Bentley Boys Reunite at Norfolk County 4Ball

Oct 15-16, 2011 - Flio and Swen, former Bentley captains, made the unprecedented appearance at the Norfolk County Classic 4Ball at Presidents GC in Quincy, the 2-day best ball event that has drawn the best amateurs in the state since the late 1970s. This weekend's events brought nice fall weather in the mid-60s, but heavy winds, 20-30 mphs both days.

Let me tell you Swen came out like a seasoned professional birdieing the first two holes, 10 and 11. He knocked it stiff on 10 and then made a heroic birdie from the edge of the left woods on 11. If I didn't know the kid, I would think he was a full-time player. Great ball-striking all weekend. Swen made the birdies for the team and I held the fort down with a lot of pars.

First day, we shot 2 under 68. We played very well, despite no birdies on the par-5s and two three putt bogeys. Our game plan of consistent GIRs and decisive club decision off the tees led to a blast of a day. The wind was whipping. Both of us aimed 30-yards left of the pin on #4 and ended up right of the pin after good shots. On the par-5 15th, I smoked a 20 degree hybrid and it barely cleared 190 yards on my second shot. I normally hit the hybrid 240. It was a very satisfying round even though we felt a 65 was what we played to.

Day 2 brought many challenges. We bogeyed the first hole and never really got it going like we did in Round 1. The wind factor was more intense. On #3, I sent my drive so far right, it went to the far side of the 5th fairway. I had 128 yards to the flag and smoked an 8-iron. The shot ended up 20 yards shot of the pin. Yeah wind! I lost that battle. Swen birdied the 18th hole, making it an opening and closing birdie tournament. We shot 71. Oh yeah, we also played with J. Hynes, a real estate mogul in the Boston area who plays good golf and is a very down to earth person.

The winners were Riley-Diramio. And you know what? We were tied with them after Round 1. They shot a scorching 61 and won on the 3rd playoff hole. Unbelievable round 2.

Another great weekend. Here are the top results from the Presidents GC website.

1 Ryan Riley, Andrew Diramio 68-61—129*

*won on 3^rd Playoff Hole

Dan Falcucci, Brian Higgins 64-65--129

3 Frank Vana, RJ Foley 63-67--130

4 Mark O'Sullivan, Aengus McAllister 65-66--131

Andy Drohen, Ace Eaton 64-67--131

Doug Clapp, Bob Malcolm 64-67--131

7 Bernie Lynch, Michael Willock 66-66--132

8 Chris Congdon, Scott Congdon 67-66--133

Steve Bruce, Chris Tarrallo 69-64--133

10 Garrett Whitney, Doug Karo 67-67--134

Dave McAdams, Dylan Evans 66-68--134

28 John Mazzocca, J.B. Randall 70-69--139

Kurt Flionis, Erik Swenson 68-71--139

80 John Hurley, John Sassi 82-78--161
81 Murt Naughton, Ollie Murray 84-77--161

Lex Member Member

Oct 1-2: Lynch and I teamed up for the LGC Member-Member, a best ball 90% handicap competition. Rob was getting 0 and I was getting 3. We shot 67-69 to finish well off the pace. The winning total was 123 by Volpicelli and D. Brickman. The weather held up okay over both days and we played with the Keegan brothers. Overall, it was a very fun tournament. As low handicaps, we had almost no room for errors. We didn't make enough birdies to have a chance, but we competed and we will be back again!

Top 10 shots in California

1. PGA West - Stadium Course: Round 3 of Nationals - Hole #4 Par 3 - 128 yards (to pin) - I hit a 9-iron to 1/16th of an inch. It landed a foot in front of the hole, bounced two feet by, and spun back stopping on the lip of the cup. Even better, my Dad was standing greenside watching the whole thing! If that went in, I would have pocketed at least $1k in skins and prize money.

2. PGA West - Stadium Course: Round 3 of Nationals - Hole #14 Par 4 - 372 yards - I hit my drive into a fairway bunker that runs the whole right side of the fairway, leaving me 200 yards to a blind green. The bunker was below green level, requiring me to walk down a flight of stairs to get to my ball. I puree'd a 4-iron to 8 feet below the hole, the ball flight was on a string and the compression was PGA tour caliber.

3. PGA West - Stadium Course: Round 3 of Nationals - Hole #18 Par 4 - 439 yards - On the tee shot, water runs the entire left side of the hole to the green. Its complete risk and reward. How much do you want to cut off? I picked out a bunker over the corner and ripped my best drive of the day, down the middle, settling 120 yards from the green. The long-drive champion only edged me by 10 yards.

4. PGA West - Nicklaus Course: Round 4 of Nationals - Hole #11 Par 5 - 490 yards - I lied two in a large greenside bunker to the rightside of the green. It was a 35 yard bunker shot with 25 yards of bunker to carry. I kept the face slightly open, much closer to square than normal and pinched it perfectly, landing 10 feet below to the hole taking two hops and stopping within 4 feet of the hole. I attribute a successful shot to practice my long bunker play in morning warm-ups.

5. La Quinta Mountain: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #15 Par 5 - 517 yards - I lied one in the middle of the fairway, 206 yards to the pin. The green was tucked inside the mountains (literally surrounded by rocks behind and to the right as well as a bunkered on the same sides. I starched a 4-iron, starting at the left side of the green and fading to the center. It landed on the green and rolled to 25 feet for eagle.

6. La Quinta Mountain: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #4 Par 5 - 508 yards - I blasted my driver down the left side, a very aggressive line. It stopped in the fairway, only 200 yards from the green. Ball flight was great, a soaring drive!

7. Putting - I had 27 one putts and 1 three putt throughout the tournament. I drained a number of 10-15 footers for par and rarely missed a putt inside 5 feet. The best greens were Stadium Course and my best putting change on the week was no practice strokes inside 15 feet.

8. Silverrock Resort - Final Day of Trip - Hole #18 Par 5 - 520 yards. My Dad lies two from 120 yards into a heavy breeze over water. He flushes a shot to 10 feet below the hole and drains the putt to finish the trip with a birdie!! The perfect ending and classic story that leads a golfer back for more.

9. La Quinta Mountain Course: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #14 Par 4 - 389 yards. After hitting a drive that I thought was in the mountains (to my relief in was in the fairway, a deceiving view from tee) and blowing my approach long left (again thought in was in the mountains, but happened to be a large collection area), I was left with a delicate flop shot downhill to a narrow strip of the green. With soft hands and nice touch, I lofted a chip (w/ 60 degree wedge) up quickly and got it to stop after a few bounces to within inches of the cup. Tap in!

10. PGA West - Stadium Course: Practice Round - Hole #5 Par 5 - 514 yards - I had 235 yards left to the green on my second shot to a peninsula green. Water was protecting all up the right side on the green. There was bailout area to the left, but it was covered with large mounds and bunkers. I hit a high fade with my 20 degree hybrid that landed on the front edge of the left side of the green and rolled to the center, leaving a 25 foot eagle putt. This was all done to the amazement of the attractive cart girl, who was told by my playing partner from FL to watch this shot!

Yes yes yes to shot visualization...see it and do it,

Kurt