By Rick Colvin
John Landuyt racked up five birdies on his way to accumulating 39 points to win the 1st Flight by one point in the September 22 Individual Stableford competition on the Magnolia course.
Landuyt birdied the short par-4 1st hole and then went on to birdie the difficult par-5 6th, the treacherous par-4 7th, the dogleg right par-4 10th and the long and challenging par-4 18th; his birdie barrage earned him four skins.
David Johnson did not have any birdies but he did tally seven pars for a Stableford score of 38 and 2nd place in the 1st flight.
Rich Matos had four birdies, including two chip-ins, and came in 3rd in the 1st Flight with 37 points. Matos’ birdie on the par-3 8th hole was legend. The back of the 8th green is divided into two lobes separated by a sand trap. The pin was on a small shelf all the way back in the right lobe. Matos’ tee shot came to rest near the back of the left lobe, leaving him no choice but to chip from the green, over the sand, to reach the pin. He hit a low shot with a lot of spin and, after just clearing the bunker, the ball bounced twice before going in the hole.
He also chipped in from the back of the 14th green and sank a 12-footer for a birdie on 17. He was three-under on the par 3s. His last birdie was 12-foot put on the par 5 15th. Matos won two skins.
Winning the 2nd Flight with 38 points was Mike Morris. Morris putted in from off the green for a birdie on the par 3 3rd hole and also birdied the 4th hole. He won a skin for his birdie on 3.
Randy Choat came in 2nd in the 2nd Flight with 37 points and Ken Aaron came in 3rd with 36 points.
Jeff Nibley had three birdies—on the 14th, 12th, and 17th holes. He sank a 20-footer, navigating a 9-foot break, for the birdie on the 4th. He sank a 63-foot putt on 17 for a birdie. He won a skin for his net eagle on 12.
Steve Thomas birdied the 17th for a net eagle to win a skin.