A little thunder, lighting and almost more rain than anyone could handle, didn’t deter most of the golfers from completing the round at highland National on Friday, August 7. The top four teams were pretty much out of reach for the Golden and Valley teams from the BMGA. But we were in a tight pack of seven teams all within nine points of each other. This was to be the final week of competition to determine the season standings of the 14 teams. Valley took on fifth place Heritage Links and won 16-8. It was not enough to knock them out of 5th place, but when the dust settled, Valley stood in 6th place. Quite a finish as the team was in last place at the end of May, 13th place at the end of June and 9th place at the end of July. With three weeks cancelled during the season due to weather and scheduling issues, there were not a lot of opportunities to make progress, but the Valley team found a way! Golden also had a great finish moving up from 10th place to finish in 7th, just behind Valley by one point.
Jeff Towey shot a net 77 against a zero handicap but was able to get a jump on the front nine going 4up before hanging on to win the match 1up and get 4 points. Ramiro Sifuentes (net 76) did just enough against a 3 handicapper losing the front by 1 hole and wining the back by one hole to split the match for 3 points. Paul Carlson (net 75) had quite the match losing the front on the 9th hole but wining the back and the match on 18 to get 4 points. Dean Penk had another great day with a net 71 parring the first three holes and keeping the pressure on going up 4 on the front. He hung tight on the back for tie and, of course, winning the match to get 5 points. Valley wins 16-8.
Golden took on 8th place Valleywood needing to outscore them by more than 4 points to jump places. (Valley also needed Golden to defeat Valleywood by at least 3 points to give them chance to jump places.). Well, golden came through with an 18 – 6 win vaulting both BMGA teams up the leader board. John VanEschen (net 70) crushed his opponent wining the match 7up for 6 points. Roger Hamm (net 75) took a commanding lead of 2up into the back nine where he played even up tying his opponent and winning the match for 5 points. Gregg Schaefer won the front 2up and he and his opponent decided to avoid the lightning and shook hands for a tie on the back giving Greg the match and 5 points. Captain Dan Olson did the same but he was 4 down on the front and only got 1 point for the handshake tie on the back.
Congrats to John VonEschen and Dean Penk for the their net medalist of the week honors.
Valley Captain Sheldon Silberman notes that seven of the team members had double digit point totals during the the season with Ben Zurn and Richard Courtney both getting 16 points each over three matches for a 5.3 point average. 16 BMGA members participated for the team this season.
Thanks to Captains Sheldon Silberman and Dan Olson! Anyone wishing to compete, or take on captain duties next year, please let the current captains or the BMGA board know of your interest.
Here are the final standings:
There will be a “fun day” competition at Wirth next Friday for all team members that sign up.
