Brett, Callahan, Johnson and Bird Win Saturday Scramble

Photo: Travis Brett, Noah Callahan, Curt Johnson and Mike Bird shot a 31 to win the Saturday Morning Scramble at Lakeview.    Photo by Pam Byron

During the nine hole scramble out at Lakeview Saturday morning, Travis Brett commented that he had never been on a winning team on either the Saturday or Tuesday scrambles.  That quickly changed as he, Mike Bird, Noah Callahan and Curt Johnson fired a four under 31 to tie Dave Wininger, Wayne Souerdike, Tracy Rayhill and Kevin Byron in this week's version of the Saturday Morning Scramble.  Doug Denson pulled the card that broke the tie and also the 'Brett' curse.  The winning foursome had fairly easy birdies at the 'birdie' holes, two, four and six, and Travis Brett stuck one to four feet at #7 where Curt Johnson rolled in the the putt for the fourth birdie.  Two other teams came up one stroke shy of getting into the card draw: Doug Denson, Larry Hembree and Lee Wininger joined Nick Wininger, Stan Graber and Joe Allen in shooting three under 32's.

Bits and Pieces

-Scramble at 9 this morning.

-Eric and Junior (and me to a lesser extent) did a lot of mowing yesterday and the sun and wind did a lot of drying.  You still won't get any roll on your ball and carts on paths still, but things are settling down and looking up. 

-Down in Mobile, #9 in the world Michelle Wie and #1 in the world Yani Tseng miss the cut.  Dang.  Sandra Gal, who got her first win at the Kia Classic a few weeks back, is in the lead at seven under par.  More from Mostly Harmless.

-Golf tip for the day:  Use plenty of club.  See if you can leave zero balls short of the green today and tomorrow.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

9am.

Bits and Pieces

-The wedding is on the tv - impressive pomp; first kiss in less than an hour.  Never been to London and only vaguely remember Queen Elizabeth's wedding back in the '50's.  Got to admit that the old stuff, the tradition, is interesting.  Expect I'll miss the kiss.  Dang.

-Several more Tuesday Men wandered out to the golf course and got in their rounds.  James Hager joined Dave Wininger with a 36;  Keith Parsons and Bill Carrico took way more strokes than they wanted to but are back playing in league after a year's absence.  Expect more league golfers over the weekend and even on Monday, giving the course a chance to drain.  Yes, it's still soggy and the quarter inch of rain around five last night and the additional rain around midnight added to the wet.  Enough (for now).

-In case you missed it, Michele Wie had five bogeys on the front nine, then three birds along with a few more bogeys on the back nine.  She finished at +4, nine behind the leaders and tied for 93rd place.  That's a horrific start.

-Mike Wagoner's contract approved by a vote of 5-0.  Good.  Catch more of the story at loogooteetribune.com.

-Off to the golf course.  Good weather for the next few days.  Take advantage of it.  Oh, heard yesterday that Country Oaks and the Washington Country Club have been closed because of the watery conditions.  Expect a few others are as well.

Bits and Pieces

-Reminder: Today's Thursday Match Play League event is a weather event and has been postponed to Monday at 9am.  That's the first 'weather event' option.  If that is not going to work for you, the second option is to play at some other time with your partner and your opponents before next Thursday's event #3. 

-Does look like the weather is going to improve, and just when I got used to this grate slay, moisture in the air and underfoot and rain falling on my head every whipstitch.  Dang...

-Ladies tee it up down in Mobile, Alabama, at the Avnet LPGA Classic this morning.  Michelle Wie playing with Morgan Pressel and Hee Kyung Seo at 8:40.  Pairings here.

-Heading to the golf course - make some phone calls and invite those Thursday guys to come on out in spite of the postponement.  I mean, how many time to you really get to play in the sog?!  Greens and surrounds and tees are nice.

Thursday Math Play League for April 28 Declared a Weather Event

Tomorrow's scheduled Match Play League event has been postponed to Monday, May 2nd, at 9am.  The postponement is a result of the very soggy grounds from all the rains of the last several days. 

Players are more than welcome to come out to the course and get in some practice, or a game, anytime before Monday's rescheduled event.

Bits and Pieces

-From Ruthless Golf: Improving your GIR.  Excellent tip.  In brief, use more club.  But do go and read it cause it spells out just why you should be doing that.  I think it is especially apropos here in the early part of the year with soggy grounds, which really is another issue where more club is also the solution.

