Overall Winner Larry Rambaud

A field of 32 competitors enjoyed golf at Indio's Eagle Falls Golf Club and Palm Desert's Classic Club. A number of participants also played a practice round on Friday at Escena Golf Club in Palm Springs.

On day one of competition at Eagle Falls, Rambaud shot a 77 (net 66) to take both low gross and low net honors. Mike Laughlin was second low gross with an 83. Trailing Rambaud in the net standings were Geary Engles (68), Rick Hubkabay (69) and Kenn Freel (69).

Renee Jorgensen at Castelli'sErlene Benevento's 69 took the women's flight followed by Pam Rambaud (72).

Saturday's closest to the flagstick winners were Tom Peltzer (3 inches and he made the putt!) and Renee Jorgensen. Gary Paden won long drive.

On our second day at The Classic Club, Tom Peltzer's net 69 took first place money followed by Jim Brock (70), Jim Sigler (74) and Geary Engles (74). Mike Laughlin claimed low gross honors with an 82 and Bob Wyrick was second with an 85.

Sunday's closest to the flagstick winners were Eric Shannon and Mervin James. Larry Rambaud was the long drive winner.

Renee Jorgensen (75) won Sunday's ladies flight and Pam Rambaud (77) was second.

Trailing Rambaud (141) for the two day title were Geary Engles (142), Tom Peltzer (145) and Jim Brock (146).

Most of the tournament participants enjoyed a wonderful group dinner on Saturday evening at Castelli's Restaurante in Palm Desert. Larry Rambaud received the 2011 Trotter Cup trophy from 2009 and 2010 winner Tom McKinney at the dinner.

Thanks to MBGFR President Tom McKinney for organizing this most popular tournament. It was a great way to start the year!

The Trotter Cup win was Rambaud's first as he overtook Larry Benevento to claim the crown. Benevento hung on for second place and Jim Pescatore was third.

Finale participants enjoyed some on the best weather ever for the event.....65 degrees and little wind.

Winner Lindsay Munoz and blind draw partner Steve HorvathAs usual, the Finale was a two player better ball and Lindsay Munoz and his blind draw partner (Steve Horvath) took first place honors with a 130 net. Lindsay's partner, Fernando Elizando, broke his tibia just prior to the tournament and had to withdraw. Second place went to Rambaud and Hutton (131) and in third place with a 133 was the team of Geary Engles and Pescatore.

Closest to the flagstick winners on Saturday at Bayonet were Don Hutton's guests, Dennis Irwin on #4 and Gig Stephens on #17 (7 inches).

Sunday's closest to the flagstick winners on Blackhorse were Jim Pescatore on #5 and Larry Benevento on #17.

Tournament participants and guests enjoyed a group dinner on Saturday evening at Hula's Tiki Room in Monterey.

Bob Wyrick

Instead, he left the rest of the 13-player field playing for second as he claimed both low net and low gross honors (81-70) as well as a closest to the flagstick ball on the eight hole.

Trotter Cup leader Larry Benevento won both second low gross (83) and second low net (71) Tournament chair Geary Engles was third low net with a 72 and Kenn Freel claimed fourth place money (73).

Larry Rambaud was closest to the hole on #16.

In honor of surviving a miserable weather day (and to celebrate Wyrick's 62nd), the MBGFR sprang for two rounds in the clubhouse after play. Irish Coffee and Bailey's Coffee were reported to be favorites.

Thanks to Geary Engles for hosting our November tournament.

Tom McKinney

McKinney fired a 75 (net 63) to claim both low gross and low net honors at the event.

Second low net went to Mike Schauffele (68) and Rod Coburn (71) won a card off with Gary Paden (71) for third. Jim Sigler (73) was fifth low net.

Second low gross went to Mike Laughlin and closest to the flagstick monies went to Schauffele and Woody Hogan.

The third attempt to play Riverbend proved to be the charm for host Gary Paden as 19 MBGFR members participated. Thanks, Gary, for your perseverance!

September Winner Bob Wyrick

Second low net at the September 10 tournament went to Larry Rambaud, 77 (68), and Dick Trotter, 97 (72), won a third place card off over Larry Benevento 84 (72).

Mike Laughlin claimed low gross money with a smooth 76 and Rambaud's 77 was good for second.

Closest to the flagstick winners were Rambaud on #2 and Wyrick on #11.

A big thanks to Don Hutton for hosting this tournament!

