Twenty-eight players and Club pros showed up for this past week’s Wednesday 9-hole Twilight Summer Scramble, a match that ended with laughs all around—as two teams tied for third place decided their win with a sudden death chip-off.
“There were no skins won” due to multiple matching net birdie/eagles, explained pro Brian Stefan. As a result, “we added a third-place prize but there was a tie at 30 (points), so we went to a chip-off.” The winning stroke was made by new LMGA member Fernando Rabell, who shared the win with teammates Kevin Brandon, Ray Thompson and Tom Brackett.
The first-place winners scored an all-birdies 27, averaging 3 points per hole over the nine holes played. Rick Colvin, who teamed with Dana Braun and pro Spencer Scheeler, said they cruised through the round thanks in part to Scheeler’s booming drives. “The only hole we were in danger on was the (par 3) fifth hole,” said Colvin.” Our ball was way back on the front of the green and Dana nailed a 50-foot putt.”
The second-place team of Bobby Balmes, John Bellucci, Jeff Kane and Tom Richards ended up close behind the winners, but they had to work a bit harder for their payoff. “We were struggling until the last three holes,” Richards recounted. “Then we went birdie-eagle-birdie” to score 29 points overall.
While there were no skins to record this week, LMGA regular Paul Brownstein dunked a genuine eagle at the previous week’s Twilight Scramble on Deer Creek. ”He hit his own drive, then put it in the hole in two,” said playing partner and witness John Bokina. The feat occurred on hole 4, with its notoriously difficult elevated green and a pin that is often hidden from view. But not this time.
“Actually, we could see it,” said Brownstein. ”It was in slow-motion. We watched it go in.”
AUGUST SCRAMBLE SCHEDULE
Twilight Summer Scrambles are open to all LMGA members, along with Landings Club golf members not enrolled in LMGA. For an all-inclusive $10 fee, cash prizes are awarded at the end of each round and complimentary beer & soft drinks are provided after play. Teams are assigned depending on player handicaps, and Club pros join in the fun depending on their schedules.
All players are required to sign up through the course clubhouse between 9:00 and 3:00 p.m. on the day of play. Please arrive by 5:30 p.m. and bring cash for payment. No advance registrations are available.
Beginning Aug. 9 the Wednesday Scramble start time will move to 5:45 p.m. sharp. Summer Scrambles will continue through Aug. 30. The course rotation includes:
Aug. 2 - Magnolia (6:00 p.m.)
Aug. 9 - Marshwood (5:45 p.m.)
Aug. 16 - Deer Creek (5:45 p.m.)
Aug. 23 - Oakridge (5:45 p.m.)
Aug. 30 - Deer Creek (5:45 p.m.)
REMINDER: LMGA PLAY DAYS RESUME IN AUGUST
Regularly scheduled Thursday golf will begin again with a “3-Club Scramble” Fun Day on the Magnolia course Aug. 3. This once-a-year competition challenges each team player to choose and use just three clubs for the entire round.
Note: While LMGA BA Cup competition typically takes place on the third Thursday of each month, the next-to-last regular BA Cup competition will take place on the second Thursday this month, Aug. 10, on the Deer Creek course.