Notes on Thursday Match Play League

The Flighted Tournament and the regular season came to a close for the Thursday Leaguers out at Lakeview yesterday with plenty of fireworks, club throwing (not really - just the urge) and mini arm pumps.  Ken Hudson and Mike Bird came from behind to tie Jim Bateman and Junior Byron for championships in the C and A flights while Pam Byron held off a hard charging Charlie Sheetz in D Flight.  Terry LaMar and Tony Wease duked it out in B Flight, each firing 41's on the day, with Tony unable to make up that one stroke he needed to share the crown.  Wilma Bateman cruzed to her championship in E Flight.

In the regular season action, Jim Bateman's 45 gave him 16 points for the day, enough to hold off Mike Bird (a 33 and 42 points) to claim the top spot.  Jim finished the season with 563 points, Bird 551, and Al  Kavanaugh, who also fired a 33 on the day, finished in third place with 550 points.  On the final day of league action, Susan Fee and Jim Bateman claimed hole prizes on the par threes while Terry LaMar rolled in the longest putt at #8.  Low scores were carded by octogenarian Clyde Wake with a net 27 (on a gross 52, his best game of the year), and by Al Kavanaugh and Mike Bird with their gross 33's.

Of note:
-Al Kavanaugh just missed out on what would have been a tying eagle shot in the A Flight competition.  His chip from just off of #4, the group's eighth hole of the day, hit the stick, curled around behind it and came to rest just off the lip of the cup.  The tap in birdie left him one stroke behind Junior Byron and Mike Bird.
-Junior Byron started the day with a five stroke lead but saw it disappear when he three putted three holes (#7, #8 and #3) and then failed to make a birdie at either #2 or #4.  He still had a chance to win with a booming drive on #5, the group's last hole, and a pitch shot that left him with a four foot birdie putt.  That putt, alas, skirted the cup on the right, making the tap in par putt one that gave him a disappointing but welcome tie for the A Flight championship.
-The group enjoyed a pitch in lunch after play.

Next up for the three Lakeview Leagues: the September Challenge, a two person, three event, inter-league game that starts the week of September 12th.  All League members and substitutes during the year are eligible to participate.