Winners Jim Brock & Erlene BeneventoErlene Benevento

Sixteen players began competition on Friday, August 19, at Arrow Creek Country Club and Jim Brock (71) edged Jim Pescatore (71) in a cardoff for low net. Larry Rambaud (74) won a cardoff with Bob Wyrick (74) for third. Pescatore (82) won low gross honors and Mike Laughlin (84) was second.

Friday's closest to the flagstick winners were Pescatore and Don Hutton.

Players moved to D'Andrea Golf Club in Sparks on Saturday and Erlene Benevento (70) took home the low net prize money. Rambaud (73) again won a cardoff with Wyrick (73) for second and Geary Engles (74) was fourth. Laughlin's 82 won low gross honors and Rambaud (84) was second.

Overall Winner Larry RambaudSaturday's closest to the flagstick winners were Brock (2'-4" and he missed the putt!) and Rambaud.

Rambaud's consistent play gave him the two day low net money and Wyrick was second, Brock was third and Mervin James was fourth.

Many of the group stayed at the Eldorado Hotel in downtown Reno and most participants enjoyed a group dinner at the hotel's Prime Rib Restaurant on Friday evening.

Special thanks to Gary Paden for hosting this great venue. We enjoyed reasonable prices and outstanding weather!

Richard AhartRichard Ahart

Trotter Cup leader Larry Benevento was second low net with a 73 and Jim Pescatore was second low gross with an 85. Pescatore's net 74 took third low net and Dick Trotter was fourth low net with a 76.

Laughlin guest Mervin James was closest to the flagstick on the second hole and Pescatore took home the money on 17.

Our July event drew 16 competitors on a dry, overcast day. Thanks to MBGFR President Tom McKinney for hosting this tournament.

Mike Derr (72) edged Dennis Dolley (72) in a card off fior second place and Steve Horvath (76) won a card off with Bill Frazier (76) for fourth.

Low gross was Steve Carnes and second low cross went to Dolley.

Closest to the flagstick money went to Dick Trotter and Horvath.

MBGFR President Tom McKinney managed a 102 in his first round back after breaking his arm several months ago.

Thanks to Geary Engles for hosting this event and thanks to Perla Tarsitano, a Quail Lodge member, for securing the course.

Steve Horvath and Ken KinseyJim BrockMike Laughlin and partner Leo Lauzon

Three of the four MBGFR golfers brought home trophies from the tournament. Leading the MBGFR charge was Steve Horvath who took home a First Place trophy in Division 1. Steve recorded 98 Stableford points to tie for first with Ken Kinsey of Iowa City, IA.

Jim Brock finished in third place in Division 2 with 89 Stableford points and Mike Laughlin, who serves as USGFR President, teamed with Leo Lauzon of Grand Prairie, AB, Canada, for a first place tie in the team competition. The other first place team was composed of Jim Getchonis of Venore, TN and Steve Hunt of Franklin, TN. Mike's hopes for a trophy in Division 1 were dashed after a first round score of 92. Mike did claim some redemption when he fired a final round gross 76--the low round among all competitors in the three day tournament.

Putting woes plaqued the MBGFR's fourth competitor, Jim Pescatore. 

Tournament headquarters was located in Franklin, Tennessee, a southern suburb of Nashville. The Franklin Breakfast Rotary Club was tournament host. Franklin Rotary members Fred Reynolds and Al Adams did a superb job of organization. The tournament's first round was at the tough Westhaven Golf Club. The course featured 14 elevated greens and unseasonable cool, wet weather caused high scores throughout the field.

The tournament moved to the two Vanderbilt Legends courses for the final two days. Both tracts were mature and immaculately manicured and drew positive comments from all competitors.

The 2011 National Champion (low total gross score) was Patrick Eakes of Greensboro, North Carolina. Patrick will be serving as tournament chair for next year's tournament.

The 2012 USGFR National Championships are scheduled August 1-4 in Greensburo, North Carolina. Visit the USGFR website for additional information and make plans to attend! www.usgfr.com

The 2013 National Championships are being planned for the California desert.

John Giammanco

Closest to the flagstick money went to Geary Engles and Mike Laughlin.

Thirteen players participated in the event on an overcast Saturday. Many players complained about the hardness and speed of the greens.....one perennial Trotter Cup favorite counted 45 putts in his disappointing round.

Thanks to MBGFR member Jim Pescatore for hosting this event!

Trotter Cup leader Larry Benevento gets a C- for driving accuracy.