Pairings for Week 18, September 1

The pairings for our last full-field night are shown below.  To avoid another night of the last groups finishing in the dark  all  players should arrive early, tee of as soon as is reasonable, and keep up with the group ahead.  Team Raymer enters week 18 with the second half lead for the second straight year.  Will they hold on this time?

4:42 & 4:50	McEvilly vs. Raymer
Dan Stanford	13		Paul Barnett	14
Jim Zweifel	11		Matt Raymer	11
Pat McEvilly	14		Mike Sanders	16
Ed Corcoran	13		Adam Hopkins	13
4:58 & 5:06	Molter vs. Moritz
Ed Molter	12		Bob Moritz	14
Rob Zimmerman	22		Paul Schuettler	15
Matt Wornson	11		Keith Brown	6
Dave Downing	12		Tom Hidde	13
5:14 & 5:22	Weber vs. Rieves
Matt Blouin (cw)	14		Lynn Paulson	8
Pat Fahey	21		Michael Brania	12
Tom Weber	22		Steve Smith	16
Shane Gibson	15		Dave Rieves	6
5:30 & 5:38	Kraus vs. Warren
Eric Durkee	12		Mike Warren	8
Gary Buehler	17		Jake Holler	10
Mike Kraus	14		Chad Shultz	7
Bob Jokisch	16		Jeff Dvorak	12
5:46 & 5:54	Miller vs. Nelson
Doug Hoerr	10		Mike Williams (kk)	8
Bill Swisher	20		Bill Crahen	19
David Miller (ch)	12		Steve McDonnell	8
Sasi Pillay	20		Brad Nelson	16

Perfect Attendance

On a cool August evening the league posted a season first as 40 players participated.  Apparently effectively playing two matches with a second half title and the season ending flight tournament on the line was inspirational.  The downside was the half-hour gap between the first and second groups of the evening, resulting in the last 2-3 groups finishing in the dark.  Pat Fahey reported that is was so dark that his foursome needed to use a sextant and use the stars to guide them on holes 8 and 9.  That sextant seemed to work well as that group made the two longest putts of the evening on hole 9.  Steve McDonnell was heard to say "We don't need no stinking sunlight".

Chad Shultz, in a belated and likely futile attempt to win the season low gross average title, led the league with a 35.  The two players in the strongest position for that honor, Dave Rieves and Keith Brown, shot 38 and 37 respectively.  Jake Holler (38) and Doug Hoerr (39) also broke 40.  From the near miss department, Mike Williams shot a 42 with a 9 on hole 5.

In another attempt to wipe out the league's golf ball supply, four players led the league for low net for the second time this season.  Ed Corcoran, Brad Nelson, Mike Sanders, and Chad Shultz all shot net 27s.  Those four are in contention for the flight tournament titles, but many others could still win with a low score next week.  The race for the Sy Brandt award is historically close.  With several players still in contention, the ultimate winner will almost certainly need to win his match next week and shoot a score below his season average.

The head-to-head matches this week were competitive, but the blind matches caused some separation among the teams.  Team Raymer put itself in the driver's seat for the second half title, but several other teams have a mathematical chance and will be rooting for Team McEvilly to take 6 points from Team Raymer next Tuesday.

Dave Rieves, captain of the defending league champions, is making arrangements for the league banquet at Babes for either September 8 or 15.  More details should follow soon.

Pairings for Week 17, August 25

The pairings for August 25 are shown below.  In addition to the posted match, each players scores will be compared with his week 16 opponent to determine the outcome for those matches.  The scores from August 25 will count twice for the year-end tournament, but only once for regular match play handicap purposes.  It keeps getting dark earlier, so everyone should play fast out of consideration for the latter groups.

4:42 & 4:50	Rieves vs. Kraus
Steve Smith	16		Mike Kraus	15
Lynn Paulson	8		Gary Buehler	17
Dave Rieves	6		Eric Durkee	12
Michael Brania	12		Bob Jokisch	16
4:58 & 5:06	Molter vs. Miller
Ed Molter	12		Charles Hoslet	16
Dave Downing	13		Sasi Pillay	20
Matt Wornson	13		Doug Hoerr	10
Rob Zimmerman	23		Bill Swisher	20
5:14 & 5:22	Raymer vs. Warren
Matt Raymer	11		Mike Warren	8
Mike Sanders	18		Chad Shultz	8
Adam Hopkins	13		Jeff Dvorak	12
Paul Barnett	14		Jake Holler	10
5:30 & 5:38	Moritz vs. McEvilly
Keith Brown	7		Pat McEvilly	14
Paul Schuettler	16		Ed Corcoran	15
Tom Hidde	12		Jim Zweifel	10
Bob Moritz	14		Dan Stanford	13
5:46 & 5:54	Nelson vs. Weber
Brad Nelson	17		Chris Weber	8
Bill Crahen	20		Tom Weber	23
Kevin Kiser	14		Pat Fahey	22
Steve McDonnell	8		Shane Gibson	15

Lightning Ruins A Warm Day

After a day of hopeful weather forecasts predicting that rain would hold off until 9:00, a shift in the storms direction resulted in the cancellation of league play.  Not everyone was pleased with the decision.  An astonished Jeff Dvorak was heard to say "One bolt of lightning and a chance of some rain and we don't get to play?  What is this league coming to!"