-Woods has ailing knee, won't play Wells Fargo.  Oh oh.  More trouble with his legs.  His Achilles heel?

-Several Tuesday Men came out yesterday and got their rounds in in spite of the soggy conditions.  For the most part, they fared well or near well.  Eric, Junior and I did get some mowing done: greens, collars, surrounds and tees.

-Good luck to George Templin who I understand is going to have bypass surgery up at St. Vincents this morning.

-More rain today.  We had just over five inches out at the golf course over the weekend.  New mantra:  It will end, it will end, it will end.

Tuesday Men's League - want to play today?

Just to let you know, the course is playable.  It is cart path only and you no doubt will often be looking for a dry or semi dry place to put your ball after driving it into a wet area.  But if that suits your fancy or is necessary because of your schedule, by all means, come out and play.

Tuesday Men's League Event 2 Declared a Weather Event

That means that participants have seven days to complete their round.  The grounds at the golf course are sodden with water stretching out in front of #6 and puddles galore.  Suggest you wait a few days before trying to get your round in because of those conditions.

Bits and Pieces

-Westwood back at #1 when Donald fails, in a playoff, to win at Harbour Town.  Too bad for Luke.  Even more bad for Jim Furyk who started the day one back in trying to defend his title (at Harbour Town) and fired a +5 coming in.  Two bogeys, two double bogeys, only one birdie: very big ouchie.  Did you notice that he still took home a check of $52,060 for his four days work.  Not too shabby though he missed out on the winner's paycheck of $1,026,000 that was pocketed by Brent Snedeker.  Nice.

-The LPGA gets back into action this week after three weeks of idleness.  Playing down in Mobile, Alabama, at the Avnet LPGA Classic.  Se Ri Pak is the defending champion, and, yes, Michelle Wie will be participating.  The total purse for the event is $1,300,000.

-Had enough rain yet?  Should be a good year for hay.  Just remember, April showers bring May flowers.

-Reminder to Thursday Match Play Leaguers:  A skins and flags nine holes will be played after the 10am match.  Last Thursday, Mike McLaughlin, Perry Bays and I went out; expect several more might just be interested in joining us this next Thursday.  The event also allows the seniors in the bunch to play 18 holes and shoot their age.  That means a good first nine to start the day; or else a super second nine.

-Tuesday Men are reminded to call the clubhouse or check this news blog if weather is iffy.  Last Tuesday, the weather was exactly that for the entire day and several golfers assumed that league play would go to a weather event (players would be able to complete their rounds any time during the week).  But that didn't happen as the rains stayed away (they eventually arrived at midnight, in spades) and the initial event for the season was put into the books.

-We're between showers now; going to the golf course for a bit.

Rain...

...and more rain.  Through yesterday afternoon, we had gotten 1.6 inches out at the golf course.  Seems like it's been raining almost constantly since about 6 last night.  Somebody need to tell somebody that the water tables are full.

Happy Easter to all you Easter'ers.  Don't know if I'll get to see a real Easter egg, the hard boiled, painted kind, this year or not.  On Easter eggs, from wilipedia:

The egg is a symbol of the rebirth of the Earth in celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.^[1]
The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans. These eggs are often hidden, allegedly by the Easter Bunny, for children to find on Easter morning. Otherwise, they are generally put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird's nest.

Wininger and Wininger Win Soggy Saturday Scramble

Photo: Ryan Wininger and Dave Wininger after winning the Saturday Morning Scramble at Lakeview with a score of 32.

Ryan Wininger ran in a thirty foot eagle putt on #2, and he and Dave Wininger collected two birdies along with one bogey and five pars in winning the Saturday morning scramble at Lakeview.  On wet grounds and under threatening skies, the duo were handed the win when Stan Graber and Mike Arvin, four under through seven holes, a score which included an eagle at hole #6, bogeyed the last two holes to finish at 33.  Lee Wininger and son Kyle came in with a one under par 34 while Mike Bird and Joe Allen stumbled to a plus two 37.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

9am.  If the skies would clear just a little...  Am sure it is plenty soggy out at the golf course.  Was last night.  Did you know that yesterday's area rains didn't hit the golf course till after four in the afternoon?  Then we had about an hour of rain and then some more dry.  I was out there mowing after six; Dave Wininger and Mike Arvin also came out and walked nine holes.  Plenty of standing water but nice to be out there.

