left the Heroes nest for finer pastures, and was lured into the darkness of the Evil Empire. Glenn Joseph Morello has done it all…Gross Titles, Net Titles, Gorilla Awards, etcetera, … but no World Championship Title. A few years back, the NUNI contingent taunted Mr. Morello, and coined him the name, “Ernest Banks” of the GMA. Ernie Banks was the 1970’s stand out of the Chicago Cubs who never played in the World Series. Yes, NUNI would ride Mr. Morello quoting that his resume was rather incomplete, and all that bantering may have paid off.

 

On Opening Day, Glenn Morello, a.k.a. “GM” was suiting up for the first time in the pin stripes of the Evil Empire, and was eager to impress his new mates. GM was coming off probably his worst season on the GMA Tour in 2007, where he managed only one Low Gross Title at Center Valley in eight GMA Tour appearances, and posted an Adjusted Gross Average of 80.0. It was a far cry from a time when he blossomed to greatness in 2001, a year in which he captured nine Low Gross Titles, posted an Adjusted Gross Average of 74.1 and thoroughly dominated gross play in the league. In 2007, attending to his youngster during the little league years would start to show signs of rust on the old man’s game. Yes, GM was looking closer at the competition these days, and was concerned about a new young buck in the league, Michael Pszczola. GM quoted that Mr. Pszczola, a 23 year old, Staten Island Player of the Year, with a plus cap, “Could out drive me by 40 to 50 yards from the tee!”

 

In the Polar Bear Open at Sea Oaks the old man, would impress his NUNI mates with his 38th Low Gross Title, and a match win, paired with his old mate, Ron Rand of the Hogan’s Heroes. Sea Oaks played tough in this years opener, as some pin placement were downright vicious, the greens were bumpy, and GM’s 39-41-80 was enough to claim the Low Gross Title over a field of 96 contestants. GM was followed in close pursuit by Runner Up, Mike Pszczola, 41-40-81, of the AGB’s and our 2007 Player of the Year, Nick Vasta, of The Slicers, who finished in the Show Position at 40-41-81. It was Mr. Vasta’s first recorded Top 3 Low Gross Finish.

 

For the first time that I can recall, first year green horn rookies secured the Team Championship and the Individual Low Net Title at this year’s Polar Bear. The Lakeville Road Boys fielded a two-man squad consisting of Larry “Mailbox” Arena, and Paulie “Shoes” Pomponio, both residents of Staten Island. Larry is a 37-year Chef who works a Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhatten, he is married, and his pride and joy is his 22-month old daughter Cassandra. He, also, can hit the ball a ton as witnessed by playing opponent Nick Vasta, and we anticipate him winning some Gorilla Titles in the near future. Larry’s Lakeville playing partner, Paul “Shoes” Pomponio is a shoe contractor in New York City, and the Lakeville Road Boys are a four-man team filled out by Sally Arena and LDR.

 

The long hitting Mailbox, and “Up and Down Shoes” put together a 32-31-63 with each man carrying a side.  They put together 3 birdies for net eagles, and two of them parlayed for cash in the birdie pool. Shoes birdies No. 2 to get things started, and Mailbox makes a 3 on 18 to seal the deal, a five footer that was either in, or 5-feet past the hole.  They almost threw it away by going double-triple, on 16 & 17, but the birdie on 18 picked up the lost ground and got them back in it.

 

The LRB's opened up their match against Slicer's Huck Finn and Hallway Vasta by going 7-up after 4 holes, and hung on to win it on 16. Although they got beaten like a child, Mr. Finn and Mr. Vasta took good care of these Rooks and broke them in with a lot of information and advice. The rookies were heavily recruited at the bar following the announcement of their win, by Christopher Leon Garibian, of the Hogan’s Heroes. Rumors abound that the Lakeville Road Boys are inclined to a team merger if they want to have a shot at the Post Season Show, since they don’t anticipate much support from Sal Arena and LDR.

