Harbour Pointe Men’s Golf Association Stableford Golf Tournament Event (08-21-2024)
On Wednesday August 21st, the MGA golfers had their 11th Golf Event of the 2024 golf season, The Stableford GOLF Tournament Event. (Note that the original scheduled date was August 8th, but the event was cancelled and rescheduled due to inclement weather).The Stableford Golf Tournament was a computer selected team format. All team members played their own balls and were rewarded with points for their net score on each hole. The points earned were 6pts for Eagle, 4pts for Birdie, 2pts for Par, 1pt for Bogey, NO pts for double bogey and a triple bogey was a minus1-pts “ouch”! At the end of the round, the teams totaled their points earned and the team with the most points won it all! We also had “closest-to-the-pin” winners on all the Par 3 holes.
Congratulations to the following 1st place winners.
1st Place: Stan Koonce, Bob Reivik, Brian McDowell, Rick Toby (not pictured)
2nd Place: Dave Fahrmeier, Gus Villanova, Keith Swan, Kevin Fitzpatrick
3rd Place: Joe Pillow, Bruce Hice, Tom Caruso, Larry Carknard
4th Place: Mark Carmichael, Wayne Bedenbaugh, Sean Mulhall, Dan Engelhaupt
Congratulations to all the “Closest-to-the-PIN” winners:
The next MGA event will be on September 11th. The Odd Man Out Tournament Event will be a Team Golf format with computer selected teams to achieve their lowest Team Net scores.
Harbour Pointe Men’s Golf Association Odd Man Out Golf Tournament Event (09-11-2024)
On Wednesday September 11st, the MGA golfers had their 13th Golf Event of the 2024 golf season, the Odd Man Out GOLF Tournament Event.
Before starting golf play on September 11th, we remembered the victims and families of 9/11/2001 with a moment of silence prior to the pledge of allegiance to the USA flag…It was Very Moving!! The Odd Man Out Golf Tournament was a computer selected team format. All team members played their own balls and then only counted their best three net scores on each hole. At the end of the round, the teams totaled their scores versus par and the team with the best score won it all! We also had “closest-to-the-pin” winners on all the Par 3 holes.
Congratulations to the following 1st place winners.
1st Place: Charlie Henke, Mark Carmichael, CA Smith, Dave Seyerle (Photo)
2nd Place: Joe Pillow, Larry Ervin, Brian McDowell, Tim Welch
3rd Place: Bob Gillham, Rick Wolfe, PJ Guerriero
Congratulations to all the “Closest-to-the-PIN” winners:
The next MGA event will be on September 25th. The Ryder Cup Tournament Event will be a 2-man team golf format with two pre-picked teams (Red vs. Blue). Golf play will be like the PGA Ryder Cup event, including alternate shot, best ball, individual play, etc.
Harbour Pointe Men’s Golf Association Ryder Cup Golf Tournament Event (09-25-2024)
On Wednesday September 11st, the MGA golfers had their 14th Golf Event of the 2024 golf season, the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament Event. The Ryder Cup Golf Tournament was a two-team format, RED TEAM vs. BLUE TEAM.The RED Team captain was Stan Koonce, and the BLUE Team captain was Tom Caruso. They flipped a coin and chose their teams from the list of registered players, then they paired up their players into 2-man teams. Then Jimmy Adams provided the handicaps to help the captains build the pairings.
Each 2-man team was playing the first 9 holes in a “Scramble” format for 1 point, the second 9 holes was a “Best Ball” format, also for 1 point. Any ties for each nine holes would result in ½ points for both team. The total points available to win was 12 points.
At the end of the round, the RED team won the day with 7 ½ points versus 4 ½ points for the BLUE team. We also had “closest-to-the-pin” winners on all the Par 3 holes.
Congratulations to the 1st place RED Team.
Special call-out to Tim Welch who was able to substitute at the last minute for Charlie Henke who called in sick. Feel Better Soon Charlie!!
Congratulations to all the “Closest-to-the-PIN” winners:
The next MGA event will be on October 9th. The 2-man Scramble Tournament Event will be a computer-picked 2-man teams golf format. Players will be flighted using the GHIN handicaps and winners will be determined using their net 2-man team scores.
The Men’s Golf Association welcomes new members.
For More Information about joining the MGA Contact:
Dave Lange (616) 706-9007 or Johnny Harrell (704) 430-7131
STATracker
Sunday, September 8, 2024
***MULHALL GETS 2nd H.I.O.!!!***
~KOONCE SETS NEW RECORD ~HARRINGTON HAS HOT HAND ~CARUSO LEADS BCO~
Week-28 of the 2024 STATracker season completed all 3 of its scheduled rounds.
It was a week of “wonder & awe,” a week of dizzying heights… a week of historic achievements.
Yes, that about sums up how September came in like a lion here at the HPGC STATracker field.