Thursday Match Play League Information

-Have posted the schedule and the roster for the Thursday morning league at the bottom of the results page - here.

-Note that there are 16 teams with teams 15 and 16 being additions.  Stancil Courtney, coworker and friend to Frank Fee, is going to play with us and is half of team #15.  He is looking for a partner and will use a sub till one can be found.

-Team #16 is a Home team and will be filled with subs for the duration or until players fill the positions on a permanent basis.  Denny Wagoner and Susan Fee filled in last Thursday.  If no sub or subs can be found any particular week, then a Home Course sub will be used (zero handicap, shoots a 35).

-Will have printed copies of the schedule at the clubhouse.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

9am, weather permitting.

Thursday Match Play League Event 1 Recap

In cool and soggy conditions, Lakeview's Thursday morning league started its season.  Only seven of the thirty players posted scores that met or bettered their handicap with Patty Bowling coming in with the best, a nifty 29 on a gross of 49.  Super sub Denny Wagoner shot a net 31 to come in second.  No team was able to post a net score better than the course par though Frank and Susan Fee came in pretty close with a 72, one better than an even par 71.  Hole prizes were claimed by sub Tom Walker, filling in for Bob Elliott, with a shot to four feet at #7, and Wayne Pearl at #8 with a longest first putt of the day of five feet.  Three players tied for the low gross of 40: Jack Butcher, Junior Byron and Lakeview league newcomer, Perry Bays.  Of particular note:  Tom Walker's prize shot at #7 resulted in his second birdie at that hole this week; in Tuesday's Men's League, he chipped in from just off the green for the league's, as well as his, first birdie of the season.  Average gross score for Thursday's play was a pretty dismal 47.6 with the net average of 38.37 equally dreary, each average some three plus strokes more than the players' averages in last season's closing event. 

Thursday Math Play League Thursday Results Event 1

Thursday Match Play League results for this morning's season opening event are posted here.  Will post the schedule later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Bits and Pieces

-The world's #1 golfer?  The Bleacher Report gives you the chance to vote your #1 golfer in the world here.  I did, voting for Tiger Woods - yeah, I know he hasn't been any too productive in the win column lately, but still...  Guess whose name is at the top? by a wide margin? like 45% of the total to 17% for the guy in second?  There really is a reason why a lot of us turn on the tv and watch when he's in the hunt.

-And, speaking of Woods:  Cheyenne, the winner in the Woods family in recent weeks and months and years was asked if she had any advise for her uncle in getting back to the winner's circle.  Her response: "I guess I should, right?!"  Cute.

-Golf Babe of the Day/Week/Month:  Cheyenne Woods.

-John Daly, you remember him, playing this week with the big boys down in Harbour Town.  Good luck, John; hope to see you on the weekend.  It's been almost twenty years since Big John, as the 9th alternate (!!!), burst onto the scene just up the road at Crooked Stick and won the 1991 PGA Championship.  He doesn't look all that big in this Sports Illustrated cover shot.

-The Martin County Journal (facebook link here) had a write up on the Tuesday night meeting at the Loogootee schools on the extension of Mike Wagoner's contract.  Lots of support for Mike.  Add mine.

-In just a little bit from now (10am), the Thursday Match Play League kicks off its season.  Hope to do a lot better than I did on Tuesday where I finished very poorly: three putt bogey on 7 and then a double bogey on 8 (but a nice up and down on 9) to finish with a 41.  Jeesh, Mike.  (Tom Walker and I paired up with Jack Lents and Terry LaMar to kick off the season; we picked up more than our share of bogeys as each of us came in at handicap plus status.  We all agreed we were just trying to be helpful to the rest of the golfers, fifty some of them, coming in behind us.)  More on the league play this week in a later post.

-Best get on with the rest of the day and get myself over to the golf course just north of here.  Treat yourself today and also see if you can find someone to wink at, just for fun.

Thursday Match Play League

The Thursday Match Play League gets underway tomorrow at 10am, weather permitting.  The weather at that time is supposed to be partly sunny and 51 degrees, just about perfect to get a golf season underway.  As I write, we have thirteen teams ready to play and, if that holds, then we will have one guest team, tomorrow being filled by Susan Eyler and Denny Wagoner.  Bring a sweater, some grit along with a bit of composure to get through opening day of yet another grand season.