Hopefully everyone was able to get a rain check.  However, the rain checks may not be used for league play.  The good news about that is we do not need to extend the season to September 8.  Instead, league members will play the matches scheduled for next week, and the scores will also be matched against the August 18 opponents.  The scores will also be used twice for the 4 week season ending tournament, so August 25 will be a good night for bringing your A game.

Pairings for Week 16, August 18

The pairings for August 18 follow.  It is starting to get dark earlier, so a good pace of play will be appreciated by all.

4:42 & 4:50	Kraus vs. Raymer
Nick Probst (bj)	New		Mike Sanders	18
Gary Buehler	17		Paul Barnett	14
Mike Kraus	15		Matt Raymer	11
Eric Durkee	12		Adam Hopkins	13
4:58 & 5:06	Weber vs. Molter
Matt Blouin (cw)	15		Dave Downing	13
Shane Gibson	15		Rob Zimmerman	23
Pat Fahey	22		Ed Molter	12
Tom Weber	23		Matt Wornson	13
5:14 & 5:22	McEvilly vs. Miller
Pat McEvilly	14		Jay Krafft (ch)	8
Jim Zweifel	10		David Miller (bs)	12
Ed Corcoran	15		Sasi Pillay	20
Dan Stanford	13		Doug Hoerr	10
5:30 & 5:38	Warren vs. Moritz
Chad Shultz	8		Tom Hidde	12
Jake Holler	10		Steve Hineline (ps)	10
Mike Warren	8		Bob Moritz	14
Jeff Dvorak	12		Keith Brown	7
5:46 & 5:54	Rieves vs. Nelson
Dave Rieves	6		Steve McDonnell	8
Lynn Paulson	8		Bill Crahen	20
Steve Smith	16		Brad Nelson	17
Michael Brania	12		Kevin Kiser	14

A Rare Hole-In-One

August 11 featured 38 golfers averaging a season best league wide average of 43.6.  Team Weber, sparked by net 25s by Shane Gibson and Matt Blouin and a net 26 by Tom Weber, had a 6 point night to surge up in the standings.  While those net scores were respectable, they paled in comparison with the net 21 posted by the ever improving Bill Crahen.  Keith Brown shot a 37 and Dave Rieves a 38 as they essentially set up a two person race for the season low average crown with three weeks to go.  The second half team race remains tight, with team Molter edging out in front of the pack.

The highlight of the evening was delivered by Michael Brania.  Frustrated by 5 three-putts in his first seven holes, Mike decided to take putting out of the equation by holing his tee shot on the eighth hole for the league's first hole-in-one in two years.  He was a little excited.

In other news....

> Jay Krafft was scheduled to sub for Michael Brania until Michael's plans changed.  Bitter about the late notice of this change, Jay managed to secure a sub spot for team Molter in the same foursome, and them put a serious beat-down on the commissioner.  At least he had the decency to buy the commissioner a beer after the round.

> Mike Warren drove the first green, but left his eagle putt 6 inches short.  But, his birdies on holes 1 and 9 helped secure a 39, showing he can break 40 in slacks or shorts.

> There was an Ed Corcoran sighting for the first time in several weeks.  Ed shot a net 29, but lost by 4, which sadly may discourage a return next week.

>  Channeling his inner Chad Shultz, Steve Smith attempted to sneak a ball through the trees on hole 5 only to hit the same tree on consecutive shots.  Perhaps if enough of the rest of us follow this strategy we can thin out a few trees by knocking them down.

Pairings for Week 15, August 11

The pairings for August 11 follow.  With all ten teams in the mix, this should be a good night, and the forecast is excellent.

4:42 & 4:50	Moritz vs. Raymer
Keith Brown	7		Matt Raymer	11
Jim Beyer (th)	New		Paul Barnett	14
Steve Moritz (bm)	10		Adam Hopkins	13
Steve Hineline (ps)	10		Mike Sanders	18
4:58 & 5:06	McEvilly vs. Weber
Dan Stanford	14		Shane Gibson	15
Jim Zweifel	10		Tom Weber	24
Pat McEvilly	13		Pat Fahey	22
Ed Corcoran	16		Chris Weber	8
5:14 & 5:22	Miller vs. Warren
Doug Hoerr	11		Chad Shultz	8
Bill Swisher	20		Jeff Dvorak	12
Charlie Hoslet	16		Mike Warren	9
Sasi Pillay	20		Jake Holler	10
5:30 & 5:38	Molter vs. Rieves
Matt Wornson	13		Lynn Paulson	8
Dave Downing	14		Michael Brania	11
Rob Zimmerman	23		Steve Smith	16
Ed Molter	11		Dave Rieves	6
5:46 & 5:54	Nelson vs. Kraus
Brad Nelson	18		Mike Kraus	15
Steve McDonnell	7		Bob Jokisch	17
Kevin Kiser	14		Eric Durkee	12
Bill Crahen	22		Gary Buehler	17

It is Tournament Time

We have reached the last four weeks of the season, which means it is time for the end of season tournament.  The handicaps shown below will be used for all four weeks for tournament purposes (they may change for regular league play).  Each player's best 3 net scores will be calculated, and the low net score for each flight will win $20.

