3 C
Niagara Falls
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Golf: Watson’s 68 tops all competitors in NOTL pro-am

 

 

Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club associate pro Ricky Watson shot a 4-under 68 Sunday to lead all competitors at the club's annual men's pro-am tournament.

Watson, with five birdies (#2, 3, 12, 16 and 17) and one bogey (#15), edged out pro Phil Durant of Rockway Vineyards by one shot.

The teams, four amateurs and one pro each, competed for cash and merchandise prizes. Pro Randy Taylor's team was tops with a net 190 score.

MEN'S LEAGUE: The Thursday men's league wrapped up competition Oct. 1 with some ridiculously tough U.S. Open-style pin placements, courtesy of greenskeeper Mike Magwood. But that didn't deter the club's senior men's champ, Jim McMacken, from leading the field with a 1-under 35.

In modified Stableford scoring, Steve Ferley was tops with 22 points, followed by McMacken (20), Brian McKillop and Kurt Hamm (18), and Terry Catney, Tom Goodbody, Robert Haylor, Ken Porter and Alan Robb all with 17 each.

The net skins pot, which had grown to $540 was split three ways. Rai Lauge (#6), Earl Short (#7) and Kurt Hamm (#8) each won $180. Gross skins of $45 each went to Dustin Ritcher (#3), Lauge (#6), Hamm (#8) and Robb (#9).

WOOFS LEAGUE: Tuesday Woofs league co-ordinator Bill Katrynuk added a twist to this year's finale: he let the men play from the forward tees in the competition for the coveted Woofs Cup. Jim Meszaros and NOTL Sports Wall of Famer Ted Wiens led the field, both carding a 2-under 34, to share top honours.

WOMEN'S LEAGUE: The women's 18 hole league held a team alternate shot competition for the final day of play last week. 

Cathy Murray and Marie Ellison shot 97 and minus their team handicap netted 78. Martha Cruikshank and May Chang shot 93, less their team handicap of 15, for a 78 net. Judy Mantle and Barbara Ahluwalia were a net 79, good for second place.

Earlier, in a fun team day match play competition Team Blue and Team Green went toe-to-toe. It was a see-saw battle that saw the Green team up 10-4 after nine holes, but the Blue squad roared back to match their opponents on the final nine holes.

The friendly contest ended tied at 14 points apiece. Lunch and cupcakes followed.

MEN'S MATCHES: Jim McMacken had a "career year" in 2020, winning the senior men's club championship, regularly topping the Thursday men's league leader board and he capped off the summer by winning two season-long match play competitions.

The whistling lefty defeated former club champ Joe Doria in extra holes to win the President's Cup title, a straight-up, non-handicapped competition. Doria was up two after nine but they were tied after 18 holes, each shooting 2-over 74. Both players parred the first extra hole and then McMacken won it with a birdie on the second.

He also won the Carmichael Cup, defeating Ted Carmichael.

Doria was also a finalist for the Niagara Cup, losing to Mike Henry, while Ron Newman won the Wettlaufer Cup in a final against Earl Shore.

In the team category, the Gold Up pairs champs are Kurt Hamm and Stephen Warboys. They defeated the duo of Jon Taylor and John Sobil.

See our online photo gallery for more pictures.

 

 

 

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