Tuesday Men's League Results Event 1 Posted

Here.

Tuesday Men's League Results Event 1

Top teams and their points:

HART/SUMM    56.00
 DIVI/JEFF    54.00 (Jordan and Mitch)
 DIVI/INMA    51.00 (Jake and Brandon)
 WINI/STOL    51.00


Top individuals and their points:

HART, PAUL    108.00
 JEFFERS, MITCH    108.00
 JONES, DAN    108.00
 STOLL, KARRY    108.00
 SUMMERS, KENT    108.00

Hole prize winners:

#3: TJ McAtee
#7: James Hager
#8: Don Nolan
#9: Alan Burch

Low gross scores:

Dave Wininger (34)
James Hager (35)

Will post the full report tomorrow.

Tuesday Men's League

Looks like the rest of the day is going to be cloudy with temps in the 70's.  Jack Lents and Terry LaMar joined Tom Walker and me to get the league started.  We picked up more than our share of bogeys to lighten the load on you guys.  So, come on out and get your swings in. 

Tuesday Men's League To Start Today!

It's early in the day and the weather people are calling for scattered showers but for now the radar looks very favorable for the Tuesday Men to get their first regular season event into the books.

Tom Walker and I are planning to tee off at 10am, scattered showers permitting, and any other team that cares to join us is most welcome.  (If weather is iffy, we'll push it back a bit.)

Remember our 2010 champions?  Rob Rollins and Allen Harmon took the team title, nipping  the old pros, George Templin and Don Nolan, by a scant six points, 666 to 658. Brent Courter and Larry Sutton came in third at 638.  In the individual competition, Paul Hart scored 58 points on the last day to jump ahead of Bric Parker, who scored only 4 points that day, and win the title by just two points, 1269 to 1267.  Rob Rollins, Charlie Sheetz and Colin Padgett finished three through five, each with over 1200 points.

Here's a plan for today's season opener:  Choose the right stick, make a good swing.  Play smart and be aggressive.  Have fun along the way.

Lone Goose Nesting

In case you haven't noticed, there have been very few geese in the area so far this spring.  The above photo captures the only nester we have seen so far, an amazing feat considering the multitudes of the feathered beasties we have had in the past.  Credit to Mike Axsom at West Boggs Park for his very effective efforts in controlling the resident population.  You might want to drop him a line (mike@westboggs.com) and let him know how much us golfers appreciate his efforts.

Bits and Pieces

-Michelle Wie's swing.  Always instructional to watch the swing of a world class athlete.  For comparison's sake, watch the swing of Michelle's fellow LPGA'er, I.K. Kim.  Note the straight arms and the follow thru's.  My oh my. 

-The rainy weather put a damper on Saturday morning's scramble.  The drizzle, though not the cold, did stop about 9:40 and four of us went out for the walk and the company.  For the record, the Wininger brothers beat Wayne Souerdike and the Birdman by a single stroke when Dave W. rolled in a par saving four foot putt on the ninth hole.  It was rough going as each team found two bogeys and a par through the first three holes.  A birdie at four by Dave and Lee turned out to be the difference as both teams then parred out.

-Cheyenne Woods in the news again, wins the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.  Wonder if her uncle Tiger might be interested in getting a few tips from her about closing the deal and taking home the trophy?

-League start up this week.  Tuesday Men play their first regular season event anytime tomorrow while Thursday Match Play participants go at it at 10am on Thursday.  Will be watching the weather.

-For those of you who missed it, it's tax day here in the USA.  I filed electronically yesterday and will get the envelopes in the mail today.  Community development fund, right?

-Heading to the golf course early on this Monday morning.  Find a way to treat yourself and your buddy today.  Am sure you deserve it after a rough weekend.

Drake and McAtee Win Week 2 Preseason Scramble Prize, Tie For 18 Hole Prize With Hager and Johnson

John Drake and Tom McAtee fired a gross 35 and a net 28.33 on their second preseason scramble at Lakeview this past week.  The scores gave them the 1st place prize for the second scramble and also pushed them into a tie for the 18 hole prize with James Hager and Ryan Johnson.  The two teams shot a net 58.67 for the two nine hole scrambles to lead all teams.  Danny Jones and Lonnie Hawkins, winners of the first week's scramble, shot a net 31.67 during week two and placed third in the 18 hole game with a score  of  59.33.  A total of 24 teams participated in the second scramble with 14 of them qualifying for the 18 hole prize.  Complete listing of players and scores can be found here.

