By Rick Colvin
The Landings’ team had its best day of the season March 7 on the Hampton Hall golf course, winning four matches and tying one to take its first-ever league championship by a half-point.
The team entered the last round down 5 ½ points, but strong play up and down the lineup produced 56 points, the third time in four outings that the team scored 50-plus points and its highest total of the 10-match season.
The team of Rick Colvin and David Panitch contributed 10 of those points with a 14-4 landslide win over their opponents. Colvin and Panitch never lost a hole. Panitch parred the first four holes, giving the team a 2-point lead. Then, Colvin came on, hitting a 7-iron to two feet on a 145-yard par three to go three-up. His third birdie of the day came when he sank a 65-foot putt that he had to start 15-feet right of the hole. He ended up shooting a 77, his personal best.
At the top of the lineup, Bill McCloskey and Tim Sampson dispatched their opponents with a 11-7 victory; Dean Philippo and Steve Bunn got off to a rocky start and were three points down after 10 holes. They found their game on the last eight holes to win a 10-8 battle. Pat Beringer and long-driving Jack Welch overwhelmed their opponents 12-6. Solid, steady play by Bob Meikle and Mike Stephens yielded a 9-9 tie.
A total of 46 LMGA members competed during the season and, as it turned out, every single hole they played mattered. The team’s previous best was third place.
“Everyone who played this year contributed to the Championship,” said Gary Poleynard, who, along with Steve Bunn, managed the team. “Everyone who played should be proud of this victory!”
a 9-9 tie.
Pictured, L-R: Rick Colvin, Jack Welch, Bill McCloskey, David Panitch, Dean Philippo, Pat Beringer, and Steve Bunn. Not pictured: Bob Meikle, Tim Sampson, and Mike Stephens.