In the battle of course versus golfer, the Ritz-Carlton
Members Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida was clearly victorious in the kickoff
event of the West Florida Amateur Tour 2014 – 15 season. Slick, undulating
greens, most of which were elevated,
combined with gusting winds into par-4s
over 400 yards, resulted in just four of 22 players meeting
their quotas. Even those who met their quotas didn't do so with ease, as the two best scores were just three points above quota.
 |
| Josh Stevens & Ross Hanson- WFAT Director |
Both Josh Stevens (who needed 29 points and posted 32) and Randall
Voss (who needed 25 and posted 28) claimed top spots with their +3 showings.
Stevens claimed honors in the Gross Division (highest point total), just edging
Michael McIvor (who also carded 32 points, but was +1) by virtue of scorecard
tiebreak.
Voss took the Net Division with his +3, narrowly eclipsing
his playing partner Bob Merriott who finished second with a +2 total. Stevens
and Voss pocketed $175 pro shop vouchers, and I saw Josh walking away with
several boxes of balls. Merriott and McIvor netted $100 each for their stellar
play. Martin Harm (needed 26 and got 25) and Mark Postier (needed 25 and got
24) were also in the money with their well-earned -1 quota scores.
 |
| Chris Capps |
The quota of 25 points was quite popular today as nine of
the 22 players came into the event needing 25 points. I was one of those
players, but the other players all played far better than I did today. Unfortunately
for my buddy Chris Capps (who is a much better player than I am), he
was in my cart and caught my disease. He finished 10 below his quota of 30.
 |
| Steve Zonca |
My other playing partner, Steve Zonca, whose quota was 21 points, was well on his way to making his quota with 11 points after the first nine holes. But even he succumbed to my malady, scoring just eight points on the back side to fall two points short. Even so, he finished in a tie for 7th.
 |
| Justine Harper |
The fact of the matter is that everyone played better than I
did today, including Justine Harper (the lone woman in the tournament) who also finished in a tie for 7th with the several other players who just missed
their quotas by two points. She needed 26 and amassed 24. Me? I needed 25 and
finished with 14, and that -11 debacle rendered me dead last in the field.
 |
| One more missed putt |
As a competitor in many games and sports throughout my
lifetime, I don’t believe I have ever been last in a field…and then there was
golf… I must say that I’m quite bearish on myself as a competitor these days,
for my decline has been noticeable and troubling. After yesterday’s event, as
thrilling as it was to be there, I have to conclude that I’ve reached a 55-year
low! Ah, but I am learning to wear humility with a smile…or is that humiliation
I meant to write?
Whatever the case, still in the vein of Thanksgiving, I was
grateful for the opportunity to play another gem of a course that I wouldn’t
have been able to play if not for the West Florida Amateur Tour. Sure the
bunkers were like yawning chasms and the rough around the greens was like wispy
cotton candy through which my wedges barely moved the ball, but if you don’t
like a challenge, golf is not for you anyway. I’m beginning to reconsider…nah!
 |
| Steph in action |
I was also grateful to have my golf partner (Chris), and my
life partner (Steph) along on this painful journey of ineptitude I am taking. Sometimes
having someone there to share your pain makes it a tad bit easier to bear. But
hey, gorgeous day, tremendous course, great company, plus bad golf equals three
outta four, and I’ve heard that ain’t bad.
The good news for my tennis students is that I cannot give
up my day job. The bitter-sweet news for me is that I may be down but I’m not
out, and that means I’ll be out there again subjecting myself to more humbling
efforts to become a competent golfer. Perhaps I should change my name to “Don”
until I exorcise this quixotic quest.
 |
| Ross Hanson |
In any event, thanks for the work behind the scenes Ross! I
know it isn’t easy to put together these events, and we are looking forward to
the next opportunity to play. Thanks for your work behind the camera Steph. I
know that isn’t as easy as it looks either.
I don’t know how many of the 14 remaining events we’ll be
able to play, but know that I would play them all if I could. As I’ve mentioned
in a previous post, the venues are pretty spectacular and the WFAT is a
hacker’s dream. The next stop on Tour is the Sara Bay Series at the Sara Bay Country Club. If you would like to test your skills against a solid field on
great courses, you might want to check out the West Florida Amateur Tour as
well. Until next…