Bits and Pieces

-Something you never want to do:  Kevin Na set a new 'worst' record at the Texas Valero Open on Thursday when he took 16 strokes to complete the ninth hole.  Spent most of the time in some knarly woods.  Ouch.  Btw, he finished with an 80 that day and shot a 77 on Friday to miss the cut by 8 strokes.

-Something you might want to see:  John Drake and Tom McAtee had just teed off at #9 at Lakeview on Thursday afternoon when a mink with a snake in its mouth walked in front of them and disappeared under the fallen tree just below the service building.  The two, along with the mink, were unfazed by the unexpected meeting.  Larry Wininger reported seeing the mink on one of his rounds recently as well.  Neither Eric or I have seen the minks this year though they have been in the area for several years.  We figure they had their nest down just south of #7 green but had to move when the shoreline was rip-rapped last fall.  Neat little critters.

-Something your eyes will appreciate:  The Seoul Sisters preview the KLPGA season with commentary and photos.  Especially like the photos of the young ladies in non golfing garb; note the funky hat pics.

-Saturday Swing Tip from Butch Harmon and linkslifegolf.com: When you top the ball, it's not that you're peeking (looking up) but rather that you're straightening up.  Butch says stay in position.

-Looks like our weather this weekend is going to be all right after all:  Chance of showers today but mostly not; and sunny and in the high 60's tomorrow.  We'll take it.

-Scramble at 9 this morning.

Bits and Pieces

-Saturday Morning Scramble at 9am tomorrow, weather permitting.  Will squeeze it in between the rain and also get it in before the temperatures start dropping, maybe.

-Mixed League preseason scramble at Lakeview:  24 teams have now participated in the second of the two preseason scrambles with 10 of them getting out and getting in their scores yesterday.  14 teams have qualified for the 18 hole prize.  Players who want to participate still have two more days to get their nine holes in.  Final results will be posted Saturday night or Sunday morning.

-The swathe of rain storms coming our way just may arrive here in a few hours and sit on top of us for most of the day.  What a bummer.  Maybe it won't happen.  In any case, going over there now and getting a walk in.

-Btw, it's Friday.  Treat yourself and your friends with a couple of dozen donuts from the Donut Barn.  Don't forget to walk it off a little later.  Wouldn't be a bad idea to get the exercise in beforehand. 

Thursday Match Play League - 11am Today

Several TMPL'ers will be meeting at Lakeview this morning at 11am to complete the second preseason scramble.  All league members and substitutes are welcome to come out and join us.  Remember, prizes go for each nine hole scramble as well as for the low net on the 18 holes.

Bits and Pieces

-At Lakeview:  Several teams from the Tuesday Men's League came out and got in their preseason scramble.  Doug Denson and Dave Strange got together with Paul Hart and Noah Callahan and convinced them to participate.  They decided to do just that and then turned in the low score of the bunch with a net 30 for their nine holes.

-The Saturday and Monday rains, we got an inch each of those days, has jump started the grass growing season.  We were very concerned that last year's drought was going to have some longer lasting effects.  Now, with plenty of April rain (so far) and warmer temperatures, looks like things are greening up nicely.  May they continue to do so.

-Heading out to the golf course.  Looks like a super day to drag around a bunch of sticks and whack a little white orb all over the place.

Thursday Preseason Scramble Date

Thursday Morning Match Play Leaguers, as well as other league members, are invited to meet at 11am tomorrow to play this week's preseason scramble. Come on out even it you don't have a partner; if nothing else, you can get in a round of practice just one week before the start of the regular season.

Bits and Pieces

-The Masters:  What a great afternoon of golf!  Tiger's early charge to the top of the leaderboard and then all those great shots on the final nine holes.  Unfortunately, Tiger stalled on his back nine, playing even par after going -5 on the first nine and ending up in a tie for 4th (he really needs to have a talk with his putter, the stick that failed him way too many times during the four days and, yes, costing him his 5th green jacket).  The youngster and day's leader at the start of play by four strokes, Rory McIlroy, did find his 80, imploding on his back nine.  (Ouch, ouch, ouch.)  But several other players had a party on the final holes, rolling in and chipping in shot after shot that had the hills of Augusta ringing in cheers and applause and roars.  None were more impressive than the four closing birdies by Charl Schwartzel, the eventual winner by two. 

