Laughlin, Bloom, Scott Prevail In Truckee



Mike Laughlin and Marshall Bloom were the overall low gross and low net winners at our August Tahoe Two Day event. The pair also took low gross and low net honors at Coyote Moon on Friday.

Fred Scott and Mike Laughlin were the low net and low gross winners at Old Greenwood on Saturday.

Mike Laughlin and Marshall Bloom took home the low gross and low net honors at our August two day tournament at Truckee's Coyote Moon and Old Greenwood courses. Second low net for the two days went to Fred Scott, third to Jim Pescatore and fourth to Gary Paden.

Play began on Friday at a windy Coyote Moon. Laughlin's 81 was good enough for low gross and Bloom's 69 won low net money. Second low net went to Lenora Peterson (72), third to Jim Pescatore (73) and fourth to Laughlin (75). Closest to the flagstick money went to Anne Johnson, Bruce Huss and Rick Huckabay.

Following a great group dinner on the Old Greenwood Pavilion patio on Friday evening, the group took on Old Greenwood on Saturday morning. If the players thought Coyote Moon was tough in the wind, wait until they played Old Greenwood. Laughlin's 89 was the low gross winner! Low net went to Fred Scott (73), second to Bill Baker (79), third to Rick Huckabay (80) and fourth to Gary Paden (80). Closest to the flag winners at Old Greenwood were Gary Long and Huckabay.

Other than the wind and tough golf courses, the weather was perfect and the MBGFR fellowship phenomenal! Thanks to Gary Paden and Anne Johnson for hosting this event.

 

MBGFR Players Clean Up At IGFR



Dick Trotter claims is second place award in the IGFR tournament in Niagara Falls.

Big winner Jim Quinn picks up one of five first place awards at the IGFR.

 Four MBGFR golfers traveled to Niagara Falls, Canada for the 47th IGFR tournament in June 2008. Kenn Freel, Steve Horvath, Dick Trotter and Jim Quinn did a great job representing the MBGFR. Dick Trotter was second in the Senior award contest while Kenn Freel finished in fourth place in his division. Jim Quinn was the big winner with five first place finishes (Partners better ball, Fellowship Partners, Seniors, Fellowship Gross Stableford and Fellowship Net Stableford).

The four courses played at three venues were in terrific shape and the overall program was very well executed. The venue was spectacular with a view of Horseshoe Falls from the host hotel. Everyone left pleased with the tournament and the hosts.

Next year’s program is in June at Kitzbuhl, Austria.

Horseshoe Falls from the IGFR hotel.
 

Rose, Laughlin Clean Up at Poppy Hills



Andy Rose
was the low net winner at Poppy Hills. Andy's win shamed him into becoming the MBGFR's newest member. Welcome, Andy!

Andy Rose's 65 took low net honors at our June tournament at Poppy Hills. Mike Laughlin took second low net with a 73 and his gross 79 was good enough to win the low gross money. Third low net went to Chairman of the Board Dick Trotter (74) and Anne Johnson (75) won a card off over Bob Wyrick for fourth. Wyrick's 85 was good for second low gross.

Rose also picked up long drive honors and Trotter and Kenn Freel took home closest to the flagstick money.

We had 20 players and several more on the wait list for this tournament. Players endured cool and windy British Open conditions.

Thanks to Geary Engles for hosting this event!



Dick Trotter counts his money after our Poppy Hills tournament on Friday, July 18.

Goodrich Prevails at Salinas Country Club



Roger Goodrich putted his way to a net 67 for low net honors at the June MBGFR tournament at Salinas Golf & Country Club. We're not sure if that's a dark cloud or UFO hovering above Roger but he's still managing a grin!

Roger Goodrich shot a net 67 to pick up low net honors at our June tournament in Salinas. Bob Wyrick edged Tom McKinney in a card off for low gross money with an 81.

Second low net went to McKinney (71) and Larry Benevento's 72 won the card off with Wyrick and Jim Pescatore for third.

Salinas Golf & Country Club was in very good condition with the 12 players enjoying it. Word is that we'll probably return next year.

Thanks to Geary Engles for hosting this tournament.

