KENNY MATSUTANI & CALVIN BEGAY WIN MEMORIAL EVENT

Kenny Matsutani and Calvin Begay, played a steady second round and not only overcame a 3 shot deficit, but won the shortened 2009 Memorial Tournament by 6 shots. The tournament, shortened by rain on Monday to 10 holes for the second round, featured teams of two golfers who played "Best Ball" on Sunday and "2-Ball Aggregate" on Monday. After the first day, there were two teams tied for the lead with a 60, former Navajo Nation President and current state senator, Albert Hale and long hitting Marcus Tulley with David (president MGA) & Brent Bischoff; two shots behind were Randy Slaughter and David Haynes with Kenny and Calvin one more shot behind at 63. But Monday, when both balls counted, was a different story.

Kenny and Calvin started strong on Monday, as they were the only team "in the red" on the day by accumulating a strong 4 under par through 10 holes, which gave them a total of 13 under par! Kenny, the higher handicap on the team, was particularly strong, as he was 3 under on his ball. In 2nd place were Randy Slaughter and David Haynes, who, through 10 holes were a total of 10 under par, just as they had started the day; and in 3rd place were Albert Hale and Marcus Tulley, who accumulated an 8 under par after being 4 over on Monday. Close in 4th place, at 7 under, were cousins Paul Dimas and Robert Dimas.

AS a couple of my friends found out, this format is not only strange to several golfers who are accustomed to playing scrambles, but it is a difficult format (read previous blog on "Gallup, The Land of Scrambles") as it puts a lot of pressure on a player to play shots that are less than perfect, even if reasonably good (i.e. a nice shot to the fringe, instead of a shot to 10 feet from the pin), as it is done in a scramble, where, your short game, other than some putting (when you actually get to putt), or, your scrambling game from tough lies, is seldom tested. Good going MGA!

Coming up, we will have two fundraising scrambles, on Saturday, we will have the second "Old Timers" (soft ball) scramble and on Sunday, we will have the GHS Golf Team Benefit Scramble. Don't forget to call the pro-shop!