 

The Mailbox captures bookends the Team Championship and the Low Net Title, 38-32-70, and Shoes finishes No. 5 in the Individual Net Finish Standings to capture three Polar Bears for the journey back to Staten Island. The LRB's open the season strong with 7 points and are atop the GMA Standings.  Paul “Shoes” Pomonio summarized it best,  "We had a great time and enjoyed the camaraderie of the club.  A real good bunch of guys from all walks of life, together for the common goal of competition, all made better by a few beers, stories, and laughs - It was a blast!"

     

 

October 27 & 28, 2007: 2007 World Series  @ Sea Oaks

BENNY O’s INTERNATIONALS STOP THE EVIL EMPIRE

BY STAFF WRITER Jack Callahan

In Homer's great poem "The Odyssey," Odysseus had a tough time finding his way home to his palace in Ithaca after the Trojan War, what with all those monsters, dangerous whirlpools, Sirens and Lotus Eaters threatening to derail his journey. But Odysseus at least had the comfort of knowing that he had left a wise and trusted fellow named Mentor to be the guardian and teacher of his son, Telemachus, during his absence. Telemachus would grow to be wise and strong as a warrior, under the guidance of Mentor. That’s how the term “mentor” came to be in our lexicon…someone who guides, teaches and takes a genuine interest in your achievements.

But these days, “mentors” seem few and far between. And it seems the last thing a golfer wants is a mentor, offering advice on his game. There are probably far too many would-be mentors and not enough golfers, to tell the truth. But for two days of the GMA Finals at beautiful Sea Oaks Golf Club in Little Egg Harbor, NJ, one day marked by cool and wet drizzle, and the other by sun and warmth, the one thing that would seem to make all the difference on the team that would become the Champions…. would be their wise and calming Mentor…the one with the beard, the rimless glasses and the easy manner. One who everyone in league seemed to enjoy, despite his lack of command of the English language…it just made him more mysterious…and more compelling. He was the one who always calmed and encouraged, and, in the end, that may have made all the difference in bringing about the upset…that by Sunday afternoon, most everyone…save the defending champions…were hoping for.

DAY ONE: Saturday—The Doubles Team Matches

No. 1 NUNI vs. No. 15 Money Shot

The Money shot came into the World Series as about the hottest team in the league. The accumulated more than half their points in the final 10 events to slip into the Top 16 at the 15th spot, barley into the playoffs. A band of streaky, “in-your-face”, often self-indulgent types, the Money Shot entered the playoffs with a swagger and momentum. They blew through the wild card weekend with impressive match wins both days to earn their spot as the only team outside the Top 8 to make the final 8 team show. Their reward for rising from the ashes of the bottom of the standings: playing against perennial power and Black Force, NUNI, in their Finals matches.

If the Money Shot’s impressive wins in the Wild Card scared gave NUNI any anxious moments, it didn’t show on Saturday. While both MS teams struggled, NUNI came out blazing the Sea Oaks right where they left off in the previous year at Harbor Pines. The NUNI teams of Pete Murray/ Brian Ziemba (net 64) and Steve Santo/Mike Barbarise (net 66) coasted to easy 4&3 victories over the MS teams of Jim Heyl/ Will Grecco (net 74) and Dan Penza/Mark Donoghue (net 70), respectively. The combined team scores of 130 would give NUNI a six stroke lead over the 2nd place team and 11 strokes over the 3rd place team by days end.

No. 2 Baron’s Boys vs. No. 8 AGB’s

Baron’s Boys would also come away with two match wins as John Garland, who shot low gross for the day at 77, would team up with Dan Mulville to nip AGB’s Sgt. Major Ed Neas and Walter Bearse in a tight match. The BB team shot team 70 and the AGB’s team 71. In the other match, the BB husband/wife team of Gordon and Joanne Pirie redefined the meaning of “ham and egg” performance in a team match. While they shot 95 and 96 respectively, the shot a team score of 70!! Figure that one out. With a 10 two 9’s and two 8’s on their card, they won their match on 17…despite some husband/wife matrimonial moments on the tenth hole in which there was some debate over who wore the jock strap in the family. Baron’s combined team scores of 71-70=141 and two victories, BB was poised well, despite being a troubling 11 strokes behind NUNI. For the AGB’s, it would mean 3 or 4 victories in matches on Sunday to get into the winners bracket.