-At Lakeview:  Congrats to Danny Jones and Lonnie Hawkins on their win in the league's first preseason scramble.  They posted a net 27.67 to best four teams who tied for second at 29.33.  Nineteen teams participated.  Now on to the second preseason scramble; started yesterday and runs through next Saturday.  Grab your partner or a league substitute or another league player and post your score.

-Rain in the area for the morning.  Heading to B-town.

Cheyenne Woods at Sebring in January

Cheyenne Woods, Tiger's niece, came in second at the Harder Hill Invitational back in January. Lakeview members Junior and Pam Byron, recently back from their winter in Florida, were there and provided the on the scene photo of the young golfer.

  

Danny Jones and Lonnie Hawkins Victors in First Preseason Scramble at Lakeview

Danny Jones and Lonnie Hawkins posted a nifty gross score of 34 and a low net score of 27.67 to win the first of two preseason scrambles being held at Lakeview this past week to open the League season for 2011.  Nineteen teams participated in the scramble with four teams tying for second place at 29.33.  They were: Ryan Johnson and James Hager; Jack Butcher and Lee Wininger; Dave Wininger and Karry Stoll; and Stan Graber and Ryan Graber. Complete listing of the teams and their scores can be found here. 

The second preseason scramble starts on Sunday, April 10th, and runs through April 16th.  All league players and substitutes are eligible to participate at anytime during the week.  Teams that played in the first scramble are eligible for the second week prize as well as the low net eighteen hole prize.

Bits and Pieces

-The morning's scramble:  The eight of us who started the scramble came in after playing three/two holes and avoided the deluge that came upon this area mid morning.  Looks like we'll be clear again in an hour or two.

-Mixed League Scramble:  Today is the last day for the first of the two preseason scrambles.  Results will be posted tonight or tomorrow.

-The Masters:  Go, Tiger!  Super back nine for him yesterday.  Lots of birdies this year down at Augusta.  Gonna come to a screeching halt today?  Doubt it. 

-On the six who could become #1 in the world by winning the Masters:  Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell missed the cut; Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Tiger are all in contention with Tiger three back of the leader after 36 holes.  Chances of some golfer outside of these six winning the Masters remains high. Anybody putting money down on TW?  How about money down on Rory McIlroy, the leader, having a bad Saturday?

-Heading back to the golf course.  Looks like the rain is just about outta here.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

9am.  Might be dodging raindrops but I hope not.  Saturday mornings are meant for a bit of golf, at least in these parts.

Bits and Pieces

-Scramble tomorrow starting at 9am.

-Mixed League Scramble: This is day six of the first week's preseason scramble.  Fifteen teams have already played with today and tomorrow remaining for additional play.  Sunday will start the second of the two preseason scrambles.  Remember that there will be three prizes: one for each nine hole scramble and then one for the 18 hole total (must play with the same partner for the two weeks to be eligible for the 18 hole prize).

-Five teams from Thursday Match Play League came out and played yesterday morning.  Two Tuesday Men's League teams played later in the afternoon.

-Will post the results of this week's preseason scramble on Sunday.

-Heading to the golf course to open up.  Don't see much rain on the radar although they are calling for it today.  Yes, we could use some though the evening delivery is the preferred mode.

-Treat yourself today: Get to the Donut Barn for some goodies and also play at least nine holes of golf.

Bits and Pieces

Important stuff today:

-Thursday Match Play Leaguers take on the course at 11am - those wanting to participate in the Mixed League preseason scramble or just play nine holes of warm up.

-The Masters gets underway down in Augusta.  Can Phil Mickelson ascend to #1 in the world and get his fourth green jacket in seven years?  Can Tiger Woods right his ship and reverse his fortunes?  Can one of the upstart Europeans continue their recent dominance of all things golf?  I like Phil's chances; I want Tiger to reverse his fortunes, and I expect someone else to win the Masters, cause there are so many good golfers out there and golf is so damn fickle.

-Weather is being kind to us today - expected midday rain shoved to overnight stuff.  Like that.  Best get myself over there.

Thursday Math Play League Thursday Scramble

Thursday Thursday Match Play League players who want to participate in the first of the two Mixed League scrambles are invited to come out tomorrow at 11am (weather permitting) and get in nine holes of preseason scramble.  Suggest you call your partner and make it a date.  Doesn't have to be tomorrow - all participants have the option of playing anytime during the week.  The second preseason scramble starts on Sunday, the 10th.

