2015 Midseason Scramble - June 30

The pairings for our 2015 midseason scramble are shown below.  Team Warren will be playing earlier in the day in order to participate in non-golf activities that evening (but why would anyone want to do that?).  After their incessant whining last week about only playing in the first group twice this season, Team McEvilly will lead off the evening (hopefully giving the Commissioner some relief).  Our most "attendance challenged" teams, Nelson, Miller, and Weber, will close out the evening.

Here are the scramble rules and other information.

There will be four "regular" holes prizes.  Each earns the winner $5.

·         Longest holed shot (putt or chip) on #3

·         Longest drive in fairway on #4

·         Closest to the pin (on the green) in 1 shot on #6

·         Closest to the pin in 2 shots (on the green) on #7

Tee Times

Noonish:  Warren 

4:42:  McEvilly – Please take flags out for the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th holes. Thanks.

4:50:  Rieves

4:58:  Kraus

5:06:  Molter

5:14:  Moritz

5:22:  Weber

5:30:  Miller

5:38:  Raymer

5:46:  Nelson - Please bring the flags in.

Reminders:

·         Hit your tee shots on hole 8 from the upper tee.

·         You must count at least one tee shot from each member of your group. On your scorecard, note who hit the tee shot you used on each hole.

·         Count your putts on each hole, and note them on the scorecard.

Rules (for those unfamiliar with the scramble format):

1.      Each foursome plays as a team and keeps one score for the team (including putts).

2.      After each golfer tees off, the team picks one shot to play next, and each golfer hits from there. The three people whose shots won't be used should retrieve their balls and drop within a club-length of the ball chosen to be played, but if the ball you are playing is in the rough or a hazard you must play from that rough or hazard. You may improve your lie (winter rules).

3.      Follow this same procedure until your team holes out.

4.      When putting, the first person puts a mark down to identify where the others should putt from if the first person misses.

5.      At least one tee shot from each golfer in the foursome must be used on one of the nine holes. You do not need to decide whose tee shot is to be used until after everybody has teed off on a hole, unless you are forced to use a specific golfer’s tee shot on holes 7, 8, or 9 because you have not used one of their tee shots yet.

Tiebreakers

1.      Most holes-in-one

2.      Most eagles

3.      Most birdies

4.      Fewest putts

5.      Higher average team handicap (those without handicaps will not be counted)

6.      If still tied, prize money will be divided proportionally

There is some pride - who knew

A fourth straight good weather evening inspired some of the best scoring of the season.  With most of the league just playing for pride, 23 golfers hit their average or better, including 15 with scores in the net 20s.  Truly admirable.  On the flip side, Matt Raymer channeled his inner Dave Wolfe, shooting a 50 and increasing his handicap to 13 for the Raymer team's second half run.  Very strategic.  Tom Weber's hopes of shooting a season high score were thwarted when he laced a beautiful approach shot onto the ninth green.

Team Warren put on a show, shooting a collective net 11 strokes under par to pull away from Team Kraus to win the first half title.  Mike Warren and Chad "don't tell me I'm low average" Shultz both shot 38 to pace the league.  Michael Brania and sub Steve Held posted 39s.  Three players shot a net 25, including Michael Brania, the red hot Eric Durkee, and crafty veteran Pat McEvilly.  It appears that both Bob Moritz and Doug Hoerr holed shots on hole 8 from off the green.  Jeff "slap shot" Dvorak needed only 12 putts despite a 3 putt on hole 8.  In the category of "what might have been", Jeff shot a 40 despite a 7 on hole 8, and Steve McDonnell shot a 41 despite an 8 on hole 5.

Thirty-eight players participated Tuesday.  The amazing thing is that the one reliable Team Nelson player, Kevin Kiser, was not one of them.  That does not bode well for Team Nelson's second half title hopes.

At the season's half way point, 4 golfers are neck-and-next for season low average, including leader Steve McDonnell, Dave Rieves, Keith Brown, and Chad Shultz.  (Sadly, the commissioner is a distant 5th.)  No one finished the first half with an average under 40.  Jake Holler has a narrow lead over Dan Stanford for the Sy Brandt award, but a few more attempts to reach hole 7 from the first tee could hamper Jake's hopes.

