Good Knight, Again and Drinks on Carter - The Sequel

I didn't pick up the score card today so final results are an educated guess only.

Last we heard from Carter Lucas, then a 9 time club champion, he was buying drinks for the crew after ending up on the losing end of the game. One year later not much has changed except his club championship total now sits at 10.

After learning of Keith Knight's near record haul on Saturday, Carter got himself out to the course on a cool November day. While he certainly played some fine golf he managed to be on the wrong side at the wrong time.

Jim Mason bailed him out at #4 with a fine 15 foot birdie for a team win. But at #5 a Dave Fries birdie secured a field win against the 10 time champ and his partner Keith Knight.

#8 saw a virtual replay of Saturday's action, this time it was Bill Schuler instead of Kieth Knight hitting it to 3 feet and dumping me in favor of the loner. Today nobody could put the pressure on and Bill easily made the putt for 2 marks, a three hole carryover and a win worth $45.

Carter was taken down again when Bill Schuler selected him as partner on #9 and they could not match Rob Turner's birdie.

At #13 Captain Lucas took us all the way back. It looked like his luck might change but Bill rolled in a 7 footer to halve the hole for the field. 

We played #14 from all the way back and Schuler took home another greenie with a fine shot to 8 feet. Fortunately for the field Bill could not convert this time.

At #15 everyone was stroking except Carter.  McAreavey took us back to #17 East tee and (allegedly) bombed one down the middle.  In fact he was convinced he was down the hill and was calling for a loner before anyone else hit.  Considering it was 45 degrees and into the wind this seemed unlikely but we allowed him to live the fantasy. I hit a decent drive and his thoughts of taking a loner disappeared. Turns out I had out driven Brad by 10 yards! Both Brad and I missed the green then both nearly holed out our chip shots and made net 3's.  The field had four looks at net 3 from 6 feet and in but could not convert giving Brad and I a big three hole carryover win.

On #16 the Lucas luck (or lack thereof) continued as he was selected by Captain Quinn after another fine drive. It was looking like the hole would be tied with 4's when the world stopped spinning, the earth shook and the clouds parted.  Keith Knight, mark-less on the day, stepped up to his eagle chip from virtually the same spot he holed out from on Saturday and did it again!! A feat not likely accomplished before; back to back eagles on the same hole (and if it was done it certainly was not done with a wedge). Another field win and another loss for Lucas. Based on the long discussion he had with Brad on #17 tee the 10 time club champion's brain was starting to hurt trying total his losses.

We took it all the way back on #17 and Keith took the greenie hitting it to 18 feet from 218 yds. I took him as my partner but we could only manage a halve.

Bill Schuler teamed up with a stroking Rob Turner at #18.  Things did not look good when Rob started playing hockey around the green. But Bill, always one of the smoothest putters around, stepped up to his curling 20 foot par putt and made it for the tie.

Bill Schuler was the big winner on the day thanks to the clutch shot and good loner call on #8. I think he cashed in for $50+ on the day. Not Keith Knight territory but still a strong performance.

Keith Knight had another large day, pulling in $30+,  thanks to his 4 mark total on 16 & 17.  Meanwhile Bernie "The Mighty" Quinn gave back most, if not all, of his Saturday winnings.

At the end of the day Carter once again found himself on the drink check and he was last seen muttering to himself; still trying to figure out if Brad made a scoring error. He may be the 10 time club champion (and counting) but he hasn't cracked the C & C code yet.  I hope to not be around when he does.

Game Summary:

West Course
Players - 10 front, 9 back
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3

Total Marks - 20(?)

Mark leader - Undetermined
Overall Leader - Bill Schuler $50+

Good Knight and the Mighty Quinn

It's been a long time sports fans but the blog is back, if only for a day.We've had some rough weather this fall but a relatively decent day (mid 40's, no rain) brought the riff raff out for a contest. Keith Knight's recently departed mother implored him to get his lazy ass out of bed and go play the game he loves. I guess it pays to listen to your mother.