Flight 1 (Handicaps 6 to 11)
Dave	Rieves	6
Keith	Brown	7
Steve	McDonnell	7
Jay	Krafft	8
Lynn	Paulson	8
Chad	Shultz	8
Chris	Weber	8
Mike	Warren	9
Jake	Holler	10
Jim	Zweifel	10
Michael	Brania	11
Doug	Hoerr	11
Ed	Molter	11
Matt	Raymer	11
Flight 2 (Handicaps 12 to 15)
Eric	Durkee	12
Jeff	Dvorak	12
Tom	Hidde	12
Adam	Hopkins	13
Patrick	McEvilly	13
Matt	Wornson	13
Paul	Barnett	14
Dave	Downing	14
Kevin	Kiser	14
Bob	Moritz	14
Dan	Stanford	14
Shane	Gibson	15
Mike	Kraus	15
Flight 3 (Handicaps 16 to 24)
Matt	Blouin	16
Ed	Corcoran	16
Charlie	Hoslet	15
Paul	Schuettler	16
Steve	Smith	16
Gary	Buehler	17
Bob	Jokisch	17
Brad	Nelson	18
Mike	Sanders	18
Saai	Pillay	20
Bill	Siwisher	20
Bi;;	Crahen	22
Pat	Fahey	22
Rob	Zimmerman	23
Tom	Weber	24

Mike Warren - "Look like a pro, play like a pro".

Another good weather night resulted in 38 golfers participating on August 4, although scores were not as good as the wonderfully humid previous week.  Team Rieves took advantage of 2 team McEvilly no-shows to propel it to a 6 point night while winning the 2 contested matches by one stroke each.  One week after securing 6 points, team Raymer posted a big 0 against team Miller.  Three teams are tied for first with four weeks to go, and all ten teams are within 7 points of the lead.  The second half race is shaping up to be a doozy.

Keith Brown shot his season best 34, moving into second behind Dave Rieves for the season low average in his attempt win that honor two years in a row.  Those two players were among 5 who broke 40.

Mike Warren showed up in golf slacks, claiming that he forgot his shorts and gripping about being too hot.  The real story is that he wanted to play like the pros and Dave Rieves do, and the results were positive as he shot a 37 (net 27).  We may see Mike in slacks the rest of the season.  Tom Weber played the first hole like a pro, getting a birdie that propelled him to a net 27.  Upon learning that they both broke 50, Brad Nelson and Bill Crahen (net 27) celebrated by throwing a party for those still at the course.  That will teach players who already left.  Jay Krafft was the fourth player to shoot a league low net 27, thereby seriously draining the league's golf ball supply.

Pay Fahey hit 6 trees in 3 shots on hole 7, making him sad that he lost his magical ball that somehow avoided trees and found that green in previous weeks.  Even Pat is human.

The first group out decided that the prize for hole 9 was "Drive closest to the 150 marker".  Your commissioner, who hit his longest drive in the fairway on hole 9 in two years, was not pleased.  Speaking of the commissioner, 3 of the 8 points he has won have come via a forfeit.  Expect more postings about trying to get people who beat him fired - it seems to be working.

The three straight weeks of Chris Weber appearances came to end, and we are all poorer for it.

Pairings for Week 14, August 4

The pairings for August 4 are shown below.  This is the last week before we start our 4 week season ending tournament.  Players will be divided into 3 flights based on handicaps after August 4, and the person in each flight with the lowest three net scores during the last four weeks will be the flight champion.

All ten teams are withing reach of the second half title.  We will see if team Nelson can field a four player team.  That would be a rare occurrence.

4:42 & 4:50	Kraus vs. Moritz
Bob Jokisch	16		Steve Hineline (ps)	10
Eric Durkee	12		Keith Brown	7
Gary Buehler	17		Tom Hidde	12
Mike Kraus	17		Bob Moritz	14
4:58 & 5:06	Warren vs. Weber
Jeff Dvorak	11		Chris Weber	8
Jake Holler	11		Tom Weber	25
Mike Warren	10		Pat Fahey	22
Chad Shultz	9		Shane Gibson	15
5:14 & 5:22	Rieves vs. McEvilly
Steve Smith	16		Ed Corcoran	16
Lynn Paulson	7		Jim Zweifel	10
Dave Rieves	6		Dan Stanford	14
Michael Brania	11		Pat McEvilly	14
5:30 & 5:38	Raymer vs. Miller
Matt Raymer	11		Charles Hoslet	17
Mike Sanders	19		Sasi Pillay	20
Adam Hopkins	13		Doug Hoerr	11
Paul Barnett	14		Bill Swisher	20
5:46 & 5:54	Nelson vs. Molter
Steve McDonnell	7		Ed Molter	12
Kevin Kiser	14		Jay Krafft (dd)	8
Brad Nelson	19		Matt Wornson	12
Bill Crahen	22		Rob Zimmerman	23