The fourth round of the 2023 Bouchillon-Ambrose Cup competition on April 20 saw the Palmetto team romp in Modified Alternate Shot play with 10 wins over Marshwood’s 4, Deer Creek’s 4 ½, and Oakridge team’s 2. Palmetto is now tied with top-seeded Deer Creek in the annual contest with 2 ½ points each. The Marshwood team is close behind with 2 points, and Oakridge brings up the rear with just 1 point – but with five monthly play dates to come, plus the three-day Ryder Cup format championship series in October, the season outcome is still up for grabs.
A number of players said they endured seesaw rounds on Thursday. “We were down, then we were up,” said Scott Happ, Palmetto team captain. “Then we were down again, and we were up again.” His match, with partner John Evans against Marshwood teammates Ted Bumsted and Mike Morris, ended in a tie for a half-point apiece on the final putt. Mike Allen and Bob Kaplan of Palmetto also tied their match for the half point against Peter Hering and Dale Johnson. Ned Mahoney managed a half-point “overflow” win for Deer Creek playing with a guest from Canada, Steve Roud, here on a Discovery visit.
John Landuyt, who paired with Rick Colvin for a Palmetto win against Marshwood’s Steve Bunn and Joe Becker, said their round always seemed in jeopardy, even when it wasn’t. “We kept screwing up like we were trying to let it go, but we won in the end. They never did take the lead, though.”
No skins are collected or awarded in BA Cup competition.
MEMBERSHIP NOTES
Fernando and Madeline Rabell lived in Savannah’s Starland District and were members at Savannah Harbor Golf Club for a number of years before moving to The Landings, and although Fernando continues to work full-time as a civil engineer he decided it was time to join LMGA, even if his playing time is limited. A Villanova grad like his wife, his favorite golf memories include learning to play golf with his uncle as a boy in Puerto Rico. To get ready for a round of golf, he still plays tapes of Spanish songs that remind him of growing up on the fairways.