Pairings for Week 9, June 23

The pairings for June 23 follow.  All eyes will be on the Kraus:Warren match that will determine our first half champion.  The rest of us are playing for pride.  We will find out who has any.

Our mid-season scramble will be held on June 30.  Bribes for preferred tee times are now being accepted.

4:42 & 4:50	McEvilly vs. Raymer
Dan Stanford	15		Mike Sanders	19
Jim Zweifel	10		Adam Hopkins	13
Pat McEvilly	17		Matt Raymer	11
Ed Corcoran	16		Paul Barnett	14
4:58 & 5:06	Molter vs. Moritz
Ed Molter	14		Keith Brown	8
Rob Zimmerman	24		Tom Hidde	13
Matt Wornson	14		Bob Moritz	14
Dave Downing	15		Paul Schuettler	17
5:14 & 5:22	Weber vs. Rieves
Shane Gibson	17		Lynn Paulson	10
Tom Weber	24		Michael Brania	14
Pat Fahey	23		Steve Smith	17
Chris Weber	7		Dave Rieves	8
5:30 & 5:38	Kraus vs. Warren
Eric Durkee	17		Chad Shultz	9
Rich Lampe (gb)	12		Jeff Dvorak	11
Mike Kraus	18		Mike Warren	11
Bob Jokisch	20		Jake Holler	10
5:46 & 5:54	Miller vs. Nelson
Doug Hoerr	12		Steve McDonnell	8
Bill Swisher	19		Brad Nelson	19
Charlie Hoslet	16		Kevin Kiser	14
David Miller (sp)	12		Bill Crahen	25

And Then There Were Two

A beautiful night for golf inspired a good turnout, with the league coming within one double booked sub of perfect attendance.  Most amazing was that the Nelson:Weber match had a full contingent of 8 players.  No doubt many league members lost their shirts betting on the under on how many players would show up for that match.

Teams Warren and Kraus each made a statement with 5 points each, eliminating every other team from the first half title chase and setting up an epic head-to-head match next week.  Word is that advance sales for the top viewing spots are off the charts, as is the bidding for the TV rights.  Three players managed to break 40 this week, including Mike Warren who needed just 12 putts thanks to quality chipping.  Eric Durkee rudely shot a net 25 while matched against his Commissioner.  Yes, there will be consequences (though his boss refused to fire Eric today).

In other news.....

> Taking one of his typically manly swings, Brad Nelson actually dented his driver striking his ball.  May be a league first.

> Apparently confusing the "lower green" sign on the hole 1 tee box to mean that he was supposed to shoot for the green on hole 7, Jake Holler got as far as the hole 5 fairway.  Once he was informed of the actual target, he managed to salvage a bogey.  He may have kinked his neck during his round though, because he may have set a league record for head shaking while playing the ninth hole.

> Chad Shultz wilted under the pressure of being the season low average golfer through week 7.  He won't be facing that pressure next week.  However, he may be facing his second suspension, this time for allegedly cursing the Commissioner.  An investigation is underway.

> Pat Fahey threaded another shot through the trees on hole 7 onto the green.  A warning to others - don't try this at home.

Pairings for Week 8, June 16

The pairings for June 16 follow.  The forecast is promising, and another week of more respectable scores may be on tap.  Four of the top five teams are in head-to-head matches, with the Rieves:Kraus and Raymer:Warren matches likely to be key in determining the first half champion.  The Nelson:Weber match may settle ninth place.  The over/under for the number of players who show up for that match is 6.

At the suggestion of Paul Schuettler, the standings will be attached to the ball washer on hole one along with the current week's pairings.  Thanks for that suggestion Paul.  Also, some prize balls are expected to be handed out this week.

4:42 & 4:50	Rieves vs. Kraus
Steve Smith	16		Bob Jokisch	19
Lynn Paulson	10		Eric Durkee	17
Dave Rieves	8		Gary Buehler	17
Michael Brania	15		Mike Kraus	18
4:58 & 5:06	Molter vs. Miller
Ed Molter	13		Doug Hoerr	11
Dave Downing	15		Bill Swisher	19
Matt Wornson	14		Charles Hoslet	15
Rob Zimmerman	24		Sasi Pillay	19
5:14 & 5:22	Raymer vs. Warren
Matt Raymer	10		Jeff Dvorak	11
Mike Sanders	17		Jake Holler	10
Adam Hopkins	13		Mike Warren	11
Paul Barnett	15		Chad Shultz	9
5:30 & 5:38	Moritz vs. McEvilly
Tom Hidde	13		Pat McEvilly	17
Bob Moritz	13		Ed Corcoran	15
Keith Brown	7		Jim Zweifel	10
Paul Schuettler	15		Dan Stanford	14
5:46 & 5:54	Nelson vs. Weber
Brad Nelson	18		Shane Gibson	17
Bill Crahen	25		Pat Fahey	22
Kevin Kiser	13		Tom Weber	25
Steve McDonnell	8		Chris Weber	7

