Thursday, June 21, 2012

Thursday Match Players - Come on Down!

Another grand day for golf, especially here in the morning when we've got a bit of the 'evening chill' still with us.

Subs:  Expect we'll need at least two to pair up with Wayne Pearl in the Home Team and with Dave Strange in the Elliott Team.  Wayne will be going up against The Girls, Pam Byron and Anna Mosby; Dave goes out taking on The Couple, Frank and Susan Fee.

Fourth and final week of the Individual Handicapped tournament with Tony Wease trying to make it two in a row (he and Charlie won the first tournament of the year).  There are several of us who would like very much to deny him that little achievement.  Pam Byron and Dick Lemmon are one stroke back, I'm two strokes back (! after finishing next to last in the Tuesday Men's tournament), and Jack Lents is only three strokes back.  And don't count out Susan Fee or Virgil Harper sitting four strokes behind the leader.

Regular season stuff:

Team competition leaders Kenny Hudson and Junior Byron take on their closest competitors, Jack Butcher and Rex Hudson.  Kenny and Junior start the day with a 10+ lead in the standings over Jack and Rex and a 16+ point lead over third placers Frank and Susan Fee.  Note that there is still plenty of time (8 more matches) for even the cellar dwellers (Pam and Anna - that's a surprise!) to make a move to the top.

In the individual competition, Dick Lemmon is at the top with lots of contenders.  Watch out for Charlie Sheetz - he's found a way to get to the green in good shape and now is looking for a better relationship with his putter - that would take another three or four stokes off of his game. 

The course is very dry.  Eric has been socking some water to the fairways this week and, of course, to the greens, surrounds and tees.  The wind, coming from the south the past couple of days, has allowed for a pretty healthy swing from the #1 tee box.  Looks pretty calm out there right now - you big hitters out there may want to dial down at #1.  The rest of the holes: get your ball started down the middle and watch it roll and roll and roll.  Look for much better scores on #4, 5 and 8.

Tip for the day:  Pay attention to your iron game - proper club selection with a good swing and solid contact will get you on the green sooner.  And being on the green rather than on the collar or the surround will save you close to a stroke a hole.  Unless you are a super chipper...

See some of you in a little bit.