THE JOE MERRILL INVITATIONAL GOLF CLASSIC

Scarborough, Maine 8/16/97

Today, under bright skies and high temperatures, was held a golf tournament which is already the stuff of legend. Even in it's inaugural year, the Joe Merrill Invitational Classic has transcended the term "tournament", and must now be considered an event on par with the Masters and the British Open. The Merrill is the epitome of competition and sportsmanship, just as its competitors are the epitome of grace and courage.

Willowdale Golf Club was the site of this historic event. Beginning the day before, throngs of golf fans clogged the Maine Turnpike on their way to Scarborough, battling fans of the rock band Phish for precious space on the thoroughfare. Local pundits speculated that the Merrill may be the straw to break the camel's back, enticing legislators to finally add a desperately needed third lane to the highway. At least one entrant missed his tee time due to traffic, and authorities were unable to estimate how large the galleries would have been had all the fans been able to reach the course.

The tournament itself provided all the drama promised by the media build-up. First place was captured by Team Matero with a score of 174 under the best two of four balls format. This prodigious unit also captured three of the five individual prizes, all by the brothers Matero. These young men from the hamlet of Norway, Maine are not large in stature, but each has a tremendous amount of talent and the heart of a champion. The team crown was earned by a mere four strokes over Team Merrill. Drig Fournier, who was added to Team Merrill by Joe Merrill, the event organizer who hoped to ensure himself of victory, shot the low round with a birdie-free 75. Alas, Fournier's play was not enough to overcome the inconsistent play of the Merrill brothers and the lack of a fourth member of the team. Team Merrill did capture the final two individual honors, including the tightly contested Sandbagger award. This prize was earned by Steve Merrill by a single stroke over Kevin "Kirby" Paquette, despite Paquette's desperate charge on the back nine wherein he made back eleven of the twelve strokes spotted on the front. Paquette vowed to "not lift a club" until the second edition of this tournament in order to ensure himself the award in 1998.

Following are the team and individual results:

Team Matero (Team score: 174)

Tim Matero	90
Scott Sancomb	115
David Matero	94
Doug Austin	111

Team Merrill (178)

Drig Fournier	75
Joe Merrill	116
Steve Merrill	126

Team Fournier (185)

Kevin Mahoney	111
Dave Fournier	117
Don Fournier	96
Marty Eyre	100

Team Kwiatkowsky (188)

Kevin Paquette	125
Brock Kwiatkowsky	101
Earl Conrad	98
Colt Kwiatkowsky (not pictured)	56 (9 Holes)

Individual Awards and Prizes

Long Drive - Hole 2	Tim Matero - est. 295 yds.	Izod Windshirt
Closest to the Pin - Hole 7	Tim Matero - 34 Austin feet	Izod Golf Balls
Long Drive - Hole 12	David Matero - est. 255 yds	Izod Hat
Closest to the Pin - Hole 15	Drig Fournier - 20 ft.	Izod Umbrella
Sandbagger	Steve Merrill - 126	"I try my best" ribbon

Tim Matero, who did his best, & Steve Merrill, who tried his best, accept their awards.

David Matero and Drig Fournier, both of whom also did well.

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