A ton of things to get to so here goes… SEAN MULHALL scored his 2nd hole-in-one of the season this past Monday when he sent his tee shot on the challenging par-3 ninth hole, from 118 yards away, bouncing it on the green and rolling it it for his historic 2nd H.I.O.!! He is the only player to score two H.I.O.’s in a single season AND now joins Joe Pillow as the only two players ever to get 2 H.I.O’s in their ST careers. Now…keep in mind, the 87 year old Mulhall got his first H.I.O. just 33 days ago back on July 31st in round #62 of the 2024 ST season. Ten official rounds later in round #72, he does it again.
That 45 point shot elevated Mulhall into the 10th spot in the Combined standings. This top ten ranking is something he’s never come close to in previous years. So as he enjoys his best STATracker season ever, the straight-shooter from Ireland puts himself in an excellent position to get to the big pot ‘o gold at the end of the season… the STATracker Playoffs…!!
Moving along… STAN KOONCE entered week-28 of the season needing just 14 points to break his own single season points record of 1470. While it did turn out to be a “quiet” week for the #1 ranked player, dealing once again with a flare-up of his hand injury, he did get it done during Wednesday’s MGA round. Actually, the historic moment occurred in the club house when it was determined that he finished in 2nd place in the MGA individual event, giving him 4 points for that achievement and sending his season point total to 1472…setting the new record. Koonce had 30 points for the week (8-7-15) and now has 1487 for the season. Where will this juggernaut stop?… nobody knows but it seems certain that we are headed for uncharted territory before the season ends.
From the Hot-Hand Department… BRIAN HARRINGTON, this season’s leading rookie, continues to make his mark on the goings-on here at the HPGC and in STATracker. In the 2024 HPGC Match Play series, Harrington scored an upset victory over the formidable major champion PAUL CORMIER, defeating him on the last hole of their match. Harrington remains undefeated in this event as he heads into his finals going up against DON SCHUTTS for the winner take all in the A-pool, putting himself only one match away from the championship and 100 points in the STATracker standings. Harrington leads all match play contenders with 59 accumulated points for his wins and achievements during this series. His game seems to be peaking at just the right time.
Elsewhere… The annual final major of the season began this past Monday, the Broad Creek OPEN.
The month long tournament requires players to play in either the Bald Eagles rounds or in MGA rounds.
The 4 lowest net scores for the month of September, wins the title. After the first week of play, the early lead was grabbed by TOM CARUSO. The Cyclone had an outstanding round on Friday netting him a 68… lowest net in week one of the tourney. Two strokes back are the aforementioned Brian Harrington with 70 and Legends of Golf, BOB GILLHAM also with a 70 that included 6 birdies in his round on Friday. Gillham also beat his age firing a hot 66 at age 80.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
***KOONCE REACHES 1500***
~WELCH NEARS RECORD ~HARRINGTON & CARUSO LEAD BCO ~4 LEGENDS SET RECORD
Week-29 of the 2024 STATracker season completed only 2 of its scheduled 3 rounds due to rain.
We are officially where “no man has gone before.” Well… not in Star Trek terms but rather, here at the HPGC STATracker field. Even though the Comet cooled off a bit in week-29, STAN KOONCE hit the 1500 points mark for the season. AND… he’s exactly at 1500 points. Here’s how it came about.
Because, for this season, Koonce has had a PPR (points per round) average of 23.08, it turned out to be a grudglingly difficult week for him to get those last few points to hit that mark. In Monday’s Bald Eagles round, Koonce managed only one birdie for 3 points. However, in all fairness, he also was playing his head-to-head match with the #2 ranked DAVE FAHRMEIER that day as well. He and Fahrmeier went back and forth for the front 9 with Fahrmeier winning the first hole, but a long par-saving putt on #8 started the ball rolling for Koonce as he then won 3 holes in row giving him a lead that he would never relinquish. Fahrmeier gave it a good go to rally back, but could not keep any momentum going eventually falling 4&3 to Koonce. So Koonce enters Wednesday’s MGA tournament round needing just 5 points to reach 1500. It took a bit but when his group reached the par-3 11th, Koonce sent his tee shot straight at the hole. It hit the green and bounced up into the flagstick dropping down just 2 feet left of the hole. Koonce made the birdie… so that was 3 points. Now that tee shot was really in there tight for the CTP, but Koonce would have to wait in the clubhouse until all the groups finished their rounds, to see if that would officially hold up… which it did, getting him the last 2 points to reach 1500. Despite Fahrmeier's loss to Koonce, by the end of the tournament on Wednesday, Fahrmeier had recaptured the lead from Koonce, in the Tournaments Standings. So that "Pennant" race continues. Fahrmeier now has a 7 point lead there. Just to be aware though... in 3rd place in the Tournaments Standings is MARK CARMICHAEL. He is the defending champion and has won it the last 2 years in a row. He has been quietly going about his business on MGA tournament days and finds himself only 25 points off the lead after Wednesday. STATracker Central is keeping a wary eye on that developing story.
