One of the toughest and most stressful competitions returned to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club on Friday as couples flailed away in the annual Matrimonial Cup tournament.
The tourney pairs couples in what is generally considered the most difficult format for dynamic duos – 18 holes of alternate shots.
It’s not so difficult for the men, as women usually hit the ball straight up the fairway, away from trouble spots.
The gentlemen, on the other hand, tend to visit all corners of the course, introducing their partners to areas they never knew existed.
Some fared better than others, of course. And Dean and Susan McCann were the class of the field, shooting a net score of 70 (after handicap deductions) to win the coveted cup.
Reigning women’s club champion Martha Cruikshank teamed with her husband Don to card a respectable score of 88 and win low gross honours.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the nine-hole women’s league finished a two-day tournament. Players were divided into flight A for those with handicaps under 40, and flight B for those 40 and up.
Deborah Williams won the Gretchen Ormston Memorial Trophy for flight A and Bonnie Lamourie won the flight B cup.
Other winners: Diana Dimmer (longest drive) and Peggy Larder (longest putt) and a chip in on #3.
Sharon Allen was named Player of the Day as she kept smiling while digging out of the bunkers.
Top gross scores: Diana Dimmer and Suzanne Watson (44), Larder and Susan Horne (49) and Williams (51). Net scores: Lamourie (35), Larder (36) and Watson (37).
The 18-hole women’s league added a bit of mystery to their weekly competition in the form of a “blind partner” format.
Players didn’t know who they were paired with until after their scores were turned in.
Cathy Murray and Judy Mantle were first, followed by May Chang and Lisa Allen. Tied for third were Martha Cruikshank and Cheryl Yamamoto, and Marg Ketcheson and Sue Sherk.
Allen shot 88 to win low gross. Cruikshank had 91, followed by Murray (93), with Mantle and Carroll Baker tied (97).
Ketcheson was low net (72), while Murray had 74, Allen and Mantle 75, and Yamamoto 78.
Mantle needed the fewest putts (31) and Allen had a birdie 3 on #2.
Men’s super senior champion Gary Stuggins was top dog in Tuesday’s WOOFs league, shooting 38. Darryl Fry was low net (31). Jeff Jacques was closest to the pin on #4 and Peter Chilibeck won the hidden hole prize (#6).
In Thursday’s men’s league action, Ricky Watson led the pack with his 2-under 34 while Michael Mott had the most Stableford points.
Other winners: Derek Merza (long drive #1), Jim McMacken (closest to pin #2), Watson (closest to pin #4), Brian Heer (longest putt #6), Mott (longest putt #7) and Zach Luis (closest to pin #9).
Paul Wilson (#7) and Ron Planche (#8) cashed in on net skins while Watson (#4), Peter Falconer (#6) and Devon Neudorf (#8 and #9) won gross skins.
