Issue Four: League Record Round
(Wickliffe, OH) The boys gathered at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Wickliffe, OH. It was uncertain whether or not the teams were going to play due to heavy rains the night before. Fortunately the course was as nice as they could ask for given all the rain. Only potential hiccup was Miller texting an hour before the tee time he’d meet us after the first hole because his dog had a vet appointment beforehand...no one was surprised and no one responded. It was the largest group the league had seen, there were some new members this week: Matt Widing and Joe Oliver. We have seen these faces before, but this was their first league outing.
Team pairings were as follows:
Group One
Kyle M/Kyle K
Bret/Miller
Group Two
Phil/Jim
Matt/Joe
Teams played straight up with no one receiving any strokes. The course was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The boys had the usual bets of Overall score, Moneyball, and Par three’s. They also added a new bet to the mix: (fore)Skins. Each bet was worth $8.
Team K2 had a decent front 9, winning the lone par three on the front, putting decently well, but capped off what would have been a solid front 9 with a double bogey. Their birdie on #7 was wild. Both team K2 and Bret/Miller hit the green on their second shot. Bret/Miller’s second shot was within 5-7 feet...a certain birdie and probably a skin. Team K2 was away and putted first, and boy they had some work to do as they were barely on the green putting downhill. Kyle M missed but not by much. That’s when Kerner stepped up and drained what had to be a 20 foot putt for birdie!
That brings us back to Bret/Miller. They needed to sink the putt to at least halve the hole. Bret first. Miss. Now Miller...putter behind the ball staring down what must now feel like a 30 foot putt and what I imagine is the putter shaking like a Nintendo 64 Rumble Pack during the final battle with Andross. BUT it was the opposite; a smooth wind and release in the cup for birdie. No skins awarded, but a birdie chug all around for the team.
Other noteables in the group was Kyle M taking home two par threes on the day. Bret/Miller hit a fantastic shot down the center of the fairway and down a hill and losing the moneyball. K2 lost their moneyball on #8 on a drive just off the fairway and what should have been definitely retrievable. On the same hole, Bret/Miller hit another fantastic tee shot down the middle of the fairway but again...no ball to be found. Both teams dropped and Bret/Miller saved par. K2 bogeyed. The boys pondered theft from the ladies on the opposite fairway or plugged balls due to rain. It was anybody’s guess. From there on out, Bret/Miller played par golf to finish the round with the first league round of par golf or better on the year. Miller and Bret had another birdie in which Miller’s second shot was way short but ran up about 50 yards to within two feet of the hole. It was just their day.
Now that brings us to the other group in the outing. Team Phil/Jim started out hot. And when I say hot...I’m talking (insert anyone’s mom here) HAWT. They birdied four holes on the front, but gave a couple back with three bogeys. They finished the front as leaders minus-1. Unfortunately they would finish the back with four bogeys and no birdies and place third on the day 3-over.
Now last but not least: Matt and Joe. They had a good front 9 capped off with a birdie on #9 and then another birdie soon after on #12. For those not familiar with Matt and Joe...another solid team that can also bomb the ball. Those unfamiliar should be warned. They finished the day and first league outing of the year for them tied with Jimmy and Phil at 3-over. I was hoping Joe showed up to the course hungover or drunk from the night before as I wish the same with Jimmy every week...just so my team has a chance. Unfortunately everyone appeared sober. Congrats guys.
Overall results on the day:
Overall score: Miller/Bret at Even (71)
Moneyball: Phil/Jim, Matt/Joe
Par Threes: Phil/Jim S (2), Kyle K/Kyle M (2)
Skins: Phil/Jim S (3), Matt M/Bret (3), Matt/Joe (1)
The boys will meet at St. Denis in Chardon, OH this coming Saturday at 9am. See you on the third hole Miller!
