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SMGA, SVGC play; Minelli Memorial Tourney; Hanna Center Golf and Tennis Classic; junior programs

Golf notes

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Both local golf groups have been taking advantage of the fantastic weather of late by gracing local courses with their burgeoning golf skills. 

The Sonoma Men’s Golf Association headed to Marin County and Indian Valley Golf Course on Sunday, July 10, with 24 hearty souls making the trip.

Leading the way in the net division was Eric Biggs, who carded a fantastic round of 66. Five-shots back of Biggs was Mike Lucas, who had 71 for second, while Myron Donesky fired an even par 72 and grabbed third, with Martin Bajuk and Jack Harding both carding 73 for fourth- and fifth-place, respectively, after a scorecard playoff gave Bajuk the nod for fourth. 

In the gross division, Nick Blonder walked away with first-place with a very fine round of 77, while defending Club Champion Nate Reynes was three-shots back in second-place with an 80. 

In closest-to-the-pin action, Reynes showed his mastery of the tricky downhill fourth-hole, hitting his tee-shot to 13 feet, 11 inches in the low-handicap division, while Don Roesh’s shot to 4-9 in the high-handicap division was the best of the day. The always difficult eighth, which plays uphill to a blind green, saw Steve MacCarthy take home the top-shot in the low-handicap flight with his shot to 30-5.

Once again, the high-handicap group had the better shot, with tournament-director extraordinaire Karl Mayer firing his shot to 7-7. The 13th had Harding’s name on it, when his tee-shot finished just 4-1 from the hole, while Tom Martin got in on the act with his shot to 29-11. The final par-3 of the day, the downhill 17th, saw Bajuk and Kay Groft take home their respective divisions, but due to technical difficulties (the tape measure broke), distances were not provided. 

The SMGA returns to action for its Club Championship qualifying on Sunday, Aug. 7, at Bennett Valley Golf Course in Santa Rosa.

 

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After celebrating the Fourth of July, the Sonoma Valley Golf Club got its traveling shoes on and drove to the Chardonnay Golf Club on Tuesday, July 5, for a team event. 

Leading the way with a combined score of 119 was Hugh McNeilly, Ron Sharek, Bud Schuerman and Greg Warren. One-shot back of that motley crew was Fred Martin, Harry Tistle, Gary Routt and Bob Flores with their 120, with Benny Lee, Bill Rosa, Ed Cebula and John Muncy jelling well together to fire 124 for third, while Don Richards, Tom Reynolds, Barry Robertson and Kit Wood were another shot back in fourth with a 125, and rounding out the top-five were Mac Bautista, Mickey Zimmerman, Ed Cebula (blind draw situation) and Rey Acio with 129. 

In closest-to-the-pin action, Richards took home the honors on the third hole with a shot to 8 feet, 1 inch, while Acio took home the top-spot on the eighth with a shot to 11-2, just 1/2-inch closer than Michael Lipson. The back-nine saw Don Farris knock it to 8-1 on the 14th, while John Radican conquered the 16th with a shot to just 4-9.

The SVGC didn’t rest on its laurels and headed back out to Eagle Vines in Napa on Tuesday, July 12. 

In the first flight, Bob Koida and Harry Tistle both carded rounds of 70 and, after a spirited score-card playoff, Koida was given the nod for first-place, while Tistle had to settle for second. 

The second flight saw Jim Olson scorch the course with a 66, while Dan Marioni finished three-shots further back in second. 

In the third flight, Kit Wood took it deep with an impressive round of 63, but was still only one-shot ahead of second-place Dick Moore, who carded his own impressive 64. 

In closet-to-the-pin, Bob Leal walked away from the sixth-hole a happy man after his shot stopped just 14-8 on the island green. Water also guards the eighth green, but Ali Fotouhi didn’t see it, he just saw the flag as his shot finished 6-1 from the hole. Fotouhi wasn’t done yet, as his laser-like approach shot on the 12th stopped a mere 5-3 from the cup. The final par-3 of the day, the 15th, was no problem for Joe Runnion, as he lofted his tee-shot to 8-8, the best of the day.

 

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On Friday, Aug. 26, the 20th annual Louis Minelli Memorial Golf Tournament, run by the Sonoma Valley Rotary Club, will be played at Eagle Vines Golf Club in Napa, with this year’s event being held in memory of longtime member Bob Bohna.

The tourney opens with a noon-shotgun start, and the cost to play is $175 a player, which includes the green fee and cart, a box lunch, on-course beverages, long-drive hole and closest-to-the-pin contests, tee-prizes and the chance to win a new Chevy Camero. 

In addition, Festa Sonoma will take place afterward at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building and features a fantastic six-course Tuscan-inspired dinner including wine, beer and dancing to the sound of Sonoma’s own BackTrax.

Entry to Festa Sonoma is included in the golf entry, and the cost for those who want to just attend the dinner is $55 in advance or $65 at the door. For more information visit www.sonomavalleyrotary.org, www.festasonoma.com or call 996-9694.

 

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The 19th annual Hanna Boys Center Golf and Tennis Classic is right around the corner, with this year’s event returning to the Sonoma Golf Club on Friday, Sept. 19.

The check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. and will include a brunch at the Hanna campus, with a shuttle provided to and from the golf course, and the tourney gets underway with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start. The festivities afterwards begin with a hosted cocktail hour at 5 p.m.

The entry fee of $275 includes green fees, cart, privileges on the driving range, refreshments on the golf course, tee-prizes and the awards ceremony.

Anyone interested can sign-up or get more information at the Hanna Boys Center site at hannacenter.org or by contacting Tamara Stanley at 933-2504.  

        

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Local professional Kris Moe is involved with the Titleist Performance Institute and is offering juniors in the Valley a new development program taking place at the Flower’s Golf Range of Sonoma, 18709 Arnold Drive, this Monday through Wednesday, July 25 to 27. Each session runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and the cost is $250. For more details, go to www.krismoegolfschools.com or www.mytpi.com.

        

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Junior golf summer clinics and lessons for boys and girls ages 6-to-14-years-old, conducted by resident golf-pro John D. Moore, continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Flowers Golf Range of Sonoma, 18709 Arnold Drive. To find out about the costs and times, to register or for more information, contact Moore at 217-4194 or email PetPGA@aol.com.