In other record related events, TIM WELCH moved another point closer to tying the Winners Circle record of 21 points in a single season, held by the aforementioned Stan Koonce. On Monday, Welch helped his team get the win moving his Winners Circle record to 3 I-wins and 14 T-wins for a total of 20 points. So with just 7 weeks to go in the season, the race is on between Welch and Koonce to see who will get to break the record first and who will end up perhaps as the WC champion. Lurking not too far away from Koonce and Welch is JOE PILLOW. Pillow has 17 points in the WC race on 2 I-wins and 13 T-wins… so don’t count him out.
Second year player and winner of last year’s HPGC Match Play, JOHNNY HARRELL moved past the 500 points mark for the season and for the first time in his young career. Harrell got it done with a sandy during Monday’s round. As a rookie last season, Harrell finished with a #9 ranking and 468 points. Harrell was part of that great rookie crop last year of Fahrmeier, Harrell and Seyerle, all of whom made the playoffs in their first season. This season’s top rookie BRIAN HARRINGTON, continues to make his presence felt. Harrington did fall to frontrunner DON SCHUTTS in the HPGC Match Play major, however, after last week’s proceedings, which included the 2nd week of play in the month-long Broad Creek OPEN major, Harrington caught up to and is now tied for the lead halfway through the BCO with TOM CARUSO at -6. Both players achieved their subpar totals with identical rounds of 70-68. Defending BCO champion, 3-time major winner BOB REIVIK is 4 back of the leaders at -2 after his opening of 74-68.
Elsewhere… in another record setting event, four Legends Of Golf players all beat their age in Wednesday’s MGA tourney. LARRY ERVIN @90 shot an 81, C.A. SMITH @85 shot an 84, BOB GILLHAM @80 shot a 71 and JOE PILLOW @75 shot a 73!! Never have 4 legends done this in the same round!! In the case of Smith, along with teammates founder CHARLIE HENKE, DAVE SEYERLE and 3-time major winner MARK CARMICHAEL, got the win in Wednesday’s tourney.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
***HARRINGTON GRABS LEAD IN BCO***
~FAHRMEIER MOVES PAST 1100 ~CARMICHAEL & SWAN GET I-Wins ~PLANTIN RETURNS
Week-30 of the 2024 STATracker season completed only 2 of its scheduled 3 rounds due to rain.
Once again, for the second week-in-a-row, a rainout curtailed opportunities…AND after last Friday’s rainout coupled with the cancellation on Monday this past week, that was yet again, 2 rounds in a row that were washed out. That is a strikingly similar trait to this 2024 season. Nonetheless, the show went on and here are the highlights…
No rookie has ever won a STATracker major, but BRIAN HARRINGTON is plowing a path to that possibility. Last week, the rookie sensation whose game has been getting even stronger as the season has worn on, grabbed the outright lead in week-3 of the month long Broad Creek OPEN, after firing a 2nd consecutive round of 68 putting him on top of the leaderboard there at -10. He and TOM CARUSO had been tied for the lead at the halfway mark last week, but Caruso could only manage a 75 dropping him back into 4th place at -3. JOE PILLOW, after 2 rounds of 72, nailed a great round of 66 to get into 2nd place 4 strokes behind Harrington. DAVE LANGE played at even par in week-3 of the major, maintaining his 5 under par and a 3rd place position, currently. Rounding out the top 5 is MARK CARMICHAEL who after 2 consecutive rounds of 73, shot a 70 in the 3rd round of play, to pull up to even par for the tourney. Defending BCO champ BOB REIVIK, finally righted his ship in round 3, scoring a 68. But after opening rounds of 78 and 74, he finds himself 14 strokes behind Harrington. We enter the final week of play for this major with one additional date, Monday, Sept. 30th as a last chance to score big. But for now, Harrington has a pretty nice 4 stroke lead and he will be challenging to catch. Only Mark Carmichael was able to repeat as BCO champion (2021-2022).
DAVE FAHRMEIER became only the 3rd player to ever get past 1100 points in a single season. His 55 point week last week (x-20-35) did the trick and it came on the back of 2 consecutive double-sandy rounds. Both Wednesday and Friday saw the Marylander score double sandies for his round. In Friday’s Bald Eagles round, it helped his team along with JOHNNY HARREL, BRIAN HARRINGTON and KEITH SWAN, get the team win there. A look at that lineup and it’s no surprise they won. In the case of Keith Swan, he also got an individual win (I-win) along with Carmichael, in the MGA’s individual playdate round on Wednesday. For Swan, it was his first I-win of the season and 3rd of his career…and… his 42nd trip to the Winners Circle, all-time for the former Winners Circle champ. For Carmichael, well he nailed down his 3rd I-win of the season and 12th of his career. Only STAN KOONCE has more I-wins all-time, with 14. It was Carmichael’s 73rd trip to the Winners Circle in his ST career. Carmichael is quietly sneaking up on a 1000 points for this season. He had an 18 point week (x-8-10) and now needs just 28 more points before season’s end on October 31st, to get his 4th consecutive 1000 or more points in a season… and another ST record.