No. 3 Slicers vs. No. 7 Mission Impossible

The only teams that split their two matches on Saturday, The Slicers and MI engaged in the dogfight this set of matches was built up to be. The Slicer team of Capt. Con Finn and Kevin Kelly went all the way to the 18th hole to beat the MI team of Pete Barba and Steve Thompson. Down 5 points after just 3 holes and still down four after twelve holes, Conn and Kevin stayed close until the took the lead for the first time on the tough 18th hole as Kelly had a great net birdie to win the match. The Slicers scored a team net 73 and MI a team 75.

In the other match, Player of the Year candidate, Top Points Man, Low Net Champion of the regular season, and runner up in Kills for the regular season, “Hallway” Nicky Vasta teamed up with John Melucci against Bobby Martino and Bill Bailey. But the players struggled with the cold and wet and only Bill would break net 80. Bill and Bobby closed out the match on the 15th hole, turning in a team score of 70, for an MI team score for the day of 70-75=145, while Nick and John scored 75, giving the Slicers a 75-73=148, which would be good for last place on the day. A huge hole to climb out of, even with the matches even at 1-1 going into Sunday.

No. 4 the Internationals vs. No. 6 Iron Workers

In what was probably the most evenly matched teams of the Playoffs, the Internationals seemed to start the weekend at a disadvantage. Chris Lane, the No. 6 low gross player in the league, was unable to play in the Series due to a Dungeon’s and Dragons tournament…and he was scheduled to be the Pivot Man, or whatever it’s called. What a set of priorities on him! That meant that Dennis Urabe would be pressed into double duty for the weekend…he was scheduled for a root canal and vasectomy, it was rumored but he agreed to put them both off to play at beautiful Sea Oaks. In addition, Intl Captain Ben Ohtsu left most of his short-game clubs at home in his garage (what the hell were they doing out of his bag…..?  This is a weird team?). Ben patched together a combination of loaner clubs from Sea Oaks and a wedge he bought…and went straight to the tee box with this “strangers” in his bag. How did these circumstances hurt the team? We all know how it comes out!!

Dennis teamed up with John Ruvolo, taking on Ken Luthy and John Geddes of the Iron Workers in the first match.  It looked bad for IW early as they fell well behind on the front as Dennis shot a strong net 34. But Dennis faltered on the back nine just as Ben kicked in with his unfamiliar clubs. Luthy had a strong round and brought things to a tie on 17. But Dennis stepped up again on that difficult, narrow, uphill par 4 18th hole, with the treacherous slope and shelf on the green. Dennis got one of the few pars of the day on that hole and closed out the match win.

In the other match, the Fulchers' were no contest for “Oki” Hagiwara and Ben Ohtsu. The match was out of reach at the turn as Ben and Oki ran up a 9 pt. lead. The match closed out on 13…the earliest any match would end…and Ben/Oki scored a scintillating team 67, third place low for the day.

The Int’ls won both matches and had team score of 67-69=136, which would be good for second place at the end of day one. IW wound up at 72-70=142 and two losses. Big hole for Sunday.

Standings at the end of Day One:

1

NUNI

2-0

130

 

2

Internationals

2-0

136

-6

3

Barons Boys

2-0

141

-11

4

Iron Workers

0-2

141

-11

5

AGB's

0-2

142

-12

6

Money Shot

0-2

144

-14

7

Mission Impossible

1-1

145

-15

8

The Slicers

1-1

148

-18

Day Two: Sunday--Singles Matches

NUNI vs. The Money Shot---C and D matches

Needing a sweep of 4 matches to have any shot of getting into the winners bracket, MS had their back to the wall that bright, surprisingly warm Sunday morning. The NUNI lead, along with their lineup of top-flight players for the day’s matches hung like a pall at the clubhouse as the matches got under way. The NUNI swagger, which began again the night before at the clubhouse and fueled by some heated exchanges as the testosterone levels built up.

Jerry Streim, the reigning 2008 Club Champion after his performance at the Vineyard earlier was the first match against the MS Anthony Kaufman. Jerry, a tremendous clutch player, especially around the greens, fell 2 down after the first two holes, but got his groove and ended at 1 up at the turn as Kaufman went 7-8 to end the front.  But Anthony found his game and brought the match back to square on 10 took back the lead back on 14 with a birdie. He closed the match out on 17 and finished with a net 77, to Streim’s surprisingly-high 80.

