Golf is often described as a game that tests players against their own ability, but that challenge is rarely as apparent as when the game of the day is PROGS, or Points Rewarded On Gross Scores. Also known as Chicago and Quota, it requires players to subtract their course handicap from an “ideal” score of 36, then the remainder becomes the point “goal”, or quota, that each player tries to attain—without deducting handicap strokes on any holes.
In February, LMGA played a game of Team PROGS for the first time in regular rotation. In the March 7 round, the game was sharpened to Individual PROGS, and the results clearly demonstrated how playing without strokes could be a challenge. Out of the 52 golfers in the game, only eight scored above their goal and eight others broke Even, while the rest of the field recorded negative points.
The top score for the day went to Bob Jackson, the only player in Flight 1 to score in excess of his PROGS goal, with plus-7 points. Close behind him in Flight 3 were Mike Morris with a plus-6 score, John Higgins with plus-5, Bill Delaney with plus-4, and Mike Kattman with plus-3. Two players in Flight 2, Dave Johnson and Dave Martin, also scored plus-3, and only one player in Flight 4, Jim Higbee, exceeded his goal with plus-1.
Among the remaining negative points group, the lowest score was 14 below PROGS, with four others also in the double-digit range. Individual PROGS proves to be a challenge, indeed.
Skins Game
Although only gross scores were recorded in this match, net birdies and net eagles were awarded. Grant Buchanan and Mike Morris both scored one net eagle, while Bob Jackson managed two net birdies, and Jeff Nibley, Steve Shulman, Bill Delaney and Pat Beringer had one net birdie each.