WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
We lost an unusually large number of golfers during the off-season and therefore had to go deep into the waiting list. We would like to welcome five new members to the League. Jim Pontifex expands the number of lefties, but we decided to let him in anyhow. Marty Coviello from CI keeps their number at four, five if you count Butka as two. Mike McLane, a recent RA hire working out of
Stoneham, has also joined. Mike is teamed with Roger Brown who already thinks he’s “a good boy!” Also with us this year is Norm DeBoisbriand who will be taught the finer points of the game by his partner Theresa. Finally, Dave Hatherley decided to join our ranks for the express purpose of obtaining a lower handicap than Joe Kennedy. That’s right Dave, aim high.
HERE COMES THE BRIDE?
Veteran members may have noticed a familiar face at the 18th green last week. That’s right, Steve O’Brien stepped up as a last minute replacement for Chuck Blackmore and rejoined the League. We feel the real reason he joined was that he wanted to spend more time with his betrothed, Lynette. If you aren’t already aware, Steve and Lynette will be wed on June 25th of this year! Also announcing their intentions are Dick Pais and JoAnn Johnson who will tie the knot next Saturday, the 15th! This seems to prove the point that golf is not only a way to acquire close business relationships but also personal ones. What other possible matches could we possibly have brewing? Let’s take a look at the teams. We all know the only reason that Cazoo isn’t wooing Bob Gorey is the fact that Theresa is in the League. Damn, first we lose the strippers at the Banquet when she joined and now this. Dave Butka has been eyeing Mark Silva with lust lately, not romantically but for a
midnight snack! We all know of the secret yearnings our President Bill Neary has had for Jim Dwyer all these years, practically begging us to fix the draw so they could be partners. (Isn’t it interesting that now that Bill is the President, the partnership coincidentally occurred?) Then we have Dick Pelczar and Dick Kelledy. A recent article in “Women’s Golf” noted that most LPGA members feel that that two Dicks are better than one. Perhaps the most surprising victims of cupid’s arrow however, may be Jeff Kaplan and Bill Driscoll. We all thought this would be a volatile match-up when these names were first drawn, but apparently it appears that we were wrong. They were observed last week walking side by side down the first fairway, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. In just a couple of weeks, same sex marriage will be legal in Massachusetts, but since Bill is a New Hampshire resident, they will have to find a way around Governor Romney’s edict that only Mass residents can get married under the new laws. Bill doesn’t see it as much of a problem though, since in his own words, “Hey, they let you marry your first cousin up here! What’s the big difference?” Jeff was a bit concerned about marrying outside his faith, but Bill readily agreed to convert once he found out he could use religious leave for all those Jewish holidays! Mazel Tov!
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS FACE?
Well, it seems that Mark Silva has finally found a partner that he is compatible with, himself! Playing the first two weeks alone due to the sudden defection of partner Dave Butka, Mark finds himself atop the A division’s individual standings and second place in the team standings. Mark was already talking about winning the whole thing individually and naturally getting double the prizes at the year-end banquet. Apparently he felt he could use Butka’s shirt as a car cover for his Saab. Not wishing to spend the entire season listening to Mark crow, the remaining members of the League went on an exhaustive search to find Mark’s “Foster Care Partner.” It seems that the pictures on the milk cartons in the
Service
Center cafeteria worked, as a new member generously volunteered to partner with Mark for the remainder of the year. Ed Bauer, current member of the ANSC League, will be joining us tonight for what we hope will be a long and happy stay in the NSGL. Not only did we find a partner for Mark, but a new supplier for our end of year prizes! Maybe Mark will get that car cover after all!
SHHHHHHH!!!
Last week we held our first and only “Mini-Tournament “ of the year. The turn out was light as we expected, however our President, Bill Neary, decided at the beginning of the year that we would play on this date. Of course, our President also failed to show up last week citing a “flat tire”. The league has obtained the services of Bill’s boss, Bill Driscoll, to check Mr. Neary’s drop file to see how often that excuse has popped up prior to a long weekend. That being said, we’d like to congratulate the winners of last week’s Mini-Tournament”. On the back the team of Dick Plouffe, Paul White and JoAnn Johnson won, despite missing their captain, Mr. Flat tire himself. Their total was minus 12. By the way, Mike Pratt is getting a make up Sleeve from two week’s ago. It was either that or a make up kiss from Phil Langevin! On the front, the team of Skip Kelley, Charlie Marcou, Mark Chan and none other than that loudmouth, Dave Hatherley, won with a total of minus 13. In case you missed it, Dave was chastised by a “gentleman” AKA “Jackass” who came in a couple of groups behind the League and accused Dave of being too loud while he putted and having no respect for the game. Like he was telling us something we didn’t already know
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The rain held off, but Skip poured it on the opposition by firing a blistering 70 to capture the Club Championship last week. It looks likes Skip’s membership here at
Merrimack finally paid off. Also in the Championship flight, Bill Neary won a playoff of cards to capture low gross from Frank McCann with a 77. Frank was able to snag the low net however. In the “A” Flight, Jim Haker shot an 82 to capture the low gross while Dick Pais won a playoff to capture the low net. In the “B” flight, Danny D. shot an 85 on the way to low gross honors while playing partner Bo Lynch captured the low net. In the “C” Flight, Dave Moore, Danny D’s partner during the year shot an 86 to win low gross. These two can’t figure out why they only do well when they’re not teamed up. Ralph Callahan captured the low net. Finally in the “D” Flight, Gene McGrory did the
South
Shore proud by capturing low gross with a 103. Finally, even though he has no respect for the game, Dave Hatherley took low net in this flight. Congratulations to all. Prizes will be awarded at the year-end banquet.