 

Wyrick Wins One, Loses One at Riverbend



Host Steve Kabot congratulates Bob Wyrick for his second place net finish and first place gross finish at the May tournament at Riverbend.

Bob Wyrick (66) lost a card off to guest Odes Thompson (66) for net honors but won the gross money in a card playoff with Larry Rambaud (77) at May's tournament at Riverbend Golf Course in Madera County.

This was the second tournament in a row that Wyrick edged Rambaud although last month it was for the net money.

Not only did a guest win low net honors, but guests also finished in the third and fourth positions.

Closest to the flagstick on hole 7 was Mike Laughlin and Cheryl Airey, a guest of Steve Carnes, won on 14. Long drive honors went to yet another guest.

Thanks to Steve Kabot for organizing this event!

 

Wyrick Edges Rambaud At San Juan Oaks

Bob Wyrick edged Larry Rambaud in a card off to win low net honors at our April tournament at San Juan Oaks. Mike Laughlin was third. Closest to the pin honors went to Roger Goodrich and Steve Laughlin. Only nine players participated in this event and host Bill Baker went to a lot of work organizing this event. Come on, guys, support our events! Thanks to Bill Baker for hosting this tournament.
 

Goodrich Picks Up Low Net At Corral

Roger Goodrich (69) edged Janice McKinney (70) to take home the low net cash at our March venue at Corral de Tierra Country Club. Bob Wyrick (73) won a card off over Fred Scott (73) for third.
Some 31 players enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at Corral. The extremely fast greens took some of the fun out of the round and produced some high scores. Following golf, players enjoyed a FREE drink compliments of the MBGFR treasury. We had four closest to the pin winners but no one can recall just who they were! Thanks to Jim Pescatore for hosting this great day of golf.

 

Wyrick Takes The Stevinson Ranch Cash



Chairman of the Board Dick Trotter keeps an eye on Tournament Host Don Hutton's tabulation following play at Stevinson Ranch.

Bob Wyrick carded a smooth 46-36=82 (69) to claim low net honors at our February 9 outing at Stevinson Ranch. Tom Mckinney's 80 (70) was second and guest Galen Heatherly 82 (75) edged Mike Laughlin 80 (75) in a card-off for third. Steve Kabot and Laughlin took home the closest to the flagstick money.
Foggy weather caused a half hour delay for the 16 MBGFR players and lightning fast greens resulted in many four putts and probably some five putts.
Thank you Don Hutton for hosting this event!

Steve Kabot and Roger Goodrich await results following play at Stevinson Ranch.
 

McKinney Wins 2008 Desert Opener

Sun City resident Tom McKinney used his home course knowledge and held off charging Larry Benevento to claim the two day title at the MBGFR's season opening tournament in Palm Desert.
McKinney's net 68-70 (138) edged Benevento's 71-69 (140). Rod Coburn, playing in his first tournament in over a year, took third place with 74-69 (143) and Jim Brock was fourth, 72-72 (144).
Daily money on Saturday went to McKinney (68) and Benevento (71) edged Dick Watson (71) in a card off. Bill Rose (72) won fourth place in another card off. McKinney and Gary Paden took home the closest to the pin honors and Andy Rose and Renee Jorgensen had the long drives.
Sunday money went to Andy Rose (67), Coburn (69), Benevento (69) and McKinney (70). Closest to the pin winners were Dick Watson and Basil Perch and long drives went to Jim Pescatore and Janice McKinney.
Participants enjoyed a great change from last year's cold weather--mid to high 60s, plenty of sun and minimal winds. The group enjoyed a wonderful evening of food, fellowship and drink at Tom & Janice's Sun City home on Saturday evening.
All and all, a great start to the 2008 MBGFR season! Thanks to Tom and Janice McKinney and Jim Brock for hosting this event.

