Month: July 2018

The rain and storms were not a threat, but those who played the back nine surely agree the hole location on #13 WAS a threat!  Holy jeez, the hole was cut ON the dang hill!  The greens may have been slow, but that location was pretty cruel. The scoring average the previous 11 weeks was 5.06 on #13, last night it was 5.85.

Hole #13 Situation
	Previous 11 Weeks	Last Night
Chances:	700	62
Birdies/%:	14/2.0%	0/0%
Pars/%:	210/30.0%	7/11.3%
Bogies/%:	282/40.3%	18/29%
Others/%:	194/27.7%	37/59.7%

Ok, I feel better after crunching some numbers – now onto the matches!

2018 WNL Standings Week 13

The Bassett Creek Conference won all but one match against the Golden Valley Conference – these inter-conference matches tend to be one-sided…I’m too math fatigued to actually do any further research.  Maybe for the season wrap up.

I Like Big Putts lost the division lead last week, and that didn’t sit too well with them so they beat up on Zed Heads 48-32 to take the BCC North lead once again.  Mid-Round Crisis held their own against Who’s Your Caddy with a 42.5-37.5 win, but end up 4.5 points behind. Last Call jumps out of the cellar with a 45-35 win over GVC East leading WTF. And Range Balls wins 37-31.5 over Fairway 2 Heaven, who had two no-shows in the same group.  Tough to score points without warm bodies teeing it up!

The GVC West is still the tightest division in all the land – three teams are in contention to win the Division and appear to be fighting for the Wildcard…all three lost last night, which kept it tight. Division leader Team Hack Attack lost a close one 39-41 to The Loopers; Par then Bar lost their 5^th week in a row 39-41 to league point leader CTB; and Pin Seekers also lost a close one 38.5-41.5 to Bald Man Brewing Co. Finally, ForePlay roughs up Putt 4 Dough 45-35 to increase their win streak to 4.

Scorecard of Shame: None again, the one card I saw missing team numbers was fixed before I left…nicely done! Cards have been really great, and I really appreciate it. Really.

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Low Gross – tie (36, front), $5 each:

• Howie Hoffman, Team 10
• Eric Berg, Team 16

Individual Low Net (odd weeks):

• 1^st: $35 – Dan Gustafson, Team 10 (37 for a 31, front)
• 2^nd: $11.66 – Eric Berg, Team 16 (36 for a 32, front)
• 2^nd: $11.66 – Dean Penk, Team 3 (39 for a 32, front)
• 2^nd: $11.66 – Steven Klatt, Team 4 (42 for a 32, back)

On Course Prizes, $10 each:

• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #1: Dylan Niska, Team 13 – Only name on the card, but unable to drain the bird.
• Closest-to-Pin #4: Kirk Williams, Team 11 – Kirk drops a deuce!
• Closest-to-Pin #8: Justin Waters, Team 3 – Bangs it in for birdie!
• Long Putt #9: Dick Koppy, Team 9 – Par saver.
• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #11: Brad Kadue, Team 13 – Missed it, but this dude played with 5 clubs, 2 balls, and no bag…gamer.
• Closest-to-Pin #12: Richard Brynteson, Team 12
• Closest-to-Pin #17: Nick Schultz, Team 11 – Wasn’t meant to be…
• Long Putt #18: Lee Koppy, Team 9 – The Koppy bros apparently know how to putt, but Lee makes his for birdie!

Next week is Divisional play, so bring your Fonzie (AAAaaaaaa) Game!

Pretty boring night on Wednesday – gorgeous weather, 52.8% of guys shot their handicap or better, there ended up being a couple division leader shifts <yawn>, two matches ended in a draw, oh and a freaking HOLE IN ONE aka ACE aka $10 NEARIE! Mr. Jeff Martin knocks one in on the super easy 8^th hole – he flew a 5 iron high that flew directly over the flag and sucked back in. Nobody could tell if it went in because of shadows or beer or something…so it was confirmed by walking up to the hole with wide eyes to peek into the depths of the cup. And there was much rejoicing.

Bob Engebretson had an ace in Week 2 (our first week of play), so he’ll have to split the hole-in-one pot with Jeff…plenty of time left for someone else to get a piece of the pie! Congrats, Jeff! Also, his teammate Steve Broyer rolled one up to 10” after the ace…no big deal.

Ok, to the action on the course. This week was a Division battle – and it was a doozy of a week. Here are the highlights:

• Mid-Round Crisis defeats I Like Big Putts 47.5-32.5 to take the BCC North lead by 1 – this battle isn’t over.
• Par then Bar loses to Putt 4 Dough 40-35.5 in a heartbreaker, team captain Alec Johnson barely misses his tee time, which could have flipped the script.
• Pin Seekers eeks one out over Team Hack Attack 41.5-38.5, but because that division is so tight Team Hack Attack actually pulls ahead of Par then Bar by 2 points in the GVC West. Pin Seekers creep with 8.5 points of the leader with their win. This division has been tight all year.
• We had two ties this week: WTF v Who’s Your Caddy and CTB v Bald Man Brewing Co.
• Zed Heads win big over Range Balls 45-35 to gain on WTF, only 17.5 points back..
• Last Call scores well defeating Fairway 2 Heaven 44.5-35.5

2018 WNL Standings Week 12

Scorecard of Shame – None. I’m speechless for once.

