Weekend October 23

 Bud's Boys Champion Golfer of the Year Recap

The first Bud's Boys Champion Golfer of the Year Tournament is in the books. From the reaction of the participants, it has to be considered a successful two days of golf. Though the weather didn't cooperate, greeting us with the coldest 2 mornings this season, both days ended in sunny and warm conditions. The novelty of trying something different at the end of the year seemed to raise our enthusiasm level just a tad, obviously leading to more entertaining discussions before and after the rounds. Sorry that timing and other circumstances (Too cold, really Dean?) kept many from playing and we hope next year to be even better.

Day 1 Recap

Our leader board looked like this after first round

Mikey     +2

Brian       +2

Scott        +1

Roger       E

Rodney    -2

Randy      -2

Brandon   -3

Keith        -3 

Gary        -4

Floyd       -4

Rick         -4

Westy       -5

Leroy       -5

Raymond -6

Bob          -7

Shelly      -7

Marty       -8

Tom         -9

Jeff         -12

The cold, windy conditions played havoc as only 4 players could reach their assigned point total. The 4 leaders all arrived at their total in a different way. 

Mikey was Mr. consistent, 9 points every 6 holes.

Brian started fast and tried to just hang in on the back.

A birdie on 11 helped Scott gain ground in the middle of his round.

Roger started slow, no pars on first 6, but tallied 7 in his last 12 to get his points on the nose. These 4 would be the feature group on Wednesday, and unless a career round came from behind, the winner would likely come from this group.

Wednesday, Round 2

The final round promised to be better from the start as milder and much less windy conditions gave everyone a more positive attitude at tee off. Sure enough, play improved from an average point total on Tuesday of 21 to an average of 24 on Wednesday. Nine players reached or exceeded their number as opposed to only 4 the previous day.

The hottest golfer of the day was Westy who turned in a scorching +5. This performance earned him Medalist of the day and gave him a 2-day total of even, making him leader in the clubhouse as we awaited the final group. Keith came in next with a +3 that also allowed him to reach even, creating murmurs of a possible playoff. Good rounds of +3 by Gary and +1 by Raymond, while impressive, left them just short of Westy and Keith.  All that was left to do was await our final group. Did they hold up under the pressure?

Final Group

Scott came out hot with a 15-point front, putting him at the top of the leaderboard. Three straight pars to start the back and suddenly, he has his quota for the tournament and a seemingly safe lead. The back 9 at Kimbeland, however, has a way of making things interesting at the end. His fast start has nearly emptied his tank as he struggles to finish. Unfortunately for Mikey, he finishes with 3 straight doubles to drop down the leaderboard. He later explains that while he was bulking up with his weight training, he neglected his cardio and just plain ran out of gas. Roger and Brian reach 18 with the slimmest of chances. Brian needs a birdie coupled with a zero from Scott, just to tie. Roger has the more daunting task of having to ace 18. He does not, of course, but does birdie to finish 2,2,3 on the scorecard and a +3 total for the tourney.  Scott obliges Brian with a double, but Brian's birdie chip comes up short leaving Scott with a +4 1-stroke victory over Brian and Roger. Westy and Keith tie for 4th at even. Congrats to Scott for being the first ever 'Bud's Boys Champion Golfer of the Year'! This is an honor that can never be taken away from you, unless you kill a blonde and a waiter (sorry for the lame O.J. reference).

Apologies for lack of photos as my photographer/videographer (Doc) is on assignment in Florida. Instead of tourney photos you get this:

 

Here are a few anyway.

 

Fifteen of the 19 participants won at least 1 of the many prizes the tournament offered. This was kind of the way some of us thought it should be, not to be a winner take all event. Scott was our 'big money' winner getting 14 dollars back on his $10 entry. Now that I think about it, our girls inside were the biggest winners. We gave them a $10 tip and when we had $9 left in our food and beverage allowance, all agreed to give that to them also. Many thought the highlight to be Leroy's party game after round 1. 

He now has a year to come up with next year's game, unless he wants to try out new ones as we go.

Here are payouts and final results. Thanks again to Scott for taking time to iron out details and put them on paper. Thanks to Rick for the work put in for the trophy, nice touch to add our 'Founding Fathers' to the trophy.

Doc is also presenting Scott with a new golf cart for being first ever winner.

If he can fit it in his vehicle on drive back from Florida.

Friday Results

We had 11 players for 5-dollar Friday and each of the teams got at least 1 split of today's prize money. Tom piled up the most points with 35 and tied with 3 others for most likely our first 4-way tie for Medalist. Scott, Mikey, and Keith also checked in with plus 4's. Keith wins CTP and teams with Tom to win 3 of the 5 events.

Here is Brandon sizing up his next shot as he nearly drives 14 green (from 13 tee box).

Tuesday Numbers