TUESDAY Nov 20: MMGA QUIET AS HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS NEAR
How fortunate we are to live in Mesquite and be able to play golf and play outdoors. The unusual warm Thanksgiving week weather was enjoyed by 24 MMGA players on Tuesday. Just about everyone must have had the coming celebrations with relatives and family on their minds as no one really scored well. Dick Swayne led all low scores with his even par 35 on the front side and followed it with a 43 on the back for 78. He was the only player in the 70’s. Tom Durenberger was two shots back in second with his round of 80. Durenberger’s score was a net 65 good enough for first place low net three shots lower than the next player. That player was Delbert Moore with a steady pair of 42’s which in the end was a net 68. Third low net was turned in by Jim Chatlin (91) and net 69. Fourth went to Joel Reilly (92) and net 72. We welcome back Lew Roney, Jim Barfnecht, Paul Backe and Roger Wilson to the paradise of the southwest.
TUESDAY Nov 27: BIRDIES FLOCK TO FALCON RIDGE
What a difference a week made for the MMGA players. Last week the group went through the motions but could not record a decent score. Today twenty-six birdies were recorded and one foursome tied the MMGA four player record for birdies. Sterling Johnson led that group having three consecutive birdies on holes 4,5,6 and eight and his fifth of the day on eleven. Bubba Petrick had two straight on the third and fourth holes. Paul Backe had two, one on eight and eleven. Lyle Warner, the fourth player in the group had his on number eight. After Johnson’s five birdies Frank Thomasino had four of his own birdies on holes one, two, three and eight. Sixteen of the 27 players had at least one birdie.
Thomasino’s birdies on the front helped him record a one under par 34 and he followed that up with a 39 on the back for his 73 and medalist honors. “It was one of those days that I remember from a long time ago when I could have had probably 7 or eight” is how Thomasino described his putting zone for the day. Johnson actually shot two strokes better than Thomasino on the front nine recording a super three under par 32. Had it not been for a tragic score of 12 on the dreadful 13th hole Johnson was heading for a superb round of golf. Nice rounds of golf gentlemen! Jim Chatlin (86) earned him first place low net with a 64. Tom Durenberger (82) and net 67 took second and Johnson’s unfortunate 13th hole dropped him to third low net. Neil Hendricks(79) placed 4th and Jim Smith (88) settled for the fifth spot. Ray Rodgers (88) was low gross for the gold tees and Art Tadej took first place low net with a 70.
THURSDAY Nov 29: HENDRICKS - DURENBERGER - HYLAND - ALL WIN
The only real story of this day is the great shots made by MMGA players. Other than that line it seems like the “broken record” cliché, Neil Hendricks wins low gross again. Hendricks did have a nice front side shooting a one over par 37 to go along with his 41 on the back for 78. Two players came close, Bob Chambers 38-41-79 and Dick Swayne (79). Swayne did have the best nine holes shooting an even par 36 on the back aided by birdies on 10 and 13. Tom Durenberger (84) and net 70 tied Swayne for low net honors but Durenberger’s par on #5 earned him the top spot. Third low net went to John Meyer(80) and net 71. The 4th slot was tied between Terry Gardner (86), Mike Rossi (88), Jim Barfknecht (89), Chambers, Frank Thomasino (80) and Gary Denhalter (87). The suspense of the day was who was going to win the coveted 6th place and the $5.00. Rossi said I want no part of that and he parred the first hole to win 4th. Barfknecht was the next to jump ship as he birdied (sweet!) the number two handicap hole #17. If you had to pick from the last three to see who got 6th and you bet on Thomasino you were right. Jerry Hyland had three birdies to win low gross from the forward tees with an 82.
Art Tadej (96) and net 71 beat his playing partner Larry Spitale (97) by one shot for low net.
APERCU’S: The shots of the day were coming in from everywhere. Thomasino led the known shots with three chip ins. Gardner had a sweet birdie on #16 from out of the bunker and that was just after birdying #15. Swayne probably had the shot of the day on the par three number eight. His tee shot was inches from the cart path. On his second shot his follow through hit the cement and the ball bounced down on to the green where he one putted for a great par three.
NOTE: Next play is on Tuesday December 4th at 9:00 at Falcon Ridge and Thursday, December 6th (monthly mini-trny) at the Palms at 8:00. Always check your sign - up sheets, and or our website, for any changes. Anyone interested in the MMGA may call 346-6363 or visit our website at www.mesquitemensgolf.com.