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Individual Low Gross – $10:

• Doug Zuck, Team 15 (33-back)

2-Man Low Net (even weeks) – all winners were on the back, oddly enough:

• 1^st – $17.50 each: 61 – Ryan Johnsrud (31) & Richard Koppy (30), Team 9
• T-2^nd – $8.75 each: 65 – Doug Maday (31) & Brent Lindstrom (34), Team 6
• T-2^nd – $8.75 each: 65 – Doug Zuck (29) & Jim Stetler (36), Team 15

On Course Prizes – $10 Each:

• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #1: Neal Reykdal, Team 11 – Close (maybe?) but no cigar…par.
• Closest-to-Pin #4: Mark Kraus, Team 16 – Rams it in for birdie.
• Closest-to-Pin #8: Jeff Martin, Team 4 – 0 putt eagle.
• Long Putt #9: Tom Bredesen, Team 8 – Bogey saver from afar.
• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #11: Justin Waters, Team 3 – Drains it for the birdie.
• Closest-to-Pin #12: Ramiro Sifuentes, Team 11 – Probably short, miss.
• Closest-to-Pin #17: Nick Hendrikson, Team 11 – Two putt par.
• Long Putt #18: Dan Lamanna, Team 3

We had our first newly formatted Member/Guest Day on Friday July 13th. We had 18 members and 14 guests at the event for a total of 16 teams and 4 well positioned even pods.

The morning started out a little ominous with some rain, but that cleared up and out around 11:30 for the pre-activities before teeing off at 1pm. The pods were figured out, the matches and scorecards prepared and it was time for the competition to begin and it got heated along with the temperature and humidity. The first set of matches set the tone for the day with 6 of the 8 coming in only 1 point apart and the other two 2 points apart. Some of the pods began to have separation develop within the teams in the middle set of matches with the Jordan/Krasen, Jocelyn/Hyjsulien, Nelson/Ralles taking the lead in their pod’s while the remaining POD was close between Brytenson/Ellis & Shellenbaum/Prock.

As we moved into the final set of matches, the Jordan/Krasen team kept their foot on the gas and maintained complete control of their pod and won running away with a total of 12.5 points winning by 3.5 points.

The Jocelyn/Hyjsulien team ran into some struggles in the final match and opened the door for the Hahka/Paquette team to wrangle a come from behind (in a separate match), with a 1 point victory for their pod.

Nelson/Ralles were playing their closest team, Mangold/Peterson, in the final match, but the Mangold/Peterson team couldn’t squeak the known 4.5/1.5 needed to win and the Nelson/Ralles took down that pod by 2.5 points.

In the final pod, Brynteson/Ellis dominated their final match 4.5/1.5 and took their pod down by 3 points.

There were also some great individual performances from our guests with Ben Tharp (Hendrikson) shooting a 71, while the low round of the day went to Adam Almich (May) who fired off a smooth 69, aided by playing holes 16-3 in an amazing 5 UNDER PAR!

The alternate shot shootout started on #1 and the gallery was following along. 2 teams hit the GIR and went easily through. One team was able to get up and down without issue and the Brynteson/Ellis lipped out a tying putt and were eliminated on the first hole taking $40 each for their effort.

On the second hole, Ralles and Hahka hit drives down the right rough, but Krasen yanked his drive down General Mills Parkway. Jordan followed up well with a great drive down the middle, but lying 3. Then things got a little interesting…Paquette hit down the right into the trees behind 18 tee, while Nelson hit left into the bushes and needed to take an unplayable lie…Krasen redeemed himself hitting the approach to 12 feet for par. Hahka was able to chip down, Paquette’s approach was pin high, but in the rough right, lying 4. Ralles went a little left off green, also lying 4. The pressure again showed on the chips with double hit by hahka to 15 feet while Nelson chipped 15 feet long. In the end, the Nelson/Ralles team advanced with Jordan/Krasen to the final hole. Hahka/Paquette each took home $65 for their effort.

The 3rd hole saw a drive down the right rough by Krasen and to 16 fairway by Ralles. Jordan hit a good approach leaving 60 yards while Nelson was down the right below the hill leaving Ralles with a difficult approach which he absolutely hit perfectly over the trees to 20 feet for birdie. Krasen hit the pitch to 12 feet and after 2 putt pars by both….we went onto an extra hole and the 4th. Krason hit a well distanced shot, but just, just into the right bunker while Ralles hit on the green to 35 feet. The bunker shot for Jordan was tricky and proved to be difficult and hung up in the rough…Krasen nearly chipped in for par, but after a great 2 putt par by Nelson/Ralles they walked away victorious! Jordan/Krasen took $85 each for the 2nd place while the Nelson/Ralles team took home $110 each as the winners!