In the second match between the teams, arch-rivals Brian Ziemba of NUNI and Jim Heyl of MS locked horns in what usually is a grudge match. Z opened with a birdie on the tough par 5 opening hole…and Heyl struggled to a 9. Can you hear the whining after that hole? But Jim kept his cool and was only two down after nine. But what little magic he had left him on the back nine, the match closing at 15, a very common ending point over the course of the two days. BZ carded a strong net 73 to continue NUNI’s strong list of scores…and further demoralizing those watching the scoreboard in the clubhouse. Heyl carded a disappointing net 80, adding to the MS woes as they fell to 0-3 in matches to NUNI…it seemed an impossible hill to come back from at that point. But as Michaels once said in 1980… “Do you believe in Miracles?” We’ll save the NUNI/MS A and B matches to the end…as it was the last group in…and the GMA title hung in the balance as they came up the fairway.

Slicers vs. Mission Impossible

In a matchup between Reverend Callahan and Bill Bailey, one of the hottest golfers in the GMA since his win at the Vineyard in the AA Club Championship flight, there was never more than a two up lead. Jack won the first hole as Bill struggled to get loose off the first tee and had a war with the fescue left of the first green…but Bill won the next three holes to go 2 up. Both players played even from there until the 11th hole when Bill lost a ball on a tee shot. The match went from there to the 17th tee with Bill still 1 up. The 17th is a LONG par four, into the wind with a narrow, long green. It’s the number one handicap hole…and the stroke Jack was getting would come in handy. He had to punch back to the fairway after a hooked tee shot JUST cleared the water…but the third shot approach stopped just six feet from the hole. Jack sunk the putt to square the match going to 18. Neither player could par the 18th, but both barely missed puts, Jacks sliding by an inch left, and Bill’s dying on the lip, dead center on line. A deserved halved match. Bill had net 78, Jack net 79.

Steve Bailey took on Pete Barba in the second match in a competition between ex-teammates in the GMA. Steve took a double on the first hole and the chase was on from there. Neither player would have their best day but they scrambled well. Pete built a 3 up lead that began to turn when Steve birdied the Par 5, 495 yard 10th hole. But he never got any closer until he squared the match on the aforementioned 17th hole. Steve had to chip out of the greenside woods on 18,  but Pete three putted and the match, too, was halved. Steve ended up net 76 and Pete net 77

Kevin Kelly battled Bobby “Crocodile” Martino in the third match. The usually-steady and competitive Croc just couldn’t get his game going, starting with a double on the first hole. By the time they finished nine, where Bobby took a 9, he was 5 down. The match ended on 14, as Kevin finished with a net 76…and Bobby a net 85. That left the matches at 3-2 Slicers with one to go.

The final match was the Slicer’s Mr. Everything, Nicky Vasta against Richie Seidel. The winner of this match would probably be the one in the winner’s bracket. Rich took the lead on #2 with a birdie and held it until the 9th hole when his tee shot went wild and he took an 8 to square the match. Then, it was Nick’s turn as he played his way to 2-up lead after 15. But Nick was unable to par any of the last three holes and he had to make a great chip from behind a mound to the sloping, shelfed green on 18 as Rich sat 35 feet away lying two. Nick’s chip forced Rich into a knee-knocker of a two-putt and the match, too, was halved. Thus, with one win and three halves, the Slicers were the only team that went undefeated on Sunday and entered the winner’s bracket

 

 

W-L-T

Sat

Sun A

B

C

D

Total

W

Slicers

2-1-3

148

76

76

79

76

455

L

Mission Impossible

1-2-3

145

77

78

78

85

463

Baron’s Boys vs. AGB’s

The Boys basically fell apart on Sunday after sweeping both matches Saturday. In the first match, Bobby Long crushed Tournament Sponsor Artie Moller as Artie just couldn’t find his arse with either hand. The match ended early, on 14, with Bobby posting a net 79 and Artie a net 87.

