THE THIRD ANNUAL JOE MERRILL
INVITATIONAL GOLF CLASSIC
The third chapter in the storied history of this tournament started under cloudy skies which quickly turned to torrents of rain. Soon enough, the clouds cleared and under the sunny late afternoon skies was crowned a surprising new champion. Team PGL, a group of players from the Pioneer Plastics Golf League captained by Jake Turner followed the hot hand of Alan Ayer to a score of 167, 27 strokes over par.
Led by Ayer's 84, PGL used effective team play to eke out a one stroke victory in the closest Classic in history, one that also featured the largest field ever entered. Team PGL was followed at 168 by 1997 champs Team Matero and Team Fournier, led by Drig Fournier, who anchored the 1998 champion Team Merrill Squad. Teams Kwiatkowsky and Martel tied for fourth at 174, while the defending champions Team Merrill, minus their top player, fell to 179 and a sixth place finish. Team Mark, a rookie threesome, withdrew after nine holes due to the inclement weather.
The weather was the other big story of the day. Torrential downpours while most of the entries were playing the front nine slowed play and increased scores from the previous year's record-setting levels. After a brief delay, during which Team Mark withdrew, the players took to the back and were quickly met by clearing skies. Scores improved slightly as the day went along, save for the PGL team, which had made the turn at 80, a three stroke lead. Their score ballooned to 87 on the back, but in the end it was just enough to pull out the narrow victory.
Individual prizes were more evenly distributed than previously. Once again, a member of Team Matero won a long drive contest. Tim Matero edged out his brother David to take the award on the second hole. A mix-up on the 14th left no clear-cut winner, but after some debate the prize was awarded to Corey Martel, a member of Team Martel. Despite their sixth-place finish, Team Merrill swept the Closest to the Pin competitions, with Greg Collins claiming the seventh hole at 12' 10", and Brian Ketchum taking the 11th at 20' 6". Awards were presented to David Matero and Ann Martel for correctly guessing their final scores. The coveted Sandbagger award (highest round) was presented to Ann Martel for her record-setting 130. And for the first time ever an award was presented for the lowest score. The Drig Fournier Cup, named for the player who set the scoring standard in the previous two tournaments, was presented to Drig Fournier, who once again led the way with a 79.
Next year's event is already on the drawing board. The tournament organizers are considering a request for a change of venue to a course with better clubhouse facilities and an opportunity for earlier tee times. Willowdale Golf Course, the storied host for the first three years of the tournament, still remains an option. Further details will be announced as they become available.
Following are team and individual scores and awards:
Team Pioneer Golf League (Team
Score 167):
|
Alan Ayer |
84 |
|
Jake Turner |
104 |
|
Suzann Milheron |
104 |
|
Chuck Drinkwater |
100 |
Team Matero (168, MC)
|
Bill Higgins |
105 |
|
David Matero |
90 |
|
Scott Sancomb |
113 |
|
Tim Matero |
83 |
Team Fournier (168):
|
Dave Fournier |
115 |
|
Drig Fournier |
79 |
|
Alan Lipman |
93 |
Team Martel (174, MC):
|
Rick Martel |
106 |
|
Ann Martel |
130 |
|
Corey Martel |
98 |
|
Ray Bennett |
89 |
Team Kwiatkowsky (174)
|
Pat Hayes |
92 |
|
Earl Conrad |
102 |
|
Colt Kwiatkowsky |
103 |
|
|
94 |
Team Merrill (179)
|
Steve Merrill |
122 |
|
Joe Merrill |
105 |
|
Brian Ketchum |
90 |
|
Greg Collins |
102 |
Team Mark (WD)
Mark Goode, Mark Tibbets, Howie ???
Hey Tibbets, you better get more curve on that brim if you want to play next year!!
Individual Awards:
|
Long Drive #2 |
Tim Matero |
Izod Golf Shirt |
|
Closest to the Pin, #7 |
Greg Collins, 12' 10" |
Gear Wind Shirt |
|
Closest to the Pin, #11 |
Brian Ketchum, 20' 6" |
Izod Wind Shirt |
|
Long Drive, #14 |
Corey Martel |
JMI Classic Hat |
|
Sandbagger |
Ann Martel, 130 |
Izod sweater vest, used balls |
|
Score Prediction |
Ann Martel, 130 |
Izod hat |
|
Score Prediction |
David Matero, 90 |
Kirshner hat |
|
Long drive, unofficial #18 |
Pat Hayes |
Inflatable shark |
|
Drig Fournier Cup (low score) |
Drig Fournier, 79 |
Drig Fournier coffee mug |
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