Final Field Day

Saturday August 25th was our grand finale and oh boy what a finale. We saw record breaking play on both ends of the spectrum.

We had near perfect weather and almost everyone showed up. We were missing the following players Skip Gray, Dennis Croteau, Eric La Francis, and Erkan Duzenli who were all missed and I hope they had a great day on their own. Thanks to the following players who subbed and filled in for the above players Justin McGillicuddy (Jay’s son), Butch Hembree, Bob Sasso, and Ed Miele.

Congratulations to Team 2 Bob Trottier, Mike Berry, George Duffield, and Alan Imlach who tripped up Team 5 George Vigneault, Jim Waterman, Tom Hale, and Mike Landry. 87-73.

In the featured match of the day we saw President Bob Trottier take on George Vigneault and this match was much closer than the final score showed as both players actually shot career rounds.

On the first hole both marksmen parred, even though they had to wait for the McGillicuddy’s as both Justin and Jay struggled on their second shots as they both bombed their drives with the elder out driving the young gun but they both sculled their approach shots. On 2 both made easy pars again and on 3 Trottier went one up with a bogey and Vigneault doubled. On 4 both made easy pars again and Trottier had to give him a shot and Vigneault halved the match. The fifth hole saw two great 3rd shots by both players as Vigneault and Trottier stuck their shots within birdie range. Sure enough both made tricky putts to make birdies and with Vigneault stroking again Vigneault goes one up. The tricky sixth saw that both players needed to get up and down to make par and sure enough their short game came through as both parred. On 7 Vigneault’s chip shot allowed him to scramble and make par, Vigneault still one up. The uphill 8th hole which is drive able by Trottier was playing a little into the wind and Trottier’s drive was right in the slot and Vigneault’s was a little further back. Vigneault’s approach was chunk-ed and his third shot was not close enough as his par putt slid by.  Trottier who is a chipping machine chipped to within birdie range and as well as Trottier putts he made it look easy. Trottier squares the match with his birdie putt. On 9 Trottier closes out the front nine with a great par and Trottier shoots an impressive one under par 35 and Vigneault scores a great 3 over par 39.

As they make the turn Trottier is one up and two strokes up to net.

On 10 both make par and on 11 Trottier captures the hole as Vigneault trips up and 3 putts for the first time today. The par 4 12th which is playing long today as the pin is way back and in the bowl. This is one of the prize holes and the person who makes his second shot closest to the pin wins a prize. Trottier’s second shot hit the middle of the green and scooted over the knoll protecting the view of the cup and rested about 9 feet from the stick. Of course, Trottier never letting a birdie putt go to waste drained it to go 2 under par and 3 up in the match. On 13 both make par and on 14 they halve as Vigneault is stroking and Trottier makes par. The easiest hole on the course is the par 3 15th and with the pin cut up front and the markers way up this hole was playing about 104 yards to the pin. Trottier led off and probably made the worst shot of this round for him and the ball was drifting left and caromed off the left side of the green and trickled into the hazard. A great out by Trottier left him about 25 feet above the pin and a 3 putt allowed Vigneault to get back into this match with a par. The bad part about this double bogey by Trottier backed him up to even par. With two of the three holes left very birdie able Trottier played the 16th hole safe as McGill tried to drive the green and made it easily with a pop up to the front of the apron. Trottier makes par and Vigneault falters big time with a three putt and Trottier wins the match play portion of the match 3-2. The 17th saw great drives and Trottier’s approach shot left him about 40′ below the hole and with a great putt Trottier came up a few inches short and this left him with the par 5 18th hole left to birdie. Vigneault on 17 made a great birdie but it was still too little too late. On 18 with the pin in the back right position Trottier’s second shot landed on the front of the green and Trottier’s eagle putt came up short and his birdie putt found the center of the cup and a fantastic round of 1 under par 70 made this foursomes day, along with an equally impressive round by George Vigneault who also carded a career round 76. Trottier wins 25 -15.

In other Championship Team Matches!

George Duffield took on MVP Jim Waterman and on this day Duffield took it to Waterman in which was a close match up until the 11th hole where Duffield took over and captured 4 of the next 6 holes. Duffield was one of only three players to shoot in the 70’s. Waterman led by two strokes thru nine but collapsed on 13 with a triple bogey. Triples will kill you. Duffield 23 Waterman 17. Waterman shoots 81 Duffield 79.

Mike Berry teed it up against MVP Tom Hale and Berry walked away with this match with a decisive 26 – 14 victory. Hale stumbled out of the gate with a 49 on the front 9 and down by 6. Hale bounced back on the back nine and fired a 43 but Berry cruised to a two over 37.  Hale shoots 92 and Berry shoots 80.

Alan Imlach who had been away from the regular weekly play for a few weeks seemed a little rusty as he took on Mike Landry and Landry crushed Imlach 27-13. Landry wins big 95 to Imlach’s 122.

In the MVP match between first half MVP Tom Hale and second half MVP Jim Waterman, Jim Waterman raced out to a 5 up lead thru 6 holes and then Hale grabbed 7 & 8 with Waterman winning the 9th. Waterman 4 up through 9. On the back nine Waterman won 10 to go 5 up and then Hale grabbed 11 & 13 to close the gap to 3 down. Waterman wins 15 and closes the match 4-3. Waterman wins the front nine 13-5 and on the back nine Waterman adds 8 points and Hale cards 10. Waterman wins 25-15.

Closest to the pin winners are as follows.

#3 Jim Waterman 18’4″

#5 Bob Sasso – Longest Drive

#7 Steve King 17’3″

#11 Mike Berry 19’9 1/2″

#12 Closest too on the 2nd shot Bob Trottier (he made the putt)

#15 George Vigneault 11’10 1/2″

Other notable scores.

Jay McGillicuddy 80

Jim Marnie 80

Norm Pelletier 80

Steve King 82

Bill Wilson 83

Glenn Acciard 84

Bob Sasso 87

Norm Comeau 88

Paul Comeau 92

Rich Juknavorian 93

Rick Maloney 93

Butch Hembree 93

Ed Miele 95

Dominick D’ Orio 102

Vinny Serafino 116

Afterwards most of us went to Juke’s house for a great BBQ and a big thanks to Juke for allowing us the use of his yard and home. Another thank you to Tom Hale for doing a fine job at the grill. Thanks to everyone for bringing items to the cookout as well.

Have a great end to summer and an awesome fall and winter and we will see you all in April.

If you plan on playing again next year please let us know in the comments below.