Just before the deluge of rain drenched the area, the Sonoma Men’s Golf Association and Sonoma Valley Golf Club got their final events of 2014 in the books.
The SMGA ventured to the SVGC’s territory and played the Eagle Vines Golf Club in Napa. The event saw the players divided into three separate flights, with awards going to both the low gross and low net.
Leading the way in the Elves Flight was Ian Tervet, who carded a fine 77 and took home the low gross.
In the net division, Al Rappoport walked away a winner after a round of 70, while Woody Von Lackum and Nick Blonder both tied with 72s before Von Lackum grabbed second place in a card-off.
The Magi Flight saw Tim Summers the low-gross winner with an 85, while Jim Braun’s 72 was good enough for first place in the net competition, as Ron Sharek’s 74 earned him second, and Don Roesh took home third with a 75.
Kay Groft’s 99 was the low gross winner in the Angels Flight, while good friends Jim Lybrand and Bob Jennings tied with net 75s, before Lybrand won in a card-off second, and Lynn Jenks rounded out the top three with a net 79.
In closest-to-the-pin action, Von Lackum mastered the second hole, hitting his tee-shot to just 11 feet, 6 inches, while another Woody, this time Frink, almost holed it on No. 5 from 151 yards as his ball stopped just 2 feet away. Karl Mayer’s shot to 12-3 on the island green 14th was good enough for a win, while Paul Groft avoided the water that guards the 16th green, his ball coming to rest just 4-4 from the hole.
The event marked the end of the season-long points competition and Tom Martin was crowned champion with 113 total points. Just four points behind was Ron Sharek and Tony Enz’s 103 total was good enough for third place.
Now the SMGA will hibernate until late January and will be planning its 2015 schedule, which will once again see it travel to such courses as Yocha De He at Cache Creek, Rancho Solano, Aetna Springs as well as some new courses to be placed on the schedule such as Hidden Valley in Middletown.
There will also be a selection of hard-to-play private courses on the schedule that will be finalized in early January.
The SMGA is also holding the annual member-drive, and anyone interested in joining the club can send $125 to SMGA, PO Box 1502, Sonoma, CA, 95476, with the annual fee including membership in the NCGA.
•••
When the SVGC members marched onto the fairways and greens of Eagle Vines, they played a team event which saw a combined net score determine the winners.
The winning team in Group A was Dave Voepel, Bob Jaeger, Fred Unsworth and Pavel Janosko, who combined for a 118 total, followed in second place by El Delagnes, Al Marty, Bob Leal and Russ Hurley with their 122.
In Group B, Pete Tarantino, Ralph Giancaspro, Conny Gustafsson and Tom Culligan claimed first place with a 121 total, while Leo McMillan, John Fanucchi, Jack Powers and Harry Tistle’s 125 was good enough for second.
The closest-to-the pin contest from the red tees saw Tarantino claim the second hole with a shot to 16 feet, 1 inch. On the fifth, Fannuchi walked away a winner after a shot to 33 feet. Ron Macaluso nestled his shot to just 6 feet on the 14th. Unsworth joined the winning party with a shot to 8-3 on No. 8.
From the gold tees, Culligan won it on a shot to 12-9 on the second hole. Leal’s shot to 13-6 on the fifth was the best of the day.
On the back nine, Voepel’s shot to 32-1 gave him a prize. John Muncy took the top-spot on the 16th with a shot to 27-3.
From the white tees, Jerry Van Wallinga came away with a smile on his face as he hit his shot to 24-2 on the second hole. Rich Sacks went flag hunting on No. 5, his ball stopping just 5-2 away. Jim Ansel liked the look of the 14th, hitting it to 8-4. Mac Bautista mastered the 16th with a shot to 26 feet.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: