Aberdeen team wins
inaugural MAGA Four-Ball
Nothing in life lasts forever. Or in golf, apparently.
Former co-workers Don Walker and John Carroll struck up a golfing friendship when both worked in the chemical engineering division of Monsanto. While each has moved on to pursue other business opportunities, one with Mallinkrodt and one with Affton Chemical, they have remained golfing partners through the years.
"Yeah, we still play together all the time," said Walker, who carries a 7.4 Handicap Index. "It's usually a couple of times a week."
That friendship reached a zenith early on April 17 when they teamed up to fire a 7-under par 65 to win the inaugural MAGA Four-Ball Championship at Whitmoor Country Club. And for seven holes, they seemed to do no wrong.
Walker and Carroll blistered Whitmoor’s front-nine with a 7-under par net 29, making birdies at Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 and an eagle 2 at the 380-yard sixth hole.
Ah, but nothing lasts forever. Despite two additional birdies, the Aberdeen duo watched as their closing nine stalled with two bogeys at 12 and 15.
"John was making putts from everywhere on the front," Walker said. "We didn't finish real strong though."
Ed Ewing (Wolf Hollow) and Bruce Robert (Old Warson) also posted a 7-under 65. They proved that poor starts don't necessarily last forever either. After a sluggish start, the Ewing-Robert team caught fire on Whitmoor's back nine. Despite going out in a 1-over 37, Ewing-Robert moved into the lead thanks to a back nine of 8-under 28, with net eagles at 13, 16 and 18 and birdies at 11 and 15.
Walker-Carroll earned the title when Ewing and Robert were unable to compete in a playoff.
Two teams shared third place – Skip Berkmeyer-Tommy Wohlgemuth and Buddy Allen-Doyle Waggle. Each posted 1-under 71s in warm conditions made difficult by strong winds.
The MAGA wishes to thank the Members, Management and staff at Whitmoor Country Club for its assistance in conducting the first event of our 2008 season.
MAGA Net Four-Ball Championship
Whitmoor Country Club South Course – St. Charles, Mo.
Format – Best-Ball/Net; Par – 72
65 – Don Walker-John Carroll;
Ed Ewing-Bruce Robert
(Walker-Carroll win playoff)
70 – Buddy Allen-Doyle Waggle; Skip Berkmeyer-Tommy Wohlgemuth
71 – David Rich-Scott Kupcho; Tom Sinak-John McCall; Bob Gibson-Brian Binford
72 – Bob Meeh-Kevin Griesemer
73 – Tim Walshauser-Tim Collins; Jerry Freeland-Wally Obremski; Paul Neeman-Cal Neeman
74 – James Brown-Mike Synor; Mel Rector-Rich Billings
75 – Darren Lundgren-Joe Schieszer
76 – Gary Mears-Chuck Vaaler; Mick Rembold-Bret Sinak
77 – Scott Thomas-Cliff Ritter; Tom Walker-Dave Lough
78- Russell Hollenbeck-William Slantz
79 – Chuck Schranck-John Schranck; Scott Horton-own ball; Bob Grant-Chuck Wendorf
81 – Mike Hojnacki-Brad Gilmore
83 – Ryan Friley-Scott Fontana
87 – Jason Tonsing-Terry Tonsing