Golf notes SMGA, SVGC; Bajuk ace; El Verano benefit

The 2015 season is off to a good start for both the Sonoma Men’s Golf Association and the Sonoma Valley Golf Club, with spring-like weather offering the players the chance to play courses that are lush after rains, with playing conditions almost perfect.  Heading out to Paradise Valley Golf Club in Fairfield early in the month, the SMGA competed in its first event of the year and the format was a stableford-style points system based on the players’ handicaps.  Leading the way with 45 points was Paul Groft;|

The 2015 season is off to a good start for both the Sonoma Men’s Golf Association and the Sonoma Valley Golf Club, with spring-like weather offering the players the chance to play courses that are lush after rains, with playing conditions almost perfect. 

Heading out to Paradise Valley Golf Club in Fairfield early in the month, the SMGA competed in its first event of the year and the format was a stableford-style points system based on the players’ handicaps. 

Leading the way with 45 points was Paul Groft; while Jim Lybrand was close behind at 43 for second; Jack Harding’s 42 total was good enough for third; and Ron Sharek and Tom Martin both ended up with a 38 each, before Sharek was given the nod for fourth in a card-off, and Martin had to settle for fifth. 

In closest-to-the-pin action, Ian Tervet mastered the downhill third hole, hitting his tee-shot to 24 feet, 9 inches. 

Mick Burrows didn’t have any trouble with the long eighth, hitting his ball to 17-5. 

Sharek showed one reason he was among the point winners, by also claiming a closest to on the 12th hole, stopping his shot just 5-6 from the hole. 

Pat Connolley joined the party on the 15th, as he avoided the water and found his ball 14” from the hole. 

Returning to action on Sunday, March 1, the SMGA will tee-off at Rooster Run Golf Club in Petaluma.

•••

The SVGC held its first event of the season on Feb. 10, at Eagle Vines in Napa. 

In the first flight, Rey Acio’s 70 was good enough for first place; Magnus Carlsson grabbed second with a 73; Mike Silvas walked away in third with a 76; and Cony Gustafsson’s 77 gave him fourth. 

The second flight saw Andy Anderson tour the fairways and greens for a fine round of 68, and a one-shot victory over Steve Stimel, who carded a 69, while Bob Leal and Ned Druehl both fired 71s, with Leal coming out on top in the card-off for third place. 

Scores in the third flight were tightly bunched, with John Murphy taking home first place with a score of 74; John Fanucchi was one shot back with a 75; and Jack Kearney and Kit Wood were one shot further back with 76s and third and fourth place, respectively. 

In closest-to-the-pin action from the white tees, Silvas’ shot to 6 feet, 11 inches on the second hole was good enough for a win.

Jim Ansel had no problem with the fifth hole, his ball coming to rest 13-8 from the flag.

John Stuart found the island green on the 14th and had his ball stop 23-4 from the hole. 

The tricky 16th saw Gary Routt walk away a winner, his ball finishing 35-9 shy of the pin. 

From the gold tees, Anderson was at his winning ways again, this time hitting his tee-shot to just 4-10 on the second hole. 

Bud Schuerman joined the party on the fifth, hitting a fine shot to 8 feet. 

Greg Warren hit the shot of the day on the 14th, a laser-like approach to just 4-8.

Anderson grabbed his second closest, to go along with his flight win, with a shot to 35-1 on the 16th. 

Competing from the red tees, Dan Weber got things going on the second hole, hitting his shot to 16-10.

Ernie Loveless loved his shot to the fifth hole, which stopped 14-6 away from the cup. 

Tom Reynolds approach to the 14th was 18-2 from the hole.

Mike Cox rounded things out on the 16th with a shot to 59-10. 

•••

Napa’s Eagle Vines’ 16th green was also the recent site for one of those very special memory making shots, and this time it was Martin Bajuk’s turn to walk away with a hole-in-one. 

Bajuk, playing alongside Ron Sharek and Allan Rappoport, pulled out his rescue club on the 161-yard hole and proceeded to drop it in the hole for an ace. 

The longtime Sonoman looks to continue his luck as he’ll be teeing it up at the SMGA’s upcoming event at Rooster Run.

•••

With spring around the corner, it won’t be long until the various fundraiser tournaments are being played, with the first being the 11th annual Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa Tournament, which benefits El Verano Elementary School and takes place on Monday, April 27, at Sonoma Golf Club.

This year’s event will start with registration and the driving range opening at 10 a.m., with a putting contest being held until noon, when the tourney gets under way with a shotgun start. 

The format will be a scramble and there will be prizes for the first-place women’s, men’s and mixed teams, as well as longest drive and closet-to-the-pin.

After the tournament, a reception and raffle will take place, along with dinner and a prize give-away. 

The benefit tourney cost is $225 a person and includes golf, lunch, reception and dinner – the field is limited to the first 140 players who sign up. For those just looking to go to the dinner, tickets can be purchased for $70. 

For more information, or to sign up, contact Maite Iturri at El Verano School, 935-6050.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.