Mens’ Opening Tournament

 

The 2011 golf year at Chippewa Golf and Country Club officially opened on Saturday with the opening Mens’ Scramble tournament.  The tournament was originally scheduled for last Saturday but had to be postponed due to wet weather. There has been an influx of new members at Chippewa this year, partly due to the fantastic changes that have been implemented throughout the course.  And the result was the largest crowd for a Mens’ Opening in several years.

 

The format was a team scramble, with teams comprised of players from each of the four handicap divisions.  The course is in great shape considering the torrents of rain we have been receiving, and the weather for the day was sunny and relatively warm.

 

After nine holes, there were several teams in contention with the teams captained by Lou Bezaire, Freeman Coblenz, Gerry Call and Keith Stein tied for the lead at three under par.  The Hugh Morrison team, Bruce Towner group and Frank Yakabuski team were all only one stroke back, so it was going to be the team that could score the most birdies on the back nine that would eventually win the tournament.

 

But at the end of the day, three teams were still tied for the lead.  The Bezaire team and the Coblenz team were three under par for total scores of 66, while the Towner team were one stroke better on the back nine, nailing a four under par 33 for another total score of 66.  A putt-off took place on the practice green to break the tie, and after the putts had been made, the Freeman Coblenz team with Barry Beatty, Dave Porcellato and Charlie Schmalz were declared the winners of the day.  In second place was the team captained by Bruce Towner with Mike Cleary, Jef Schell and Kent Bergstrom.  The Lou Bezaire team with ron Caudle and rick Collison won third prize, while the Hugh Morrison team with Aaron Mahon, Larry Curtis and George Wilson took fourth place with a 67.  A putt-off was required to break the tie for fifth spot, and after the competition ended, the team captained by Gerry Call with Steve Green, Chris Collison and bill Berry were the winners.

 

Closest to the Pin awards were won by Aaron Mahon on #3, Phil Hunt on #5, Frank Yakbuski on #9 and Gerry Call on #19.  The par three 13^th hole was a different contest – those who hit the green with their drive put their name into a basket while the players who missed the green put their names into another basket.  A draw was made from each basket to declare winners, with Larry Curtis winning the Hit the Green side of the contest and Bill Berry taking the Missed the Green prize. 

 

Skins were won by the Hugh Morrison team with a birdie on #4, the Keith Stein team with Bill Lazenby, John Upper and Jordan Collison with a birdie on #9 and the Jamie Green team with Paul Holk, Jim Norwood and Lloyd Kibler with a birdie on #13.

 

Mens’ Golf News

 

The Mens’ section began their weekly play on Thursday, again with a record number of players taking part.   To celebrate his birthday, owner Geza Koscis picked up the tab for the meal after the game was over.  Happy Birthday Geza, and thanks from all of us.

 

In the A-flight, Derryl Urstadt had the low round of the night with a 38 and won first Low Gross in the flight.  Lou Bezaire took the 1^st Low Net award with a net 33.  In the B-flight, Barry Beatty and Kevin Dagnall were tied with scores of 41 and split the Low Gross and Low Net awards.

 

In the C-flight, Dan Lazenby won first Low Gross with a 43, while Dan Coblenz took 1st Low Net with a net score of 36.  In the D-flight, Charlie Schmalz had a great round of 43 to win 1^st Low Gross while Don Foell won 1^st Low Net with a net 35.

 

In a special flight for new members, Jamie Green shot 39 to win first Low Gross, followed by Rick Collinson with a 41.

 

Dan Coblenz won the Closest to the Pin contest on the fifth hole, while Geza Kocsis sunk the Longest Putt on #2.

 

Senior Mens’ Golf News

 

The opening day of Senior Mens’ golf was cold and windy, but the hardy Senior players turned out anyway. 

 

In the A-flight, for handicaps 12 – 17, Lou Bezaire won 1^st Low Gross with a score of 83, while Mike Cleary took 1^st Low Net with a; net 74.  In the B-flight, for handicaps 18 – 25, Barry Robson had a great round of 90 to win 1^st Low Gross, while Steve Green captured 1^st Low Net with a net 75.  In the C-flight, for handicaps 26 and above, Jim Connelly won 1^st Low ross with a score of 102, while Joe Chiappetta won 1^st Low Net with a net 76.

 

Bert Tripp won the Closest to the Pin competition on the fifth hole and Barry Beatty won the same contest on #13.