2012 Norfolk County Four Ball

October 13-14 – Another year at the Norfolk County, a 2-day best ball tournament with approximately 80 two-man teams.  The field is always strong and showed no different this year, with a number of the Massachusetts Tri-State players joining off their 9^th straight victory at Old Sandwich.  Its like when the PGA Tour says how many Ryder Cup players are showing up for a tour event.  Added competitive juices and hype.

My focus was to put up a better showing at Presidents, a course that doesn’t fit my eye and gives me problems every year.   That, or either my ball striking is off, and the wind plays havoc with poor ball striking here.  The tournament got off to a slow start.  There was a 90 minute frost delay, pushing back my tee time to 2:15pm off the tenth tee.  Weather was sunny, but cold…mid 50s and dropping by the hour.  Paired with good friends S.Keegan and D.Brennan

Murphy and I gave ourselves a number of opportunities, but failed to make putts all day.  I swear the greens were bumpy from the morning frost followed by a lot of golfers walking over them in the morning, couldn’t get a good roll.  My best shot was a 5-iron to 10 feet below the hole on 13.  Missed the putt.  Fifteen killed us, Murph hit his drive and third shot in the water, I hit a perfect drive, had 180 yards and plunked it…we made double (thanks Keegan and Brennan for still giving us the hole with your 8).  Only one team birdie on 5.  +2 thru 16 holes, then darkness hit.  We had eight and nine left to play.  After Dana calculated most of scores, the cut was projected at +2.  We had to finish our round in the AM and have balls in the air at 730, so the course could be cleared for 10:30 shotgun.  What!?  730!  We needed to wake and make two pars cold turkey or we are going home.   Keegan and Brennan were in good shape with even par. 

Next morning we wake up to sideways rain and cold!  48-50 degrees, windy, rainy.  No warmup.  Eighth tee Murph goes first, cold top…I hit it in 6^th fairway; Murph out of hole after 3 shots, I hit a 7-iron into the wind from 160 to front of green, great spot, wet green, slow right to left putt, right?  Nope, blew it by 6 feet.  Left to right putt downhill to make par, gotta have it.  Made it!  On nine, I missed a 10 footer for par, Mike has 20 feet for birdie, manageable speed, right?  Think twice, blows it by 6 feet.  This is a must make.  Got it!  I can’t remember working so hard to make two pars as a team.  We used up a lot of energy to avoid going home.

Two hours later we start on the 12^th hole with D.Evans and R.Friel.  Good guys.  Weather is cloudy, cold, windy, rainy…temperature rises and falls, rain starts and stop, last 6 holes are sunny and decent weather in 60s…we make birdies on 16, 2, 4, and 8; bogeys on 12,15,1,6, and 11.  My two shots of the day: 1) #4 – 6 iron to 8 inches above hole, ball stayed in its own ball mark; 2) #15 – another perfect drive, 190 yards to pin, I plunk 4-iron in water, drop and hit next shot with 5-iron plunk in water…Mike gets on green in 5 after two water balls…as we walk up to green, spotter marks my second ball in the water, half underwater; Hit it? Okay you never know – I take off my right shoe and sock, right foot is fully underwater, thinking Bill Haas, I play like bunker shot, I open the 60 degree and swing just like a bunker shot, don’t see anything and I hear Murph say that’s great, high lofting shot lands 12 feet past pin, then I make the putt half barefoot for bogey!!!  I went from disgust to excitement making a freaking bogey. 

We shoot 71.  Team Total = 143.  Brennan and Keegan shoot 65.  Excellent. 

Higgins and Falcucci dominate.  See below.

Great to see Swen and B. Murph!  Parka and Stova were the best of Bentley crew.  Thanks to my Dad for caddying in Round 1.  

This year the putter let us down as well as inability to hit a good second shot on 15.  No doubt we will be back next year.  Awesome event.

Fli

Results:

1st Brian Higgins-Dan Falcucci 62-64-126
2nd Andy Drohen-Chris Congdon 63-66-129
T-3rd Andrew Diramio-Ryan Riley 65-65-130
Paul Mitchell-Sean Fitzpatrick 64-66-130
Mike Riley-Arthur Fitzgerald 66-64-130
T-6th Jim Forsgard-Mark Elbery 65-66-131
Matt Bianchini-John Arcure 63-68-131
Greg Chalas-Steve Neidermire 64-67-131
T-9th Michael Haglof-Andy Loconto 68-64-132
Herbie Aikens-Bob Mancini 69-63-132
Steven Kuhn-Michael Butts 67-65-132
Michael Willock-Dan Najarian 67-65-132
Bob Avellino-Ron Harwood 64-68-132

Kurt Flionis - Mike Murphy 72-71-143

Member Member

Oct 6, 2012 - J. Flanagan and I posted an 8 under 63.  We are 4 shots off the pace going into the final round (T2 of 23 teams).  This is a net best ball at 90% tournament.  We had a solid day with 2 net eagles; I birdied 4 (right after John made 5 net 3) and John birdied 11 for net eagles...we also had two net bogeys on 18 and 10.  John putted amazing.  I give him a read and hits it exactly to the spot.  He shot an 89, good round for a 23 handicap.  The weather conditions were very good given its the first weekend of October, mid-70s and sunny with breezy conditions on the back nine.  It is great to be contention for tomorrow!  We played with R. Piccieri and D. Furey, two great guys.  Gotta love the Lex! Ran into M. Champagne and his wife at Tavern in the Square with my parents.  Good to see you Matty!

Final round update coming manana.

KFly