Congratulations to everyone for helping the BMGA have a great event.

Hole Prizes were worth $20 each and had the following winners:

Hole #2 Long Drive – Devin Duffy (Schultz guest)

Hole #4 CTP – Michael White (BMGA)

Hole #6 Closest in 2 – Forrest Nelson (BMGA)

Hole #8 CTP – Steve Shellenbaum (BMGA)

Hole #12 CTP – Steve Shellenbaum (BMGA)

Hole #13 Long Putt – Ben Tharp (Hendrikson Guest)

Hole #17 CTP – Nick Schultz (BMGA)

Hole #18 Closest in 2 – Richard Brynteson (BMGA)

It was a hot one out there last night, and apparently there was a downpour at some point. We were in a Board meeting and had no idea it was raining, so I wanted to give a shout-out to the mystery dude who graciously covered my clubs with my towel – you’re a true hero, my good man!

2018 WNL Standings Week 11

The BCC North teams all won their matches over the GVC East so there wasn’t a lot of movement in either of those Divisions:

• I Like Big Putts over WTF 43-37
• Last Call beats Zed Heads 42-38
• Fairway 2 Heaven beats Who’s Your Caddy 41.5-38.5
• Mid-Round Crisis squeaks by Range Balls 40.5-39.5

The BCC South vs. GVC West matchups ended up making the West even tighter – Team Hack Attack is now only 1 point behind division leader Par then Bar, but Pin Seekers ends their hot streak and falls to 12.5 points back:

• ForePlay dominates Pinseekers 46.5-33.5
• Team Hack Attack handles CTB 43.5-36.5
• The Loopers eek by Par then Bar 40.5-39.5
• Bald Man Brewing Co. sneaks pas Putt 4 Dough 40.5-39.5

There are 6* weeks left, so there is time to make some hay and get into the playoffs by either winning a Division or nabbing that Wildcard spot. Keep grinding out there if you’re struggling and good things can happen!

*Yes, we will be using the flex week but we are not ready to announce that it will be a Week 1 make-up – if we happen to have another rain-out that is a Divisional matchup, that would trump…so stay tuned, Captains, I will let you know the tee times closer to the end of the season.

Scorecard of Shame:

Yup, not one team number marked…so Team 15 and Team 13 are your winners!

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Low Gross (fitting because this guy IS gross):

• $10: Kelly Gallagher, Team 14 – 35 (front)

Individual Low Net (Odd Weeks):

• 1^st – $35: Jim Sherburne, Team 2 – 29 (?!?!) (front) – Nicely done, Jim, and we anxiously await that score to be entered!
• 2^nd – $20: Jesse Doughty, Team 5 – 31 (back) – Beating out two former teammates from Team 11 for sole 2^nd place…ranks high on the revenge chart.
• t-3^rd – $5: Neal Reykdal, Team 11 – 32 (front)
• t-3^rd – $5: Ted Scheunemann, Team 15 – 32 (back)
• t-3^rd – $5: Brad Jordan, Team 11 – 32 (back)

On Course Prizes $10 each:

• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #1: Scott Hartmann, Team 8 – Birdie time for this stud’s first proxy of the night…
• Closest-to-Pin #4: Todd Knutson, Team 13 – Nailed it, never a doubt.
• Closest-to-Pin #8: Scott Hartmann, Team 8 – Missed this one, but after so many on course wins we may need to name this section the Scott Hartmann on course prizes…raking in the dough!
• Long Putt #9: NO WINNER – apparently someone (who shall remain nameless) thought it was funny to write down that Mark Krause holed out from 80 yards even though this prize is for long putt. Since they were off at 4:40 I have to assume every group after them was confused and didn’t move the proxy to an actual long putt made.  Please make better jokes out there, boys – call me names or something that doesn’t affect the games out there.
  
• Closest-to-Pin-in-Two #11: Craig Wethington, Team 4 – Nobody else on the card, but the birdie was not to be…whiff…
• Closest-to-Pin #12: Dan Roberts, Team 2 – Cozies it up there for a tap in par.
• Closest-to-Pin #17: Brent Nordstrom, Team 3 – Somehow sneaks one inside ME…and missed it. That’ll learn ya. (I missed mine, too, for the record.)
• Long Putt #18: Paul Olson, Team 16 – Drains the birdie with the longest, atta boy.

Registration for the 2018 Calcutta is now open.  Please register online at http://bmga.org/events/event.aspx?aID=522&bID=Tournament, or by turning in your application to the top of the BMGA locker.

We look forward to receiving your application!

2018 Calcutta Flyer