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Jan. 28 Results: Runaway victory in one flight and close battle in the other on a cold, windy day.

By Rick Colvin

A standout performance by Mike Staman led the team of Bob Hainly, Dave Resler, Scott Stockslager, and Staman to a commanding 12-point margin of victory in the 1st Flight of the LMGA’s Jan. 28 Team Stableford contest on a cold and windy Deer Creek.

Led by Staman’s four net birdies and two net eagles, the winning team scored 135 points while the 2nd-place team of Bob Benson, Richard Dolan, and Frank Schepis scored 123. In 3rd was the team of Anthony Berens, Bruce Gingold, Gary Howard, and Tim McDermott with 119 points. Staman also won 2 of the 5 skins awarded.

Staman, 78, has a 24 index and plays from the medal/course tees. He had net birdies on 2, 6, 8, and 17. His net eagles came on 13 (one of the hardest holes on the course) and 18. His 93 for the round was just below his handicap. “Consistency is the name of the game at my age,” Staman said.

By contrast, only two points separated the top three 2nd-Flight teams. The team of Dave Angel, Bruce Decker, Robert Rubin, and Edgar Yu scored 130 points, powered, in part, by Yu’s birdies on 3, 5, and 6. Yu says he faltered on the back nine -- 37 front, 47 back -- but his team members picked up the slack.

The winners edged out the 2nd-place team of Rick Colvin, Bobby Jones, and Rufus Freeman by 1 point. In 3rd, 1 point behind, was the team of Kevin Brandon, Randy Gladden, Ed O’Donnell, and Paul Warhola.

The 78 players battled temperatures in the 40s in the morning as well as a three-club wind on some holes, notably No. 17. How cold was it? It was so cold that, on hole No. 10, Charlie Bradford texted his friend Fred Madsen to ask him to brew up a pot of hot coffee. When Bradford and his team came off the No. 12 green, where Madsen lives, Fred was there waiting with coffee and, for extra warmth, a shot of bourbon.

Thanks to Steve Skipper who stepped in to run the event; thanks also to Billy Brunton who ran the skins game with an assist from Ellen Jacobs. Five skins were awarded.

Highlight Reel

Kevin Brandon hit a 6 iron into the wind on the 139-yard No. 17, leaving the ball in front of the bunker on the right. His 25-foot birdie putt broke at least 8 to the left … Bobby Jones’ drive on No. 1 left him 126 yards out and he sank a putt from 15 feet for a birdie … with the wind swirling on No. 8, Randy Gladden hit a pitching wedge from 115 yards to 8 inches for a birdie … Ron Thomas’s drive on No. 11 landed in the right bunker, 125 yards from the pin, but he put his next shot to 18 inches for a birdie … Bill Tomassini made a birdie out of the bunker on No. 5, for a net eagle. He contributed 40 of his team’s 124 points … George Yost sank a 25-foot putt to birdie No. 1.

Membership Notes

Scott Tumulty moved to The Landings from New York City, where he had lived for five years.  Scott is a CPA who works remotely so he decided to move south. The two most difficult courses he’s played are Friar’s Head and National Golf Links of America, both on Long Island. Ironically, he says, they are also his two favorite courses.

Bob Linnett and Fred Shaner played with LMGA for the first time; Terry Irvin played after rejoining for 2021.

Announcement

Registration for the 15th-annual Landings Military Family Relief Fund golf tournament that will be held March 15 on Terrapin Point and Palmetto has begun. The scramble format competition is open to four-member men, women’s, or mixed teams. Contact Trish Potts at tpotts126@comcast.net for registration forms and further information. Forms also available in the pro shops.