 

Engles & Leehong Claim Finale Title

Geary Engles and partner Clay Leehong combined for a net 62 at Carmel Valley Ranch and a net 65 at Bayonet to run away with the best ball title at the MBGFR's December Finale. Their 127 was seven strokes better than second place finishers Phil Hornburg and Steve Dwelle (134). Third place went to Jim Pescatore and Jon Swedberg (135), fourth to Terry Trotter and Al Sherman (136) and fifth place went to Steve Horvath and Bill Dalhamer (137).
With Engles and Leehong taking the first place daily money, the rest of the field battled for second place. At Carmel Valley Ranch, the Hornburg-Dwelle team (65) was second, Trotter-Sherman (66) third, Pescatore-Swedberg (67) fourth and Kenn Freel and Steve Covell (67) fifth. At Bayonet on Saturday, second went to Dick Trotter and Gary Paden (68), third to Pescatore-Swedberg (68), fourth to Hornburg-Dwelle (69) and fifth to Horvath-Dalhamer (70).
The field played the tournament in very windy and cold conditions both days. A highlight of the event was Jim Pescatore's first hole in one on Friday on Carmel Valley Ranch's 7th. Jim used a sand wedge on the 105 yard hole. Jim's hole in one was a highlight for the rest of the field since he purchased drinks in the bar following the round. The tab? $320. Congratulations Jim!


MBGFR Dominates At Horseshoe Bay


MBGFR members won three of the four divisions at the 13th annual USGFR National Tournament held Sept. 27 - Oct. 1 at Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The MBGFR was once again well represented at the tournament with 23 members and guests participating. Players suffered through demanding courses and hot and humid weather but the post-golf events more than made up for the difficult playing conditions. The Marble Falls Rotary Club hosted the event and scheduled great tours for the non golfers as well as a Texas BBQ, Mexican Fiesta, Opening Cocktail party and putting contest and the awards banquet. MBGFR winners appear below. Daily closest to the pin contests were held and MBGFR winners included Mike Laughlin, Larry Benevento, Renee Jorgensen (twice!), Terry Trotter, Dick Trotter and Kenn Freel. MBGFR members and guests attending included Larry and Erlene Benevento, Jim and Susan Brock, Fred and Karen Crummey, Bill Dalhamer, Kenn Freel and Judith Wolfe, Steve Horvath, Renee Jorgensen, Mike and Lynn Laughlin, Tom and Janice McKinney, Mark Shepard, John VanDeVeer and Karen Smith, Dick Trotter, Terry and Paula Trotter and Bob and Julie Wyrick. Next year's USGFR National Championships are scheduled for Sept. 14-17 at the Brudenell River Resort on Prince Edward Island, Canada. See additional information on The Championships page.

Additional Photos are available on the Photo Gallery page.



Mike Laughlin accepts the tournament Low Gross award.




Steve Horvath won First Place in Division One.




Bob Wyrick accepts the Division One Second Place award.
 

Kenn Freel won First Place in Division Three.




Karen Smith, a guest of Tom and Janice McKinney, accepts the First Place Award in Division Four. Karen also teamed with partner Bob Blum of Greensburg, PA to win third place in the tournament team competition.
 

Laughlin And Long Win In Reno

Gary Long and Mike Laughlin were the overall Reno low net and low gross winners.

Mike Laughlin fired rounds of 73 and 79 to claim low gross honors at our August two day tournament in Reno. Gary Long was fourth low net at Red Hawk on Friday but came back on Saturday at Lakeridge with a net 69 to claim the overall low net money.
Tom McKinney took second low gross money and Steve Horvath was second low net. Gary Paden was third.
Friday winners included Horvath, second low gross, McKinney (65) low net, Paden, second low net and third place went to Fred Scott. Closest to the pin honors on Friday went to McKinney and Laughlin.
On Saturday, Horvath again picked up second low gross honors. Second low net went to Paden, third to McKinney and fourth to Larry Rambaud. Laughlin was again closest to the pin and Anne Johnson took closest to the pin money on Lakeridge's signature 15th hole (and she made the putt!)
The group enjoyed cocktails hosted by Tom McKinney and Gary Paden and then a group dinner at The Nugget on Friday evening. The 16 players enjoyed warm weather and clear skies for the event although the wind picked up on Saturday at Lakeridge and scores went up accordingly!
Thanks to Anne Johnson and Gary Paden for hosting this event!