HAIL TO THE VICTORS!
Tonight we begin the real season, otherwise know as the playoffs, with the preliminary rounds. First we would like to congratulate the winners of the regular season races, most of which were extremely close. In the “A” Division, the team of Sam Sahagian and Charlie Beauchain climbed from third place to win by a half point over the team of Bob Gorey and Cazoo. In the “B” Division, the team of Dick Pais and Mary Anderson also made a late season charge to win by one point over the team of Bill Noonan and Barbara Wands. In the “C” Division, the team of Steve Marino and Jerry O’Sullivan won by the widest margin of five points over their nearest competitors. Finally in the “D” Division, the team of Dave Hatherley and Phil Langevin eked out a half point win over the team of Coviello and Johnson. All the champions will be richly rewarded at the year end banquet. Finally, good luck to all teams in the playoffs tonight.
THE SWEET SIXTEEN
Last week’s preliminary matches proved to be exciting as most came down to the last one or two holes. In the “A” Division, the team of Kelley and Haker defeated Neary and Dwyer 1 up. Bob Gorey and Cazoo also won 1 up beating the team of McCann and Steere. Cazoo sank a 35 footer to win the match taking the pressure off of partner Bob who had a 5 footer to win. In another exciting match, Mark Silva and Bauer defeated Rick Stanton and Woody on the 1st playoff hole. Mark had to sink a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to send it to overtime. In the “B” Division, Marcou and Teed defeated White and Demeo, 3 and 2. The team of Norton and Lynch came back from an early deficit to beat Driscoll and Kaplan 3 and 1. Finally, in a hard fought battle, the team of Noonan and Wands beat the team of Plouffe and Chan 2 up. In the “C” Division, Keane and Callahan won by forfeit over the absent team of
Crowley and Pratt. Also the team of Snow and Matt Silva came back from an early deficit to beat Moore and DiLorenzo 2 up. The last match of this division had Joe Kennedy valiantly trying to go it alone against Joyce and Collins. They were too much for Joe however as they won 4 and 2. In the “D” Division, The team of the two Dicks, Kelledy and Pelczar defeated O’Brien and Clark 1 up. Theresa Gorey also had to go it alone but fell to Pontifex and Richards 3 and 2. Finally in the most exciting match of the night, Brown and McLane went to the fourth extra hole before succumbing to the team of Coviello and Johnson. Walking to the fourth tee Roger was heard to address the crowd by saying, “It’s a pressure cooker!” Good luck tonight to al remaining teams.
THE ELITE EIGHT
We are now down to eight teams remaining on the road to the finals. Like last week there were many close matches while others weren’t so close. In the “A” Division, Mark Silva and Bower won on the third playoff hole against Sahagian and Beauchain. Sammy is beginning to detest the 3rd hole, as that is where his team was eliminated in the member/member. In typical Sammy fashion he noted, “someone had to win somewhere!” The other “A” Division match was also exciting as Bob Gorey and Cazoo nipped Kelley and Haker one up. Once again, Cazoo sank a putt on the last hole to win the match. Bob, as humble as ever said, “ I carry the bastard for 8 holes, no easy feat, and he gets all the glory!” In the “B” Division, Pais and Anderson defeated Marcou and Teed 3 & 1. That will make an interesting final in that Division as the team of Noonan & Wands defeated Norton and Lynch 2 & 1. Bill and Dick have decided to sit the match out and have a couple of beers while the two women battle it out. In the “C” Division, Keane and Callahan eked out a victory over Marino and O’Sullivan 2 up. Jerry said, “I hated to lose but at least my ears will get a rest next year.” In the other match in that Division, the team of Snow and Matt Silva defeated Joyce and Collins on the first over time hole. Like last week, a Silva had a crucial putt on the 9th hole to determine the match only this time Matt, unlike Mark, three putted to send the match to overtime. Those boys do have a flair for the dramatic! In the “D” Division, Dave Hatherley, without partner Phil, Fell to the two Dicks, 5 & 3. Apparently both Phil and “T-Rex” deserted Dave last week. Finally, Lynette Richards, also playing without partner Jim Pontifex, succumbed to the team of Johnson and Coviello 4 & 2. Just in case you forgot, JoAnn is our defending champ, winning it all with Robin last year. Marty, you probably never met Robin, but you sir, are no Robin!
THE FINAL FORE! (FINALLY)