Texas A&M Makes It 0-2, Beat Irish 76-70

Photo:  Danielle Adams, the thorn in the Irish side all night, scoring late in the game.

That would be o and 2 for Hoosier teams trying to win a national championship this year.  Dang.

Tiger's First Masters Win

The Sports Illustrated issue of April 21, 1997, had Tiger on the cover and this article, Strokes of Genius, on the inside.  It's a good one.  (Credit to the Bleacher Report and golf.com, for pointing me in the right direction.)

Bits and Pieces

-Bulldogs lose to Huskies.  Dang.  Yeah, after that closing three pointer of the first half and the opening three pointer of the second half, it was painful to watch.  Did win the Romper Stompers 'guess em' game and ending up ranked 1957th which is better than 94.28% of all the players; on the Women's side, where I picked the Irish to win it all, the stats are 99th and 96.90% with one game to go.  Little consolation.  Doubly important for the Irish to get the Women's title tonight.  Go Irish.  More on the Irish from the Indy Star here, and the South Bend Tribune here.  Ending thought on Butler:  Impressive two year run for the gold - they did good.

-Best finish up the basketball season so we can concentrate on golf.  Which reminds me:  Got a pretty important golf tournament coming up in a few days called the Masters.  Hope it's great weather and all the players are on their games.

-Out here at Lakeview, our own preseason scramble continues.  Looks like the weather is going to cooperate, at least on the temperature side.  Greater chance of more showers later in the week.  Get a hold of your partner and get on out there and get your nine holes in.  You just might end up doing a whole bunch better than you expect.

-Btw, if you are looking for a League partner, let me know and I can put you on the available-to-play list.  Get a call every now and then with local golfers looking to play in the leagues and needing a partner.

-Best get over to the golf course and see how all that rain made things green up.  Expect there are areas that could use some trimming.

p.s.  Love the fact that six different golfers could ascend to the #1 ranking in the world with a win at the Masters.  And that includes Tiger.  The story here from the bleacher report.

Bits and Pieces

-Holy Cow!  The Irish take down the Huskies and head to the championship game on Tuesday night.  They won going away, 72-63, outscoring UConn, 46-31 in the second half.  Wow oh wow.  Skylar Diggins, the South Bend Washington graduate, lit up the night with 28 points and super leadership as the Irish came back from six down at halftime and beat the last #1 seed in the tournament (earlier in the evening, another #2, Texas A&M dispatched the other #1, Stanford).  Took four tries this year, but the Irish finally got their win against another one of those teams that has been giving them fits (an even sweeter victory than last week's very first win against another #1 seed, Tennessee).  From the South Bend Tribune:

After the final horn, as the celebration broke out on the floor, Diggins ran up and down the court yelling, "THIS IS OUR HOUSE! THIS IS OUR HOUSE!"

Got one more 'visitor' to host on Tuesday night.  Show them a good time but in the end, send them packing.  Neat stuff.

-In the Ladies first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco, Stacy Lewis was the last woman standing out at Mission Hills.  Yani Tseng, the world's #1 lady golfer, uncharacteristically fumbled on the back nine, making bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes and eventually losing by three strokes.  Michelle Wie also bumbled her back nine in an even bigger fashion: she doubled bogeyed the last hole to go along with three other bogeys on her final nine (along with an eagle at the 11th hole) to drop out of solo third and into a 6th place finish.  A top ten but not really the way you want to finish a tournament.  More from Jeff Skinner at LinksLifeGolf on Lewis' win.


-Lefty very impressive down in Houson.  Takes the title and finally moves ahead of Tiger Woods in the world rankings (LM at #3, TW dropping to #7).  If there is such a thing as a favorite for the Masters later this week, then it's got to be Phil.  Don't think there is such a thing though.


-Out at Lakeview:  The opening league scramble is underway.  Last year's September Challenge winners, Tom McAtee and John Drake, did the honors by firing a gross 37 in very windy but warm conditions (in the 80's!).  Warm again today but also with storms during.  How about our first 70 degree night of the season!  That will make the grass grow.  The rain helps as well.


-Go, Butler!  Wouldn't it be nice to have both the Men's and the Women's trophies here in Indiana this year?!  That would mean Butler winning tonight and the Irish tomorrow night.  I say what the heck, lets do it. 