In the second match, BB Captain Mikie Palazzolo and The AGB’s Greg Haff both would card an even 100…but the two strokes that Greg was getting from Mike came in handy. Neither player could muster much of an advantage throughout the match and on the holes where Greg got a stroke, he cashed them in, closing Mike out on 17. Greg recorded a net 83 and Mike a net 85…and more important, this leveled the match at 2-2 between the teams. It was anybody’s game now.

In the third match, BB’s Doug Tarnopoul battled AGB’s ever-affable Walter Bearse. Doug came out Smokin’, not only getting birdie on the tough opening hole, but getting par-birdie-par after that, and was 5 up after just 6 holes. But rather than fold like the proverbial cheap tent, Wally sucked it up and prayed for Doug to fall apart. His wishes were largely granted…but Wally’s game kicked in a bit as well. The momentum shifted on 7 and by the time they got to the 13th tee box, the match was all square. On 15, Walt took the lead for the first time as Doug took a double, but a gift horse is something that Wally just couldn’t take…he coughed the lead back up on 16. Walt had a great par on the tough 17th to again take the lead, forcing Doug to make a desperate shot on 18…which found the ditch behind the green. Match over….and the AGB’s had taken the lead, 3-2 in matches…a nightmare for Mike…whose expletive could be heard throughout most of Ocean County. Walt’s net 75 and Doug’s net 78 left the overall match a “must-win” for BB, going into the last match.

And for that match, BB assigned it’s Ace, John Garland, the low gross average champion for the league in the regular season. His match was against the indomitable Sgt Major Ed Neas, who himself was runner up low net king and only one win short of the magic 20 kills for the season. But John was on his game and came through. His constant strong play forced Ed into many shots he wouldn’t have otherwise taken. While John was just 2 over par gross at the turn…but still only 3 up on Eddie. Ed played well on the back nine, with natural or net pars on the first five holes..but still had lost ground to John’s nearly flawless play. The match was dormie on the 15th tee…where so many matches ended this weekend…as it would in this one. Garland finished 76 net 72 and leveled the match to 3 wins apiece…but the AGB’s would go to the winner’s bracket on lower aggregate score. They had pulled off the seemingly impossible…from 0-2 Saturday against the No. 2 ranked team in the league…to the winner’s bracket by days end Sunday. Mikie P will NOT be happy all winter over this development!! Think he’ll be saying he should have played Pete Rojek?

 

 

W-L-T

Sat

Sun A

B

C

D

Total

W

AGB's

3-3

142

79

75

79

83

458

L

Baron's Boys

3-3

141

72

78

86

85

462

The Internationals vs. The Iron Workers

Already down in the match 2-0, the Iron Workers had to win 3 matches or all 4 to get to the winner’s bracket…a tall order against the steady Internationals lineup.

The first match was IW’s Charlie Smith against Intl’s John Ruvolo. This looked like a mismatch on paper, but paper is not where the game is played. As the day would prove. The two swapped winning holes over the first six keeping the match all square, but from there, JR seemed to just take over. Charlie uncharacteristically suffered a double and a triple to close the front nine and was 3 down at the turn. He fought back to win the par 5 10th hole, but something took place during that hole that seemed to set JR on fire. Some confrontation or disagreement involving Charlie’s playing partner Steve Simon (how could that be possible that Steve’s ‘pins and needles’ style conversation  would ever upset someone?). From there, JR won the next two holes with natural pars, plus strokes on Charlie…and that put the match in a place that Charlie couldn’t recover from. The match ended on….that’s right...the now-infamous 15th. JR wound up with a fine net 72 and Charlie a net 80.

In the second match, the aforementioned Mr. Simon from the IW’s was matched against the Int’ls super sub, Dennis Urabe. Dennis won 2 of the first 3 holes but gave them back as Steve won the next 4 holes in a row. Another win with a par on the ninth put Steve 3 up at the turn. With whatever the fireworks that occurred on 10 were, Dennis carded a 9 on it as Steve took par…and the rout was on. The match closed on 13 with carding a strong net 74 and Dennis slipping to a net 87. At this point, the Int’ls had a 3-1 lead in the match.