In the 2024 HPGC Match play tournament, DON SCHUTTS continues to wait for his final opponent. The remaining action that’s left is now constrained to the B-pool where big names like Reivik, Harrell, Carmichael and Koonce were all eliminated from contention… and all by the same player. From the “who is this guy” department, came Tom Caruso who defeated each of those top players. Caruso now waits to play the fireball known as TONY AIUTO, for the right to play PAUL CORMIER for the right to play Schutts… yeah… right…………… we’ll see…………………………
On Monday, the 2024 MGA Ryder Cup teams will be chosen by MGA tournament chairmen Stan Koonce vs. Tom Caruso. Defending 2023 STATracker Playoffs champion KEN PLANTIN has returned to play this past week.
Sunday, September 29, 2024
***WELCH SETS NEW WC RECORD***
~HARRINGTON TAKES BIG LEAD INTO FINAL BCO ROUND ~MGA RYDER CUP RESULTS
Week-31 of the 2024 STATracker season completed all 3 of its scheduled rounds… barely…!!
That’s right, the rain held off just enough for round-3 of last week, to get play completed on Friday. It turned out to be a historic round for the current Winners Circle leader, TIM WELCH. In an overcast and high winds day, Welch along with teammates DAVE SEYERLE and TOM CARUSO, nailed down the team win giving Welch his 16th T-win of the season to go along with his 3 individual wins (I-wins), and with it, Welch set a new single season record of 22 points in the Winners Circle competition. Now with still one whole month to go in the season, anything can happen but, Welch has had a nearly perfect wire-to-wire lead in the WC competition trading places at the top just the one time when STAN KOONCE caught up to him a few weeks back. Welch now is hanging on to a 2 point lead over Koonce. As things stand at this moment, there are just 14 scheduled rounds left to the 2024 season. Three of those 14 rounds are MGA individual playdates with the final playdate being the last scheduled round of the season on Oct. 30th. So that “pennant” race isn’t over yet but its going to be fun to watch.
AND… speaking of “pennant” races… over in the Tournaments Standings which determines the season’s Tournaments champion as well as the 4 Wildcard players for the season-ending STATracker Playoffs, DAVE FAHRMEIER continues to cling to the top spot there after chasing down Koonce for most of the season, finally surpassing him in late summer.. After this past week’s MGA Ryder Cup tourney, Fahrmeier was able to hold on to his slim lead over Stan Koonce. It is now down to 5 points after both players scored birdies that day, Koonce further cut into his lead by securing one of the five CTPs that day for another 2 points, plus Koonce was on the winning team and Fahrmeier was not. With just 2 tough MGA tourneys left in the season, this too will be another exciting race to watch.
The final major of the STATracker season, the Broad Creek OPEN, completed its 4th week of play last week. The month long competition will have its final round tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 30th. Rookie sensation BRIAN HARRINGTON seems to be in the driver’s seat there. As we head into the final round, Harrington has a commanding 6 stroke lead at -11. Now the way this competition works, -11 is the worst Harrington can do. In fact, he can sit out Monday’s final round and just let that number ride, as those are the results of his 4 lowest net rounds for the month of September. Giving chase and down to their final chance are JOE PILLOW and MARK CARMICHAEL… both players sitting at -5. In the case of Pillow, he had that great 66 in the 3rd round but lost one in this past week with a 73. For Carmichael, he had been sitting at even par and then put together a dazzling round this past week scoring a 67 to get into a tie with Pillow in 2nd place. Both players will have tall orders to catch Harrington, but if any 2 players can do it, it’s these two. However, if Harrington does make the lineup on Monday and improves on his score, which is very possible, we could have our first ever rookie major champion.
In the MGA’s annual Ryder Cup tourney, between this year’s chairmen Stan Koonce and Tom Caruso, it was the Red team of Mr. Koonce getting it done in a convincing way winning the match 7 ½ - 4 ½. The winning team included former Masters Champ JIM FURMAN, 2-time major winner BRUCE HICE, Match-Play Champion JOHNNY HARREL, STATracker Playoffs Champion JOE PILLOW, MGA major champion C.A. SMITH, 2-time major winner SEAN MULHALL and of course Harbour Cup champ STAN KOONCE. Rounding out the rest of the team was Jimmy Adams, Rick Wolfe, Larry Ervin, Dave Seyerle and Tim Welch.
Comments