Eagle Ridge Golf League News
The 2016 League Champion is Tom Copley
On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, the league held its awards banquet. It has been a great year, and several records have been set.
Our league champion is Tom Copley who fought through the final two rounds to capture the championship. It became a hard-earned victory as the same threesome played two weeks in a row. Any of these three golfers could have won the championship with a win in the league’s last night. Tom prevailed and to him, I give great credit. Congratulations Tom!
Second place belonged to Troy Hughes and third place to Charlie Curnutte. All three players ended a terrific season. These players so dominated that when playoff time arrive, it was assured that these players would end 1, 2 and 3, with the only question being who triumphed. Congratulations to Troy and Charlie, for each, had a very successful season.
The most improved golfer was Sam Sumpter. For Sam who has for the past two seasons battled illness and personal tragedy, yet who always played, reduced his handicap by an astounding 6.2 strokes. All I can say is watch out for Sam next year.
From left to right: Sam Sumpter, Charlie Curnutte, Tom Copley, Troy Hughes, and Dan Preece, League Secretary-Treasurer.
This season has produced many records, starting with 3-golfers ending the league with a 1-handicap. Those players are Dan Preece, Troy Hughes, and Tom Copley. Tom Copley also tied the league record of 3-under par on the par 36 back nine. Troy Hughes set a league record with back to back 34s for an 18-hole league record three under par 68. Dan Preece set a league record for fewest putts in a season with a total of 251, an average of 13.94 putts per 9-holes. To place this in perspective, Dan averaged one putting 4.06 greens, or 45.1% of the time, per 9-holes for the entire season.
Bill England, our intrepid octogenarian (I can say that because I am right on his heels) had the lowest net round of the year with a 28. This would have set a course record except for Victor Swinney’s unbelievable net 26 of last year. Bill also tied with Sam Sumpter for 4th place in the league championship. Bill is always in the battle.
Statistics can tell a lot about a person’s golf game. For instance, James Chaffin ran away with the birdie title with 19 for the year. Tied with three others for second place with 13 birdies was Jody Warf. Neither James nor Jody was in the top 5 for total pars for the season. However, James was in the top 5 in greens hit in regulation. I guess that Jody plays with reckless abandon, and perhaps James less so.
But for all the right there was the unfortunate, the same as with life. We lost one of our league favorites with the accidental death of Jim Allen; also an injury to Victor Swinney took him out for the year.
This is the last report until next season. Many of my friends I will not see until next year’s league play. That is because my travels are limited to the library, my church, and Eagle Ridge. If you are not in one of those places, then in is unlikely that we will meet.
Best wishes and happy holidays to all. Hopefully, I will be back in the Lazer reporting our events next spring.
Bill Jackson
Submitted: September 8, 2016