In the third match, “OKI” took on the IW’s John Geddes. Oki had been in the limelight of the league since his stunning win at Ocean City in a controversial “rules of golf” decision. Propelled by that victory, Oki steamrolled much of the league for the rest of the year, finishing the season at 2nd in most GMA points, tied for 3rd in Most Kills with 19.5 and 4th season low net. But John Geddes had a great year, too with a very high kill ratio in his matches. And John, who has a reputation of playing very quickly,  would prove to be too much for Oki. Needing a win to keep his team alive in the match, John played his usual solid game, wearing his opponents down with his steady, ready-golf way. If anyone could play golf without stopping, it would be him. With John in your foursome, you feel like you’re in a race…and he raced home Sunday with a net 72 to beat Oki, closing him out on 16. Oki’s net 74, however, ensured that the Int’ls will be near the top of the rankings, should they be able to win the overall match. With the score at 3-2, all that would come down to the results of the final match.

In the fourth match, Capt. Ben Ohtsu of the Int’ls took on Tom Redburn of IW. Ben clearly had shaken the effects of his wrist injury early in the season, which had ballooned his once microscopic handicap index. But tom had played well all season and looked to be a worthy opponent for the diminutive, but long-hitting Capt. Ben. The match was close and was still all square as they came to the 8th hole. With everything on the line, the tension was palpable. Ben played the tough 8th-9th holes at even par to win both holes and close the front at 2 up in the match. With Tom giving Ben a stroke on the back, that made for a difficult task for him. Tom got it to just one down at the dangerous 15th, but Ben hit his best drive of the day on 16, then canned about a 30 footer on the treacherous green for birdie that took the air out of Tom. The match closed on 17 after another par from Ben…and the Internationals had CLINCHED a spot in the winner’s bracket…no tiebreaker needed. Ben’s net 73 gave the Int’ls a scary set of scores…especially for the NUNI crowd, watching the scoreboard from the Clubhouse after they came in. It would all come down to how the final group out on the course did…but NUNI still had too big a lead to overcome…right?

 

 

W-L-T

Sat

Sun A

B

C

D

Total

W

Internationals

4-2

136

73

74

87

72

442

L

Iron Workers

2-4

142

81

72

74

80

449

Final Foursome coming in; NUNI vs. The Money Shot

As the final foursome made its way up the 18th hole, the sun had already set behind the rows of trees that line both sides of the fairway. All the players started migrating out of the bar in the clubhouse, whose picture window faced that fairway…onto the lawn overlooking the green across the narrow roadway and ditch on the back side of the green. The NUNI faithful were still holding onto the bravado…but it seemed a little less certain as word/rumor of what was going on in the matches reached the crowd. Two of the very best in the league were out on that tee box… Bobby Kennedy, who won the Red Baron award, symbolic of most Match Kills in the league for the year…and Steve Santo, who had about the highest points-per-event rating of anyone in recent memory this year. With the streaky Dan Penza and the solid Mark Donoghue as their opponents, how could the NUNI boys not be in good shape…winning just one match put them in the winners bracket…and even losing both would throw it to NUNI on the tiebreaker…so what’s to worry about?

"We've already won The Cup three times" one NUNI player said...."four makes us the Yankees" another one said.  Strange in that the Yankees lost again in the first round of playoffs this year, and were to see their arch-enemies be crowned Baseball Champions before the very day was over. Turned out to be prophetic for NUNI as well.

 

As they came off the 18th tee, Santo's tee shot put him in the woods right...the others came up the fairway. Dan Penza, playing against Santo left his approach on the far side of the mound front left of the green...a tricky, delicate chip. Santo hacked out the woods and then hit a MEMORABLE approach from about 130 yards. He SCREAMED a high shot OVER the green, OVER the gully behind it, OVER the hill leading up the road in front of the clubhouse....into the ground gathered to watch. All dodged it as it hit hard on the cobblestones, caromed high into the air onto the lawn in front of the picture windows, right next to the flower beds. A call was made to the pro shop and the pro came out to say the ball was in play....but the pro took advantage of the audience to tell the group that he was a little pissed at us because of all the un-fixed divots he saw on the course after coming around behind us.....that added to the tension as Santo lined us chip from the lawn...had to cross the road and the gully to a tight pin, on a small shelf that