Finally, A Warm Week

At last, a Tuesday night with weather golf should always be played in.  The excellent conditions led to a season low league average, and a season best 5 players shooting under 40.  There was only one report of a player hitting the mower parked between the tee and green on hole 8.  Congrats to league members for overcoming the latest attempt to make Glenway tougher.

Steve McDonnell rode a hot putter to shoot a league low 36 and became the first player this season to record 12 or fewer putts.  Unfortunately for Steve, he was paired against a red hot Michael Brania who shot a net 26 and beat Steve by 2.  Caleb Hopkins posted the low net score with a 24 (probably locking up a golf scholarship to UW-Madison this fall).  The top two teams had rough nights, bringing several other teams back into the mix for the first half title with two weeks to go.

In other news.....

> Bob Jokisch was kind enough to give 10 strokes to Matt Raymer on holes 4 and 7 combined, but beat him anyway.

> Team Nelson pretended it was going to forfeit all four matches, only to have 2 golfers show up after all four members of Team Rieves had teed off.  That clever approach enabled them to double their points won the previous week when all four members played.  Brad Nelson - master strategist.

> Chad Shultz returned from his suspension to shoot a 38 a take over the lead for the season low average.

> Pat Fahey is getting married June 20 - tuxes optional.

Pairings for Week 7, June 9

The pairings for June 9 are shown below.  The forecast is for sunshine, temps in the mid to upper 80s, and single digit winds - almost ideal for golf.

Last week was our slowest pace of the year.  It is still important for earlier groups to try to complete their rounds in about 2 hours.  Team Nelson appreciates your consideration.

4:42 & 4:50	Kraus vs. Raymer
Bob Jokisch	19		Matt Raymer	10
Gary Buehler	17		Adam Hopkins	13
Mike Kraus	17		Mike Sanders	17
Eric Durkee	17		Paul Barnett	15
4:58 & 5:06	Weber vs. Molter
Chris Weber	7		Ed Molter	13
Shane Gibson	17		Matt Wornson	14
Pat Fahey	22		Dave Downing	14
Tom Weber	25		Rob Zimmerman	23
5:14 & 5:22	McEvilly vs. Miller
Ed Corcoran	15		Charles Hoslet	15
Dan Stanford	14		Bill Swisher	19
Pat McEvilly	16		Sasi Pillay	19
Jim Zweifel	11		Doug Hoerr	12
5:30 & 5:38	Warren vs. Moritz
Chad Shultz	11		Bob Moritz	13
Jake Holler	10		Keith Brown	7
Mike Warren	11		Tom Hidde	13
Jeff Dvorak	10		Paul Schuettler	15
5:46 & 5:54	Rieves vs. Nelson
Dave Rieves	8		Kevin Kiser	14
Lynn Paulson	10		Brad Nelson	18
Steve Smith	16		Bill Crahen	25
Michael Brania	15		Steve McDonnell	8

Results for June 2

The results for June 2 are now posted.  It is difficult to say what was more remarkable about the evening.....

>  that we had decent weather for a change,
>  that the entire Nelson team showed up and completed their rounds, or
>  that there was a Chris Weber sighting.

Too close to call.

Keith Brown posted the low score of the night with a 38, followed by Lynn Paulson at 39.  Bob Jokisch took a big step closer to mastering golf by shooting a net 25.  Teammate Mike Kraus and Tom Weber shot net 27s.  Team Kraus had a 5.5 point night, and caught team Warren for the first half lead.  Although a few other teams have a chance, the week 9 Kraus:Warren match will likely be a big factor is determining the first half title.

Chad Shultz completed his one week suspension for repeated tree battering with a golf ball.  No doubt his teammates are looking forward to his return next week.