Bird, Graber and Wininger Win Saturday Scramble in OT

 Stan Graber, Lee Wininger, Kevin Byron and Tyler Kidwell at #1 in OT.

Tyler Kidwell sinking a five foot putt at #3 to extend the match.

Mike Bird, Stan Graber and Lee Wininger won the Saturday Morning Scramble over Tyler Kidwell, Wayne Souerdike, Curt Johnson and Kevin Byron.  The nine hole scramble went to overtime as both teams finished at -1.  After each team made routine pars at the first extra hole, #1, things got a little dicey at #2.  Wayne Souerdike chipped from 40 yards out to a foot of the pin for a gimme birdie for their team.  The Bird/Graber/Wininger team left their chip well shy of the hole and had a twenty foot putt to convert to force a third extra hole.  Lee Wininger promptly did that, draining the team's first putt.  The two teams again traded pars at hole #3 with Tyler Kidwell making a nifty five foot putt to extend the match.  On the fourth extra hole, #9, each team missed the green and were chipping for the win.  Bird, Graber and Wininger were successful in getting up and down with a chip to within a foot of the hole while Kidwell, Souerdike, Johnson and Byron chipped to within five feet and were unable to get the tying putt into the hole.

Bits and Pieces

-Michelle Wie has a great Saturday, still six back of leader Yani Tseng, who is now poised to win her fifth title of the year worldwide.  Is that impressive?  Yes.  How about a super day for the Wie Lass and just a bit of faltering by the leaders?  One can hope...

-Lefty had himself quite a day down in Houston yesterday,  firing a record tying 63 and vaulting into a tie for the lead with Scott Verplank at the Shell Houston Open.  His best round in two years.  Can he have another good day on the links and walk away with a win a week before the Masters?  Probably not - eleven players are within four strokes of each other.  Should be a shootout down there today.

Meanwhile, at another venue in the Houston neighborhood:

-The Men's Big Dance:  It's a dog show Monday for the title: Bulldogs vs Huskies.  Butler takes care of VCU and UConn nips KY last night in the semifinals.  Two super games.  UConn's win leaves me on top of the Romper Stomper pick-em group.  I did get the UConn-Indiana school right for the championship; just had the wrong school (Notre Dame) taking on the Huskies.  Go Butler!

-Going to the golf course where we are going to have windy and warm today.

Bits and Pieces

-Notre Dame basketball coach is the Coach of the Year!  Cool.

-The Wie Lass roars into contention at the Kraft Nabisco Championship with a five under second round (six birds, one bogey, and only 24 putts!).  That puts her at -3 and tied for 8th, six strokes behind leader Stacy Lewis.  Yani Tseng in contention for her 5th win of the year; she's three back in a tie for second with Brittany Lincicome and Jane Park.  More on Michelle Wie's round from Stephanie Wei at Wei Under Par.

-Out at Lakeview yesterday, Tom McAtee stopped in and signed John Drake and himself up for the preseason league scrambles.  You remember, he and John easily won the September Challenge last Fall.  Nice that the weather is changing for us, from cool and cloudy to warm and sunny.

-Heading out to the golf course.  Scramble at 10 this morning.

-Go Butler!

Bits and Pieces

-Saturday Scramble:  10am start.

-The girls at Mission Hills:  Temperatures reached 100 degrees; greens are fast and hard.  Didn't seem to bother some - Brittany Lincicome and Stacy Lewis lead at -6 with Mika Miyazato and Sandra Gal (last week's KIA Classic winner) at -5.  The Wie Lass came in at +2 and sits in a tie for 54th.  She has work to do.  Did notice that her driving was on the money; she averaged over 303 yards yesterday.  Lincicome averaged 294 and Lewis 269.  Cristie Kerr had a terrible day with five bogeys, a double bogey and only one bird.  She sits at +6 for the tournament and in a tie for 101st place.  Ouch.

-Wrapped up yesterday with nine holes of golf with Doug Denson and Lee Wininger.  Doug and I played even steven in a skins and flags match (3 and 3) while Lee played his own ball and cheered us on.

-More golf today though the weatherman is calling for rain this afternoon and evening.  We actually could use some out at the golf course.

-Weekend wishes:  Wins for Butler and Notre Dame in their semi final matches in the March Madness.  Expect Butler to be favored in its match with VCU; not the same for the Irish who take on UConn.