Proving why he always wants to change the rule regarding alphabetical order of the captaincy; Dr. David Fries captained the first hole and lost

On #3 Knight would suffer one of his few losses on the day as he and Jim Mason could not card a net 3.

On #4 things started to get interesting. From the back tee and playing 200 yards to a back pin Schantz hit it to 15 feet and was Jim's pick. It was very tempting to take a loner but common sense prevailed.  Good thing.

Keith had dumped his tee shot in the right, greenside bunker. Playing off some firm sand he flew it to the hole, it took one bounce, spun hard and right and dropped in for the double mark. I could not convert and the field won. Yes, you read that right, Keith holed out a bunker shot and it wouldn't even be his biggest shot of the day.

At #5 Dr. Mason would lose his third straight hole as the twosome (maybe a first?) when both Fries and newest member of the flock, Bernie Quinn, knocked down birdie putts. Jim would get a little revenge with a fine birdie at #7.  However, that was only good enough for a tie.

Schantz captained #8 and took the tee to the far right of the tee to knock out the drawers of the ball. After substantial negative feedback from Mr. Knight about his chances from such a tee position Keith managed to hit it to 4 feet. I selected him and was quickly dumped for the loner chance. Dr. Mason and I were on similar lines from 25 and 25 feet respectively. After getting the free read from my miss Jim once again proved he is the best putter around by making it from 25 feet.  Suddenly Keith's birdie, greenie, three hole carryover loner became a little more exciting. Unfazed, Keith buried the putt (well, maybe not buried but he did make it).

The ninth was captained by Joe Lovallo who was getting a stroke. He was advised to strongly consider "the best iron player at Oak Hill" (a.k.a. Dave Fries). Joe passed and paid. David hit it to 4 feet to lock down the two hole carryover win for the field.

Dr. Fries again carded the lone birdie, this time at #11 and the field took down the team of Lovallo and Kevin Gavigan for a three hole win.

Keith racked up his 5th mark at #12 with a drive and wedge from 40 yds. However, there was some controversy as Keith picked up his mark after his partner had carded a 4 for 3.  An unusually lenient decision was made to allow Kieth to replace his mark and have a run at birdie.

Dr. Mason, cruising along at even par or better for most of the day took his fourth team loss on #13 as he and Keith could not match a net 3.

Bernie Quinn missed a chance to score his second mark of the day at #14 when he 3-putted from 30 feet.

At #16 the dynamic duo from Home Properties really took it to the field. Keith's second shot finished 10 yds short and right of the green.  His chip shot floated onto the green, landed softly and rolled in for an eagle 3,  a three hole win, and his 6th,7th and 8th mark of the day. Five of them due to two wedge shots!!

At #17 Dr. Mason found himself on the wrong team again as I took him as my partner and watched the last player, Bernie Quinn hit it to 8 feet (from 215 into the wind) and made the putt for two marks. Fortunately, there were no carryovers.

When the final tally was in Keith Knight had put together one of the all time C&C days with 8 marks and $74 in winnings. In fact it was a record day as Keith's $53 in mark winnings eclipses Jim Mason's $46 from 2004. 

Thanks to Joe Lovallo, Kevin Gavigan and Tom Puleo for playing in the mark game.... and contributing $19 each.  Honorable mention to 10 (cough, cough) handicap Bernie Quinn with 3 marks and $33.50 in winnings.

Lastly, let's all shed a tear for Dr. Mason who fired a one under 70 but lost $7 on the day.

Game Summary:

West Course
Players 8
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3

Total Marks 19

Mark leader - Keith Knight 8
Overall Leader - Keith Knight $74

Drinks on Carter

The Crew calls it quits after #16 due to heavy rain (photo courtesy of Ron Mack)

Note:  This is a previously unpublished summary from November 1, 2013


It was a cool and cloudy day after the day after Halloween and our coven of players swelled to a lucky thirteen. With the season winding down all the bloodsuckers were out for a taste including 9 time club champion Cater Lucas making his first ever appearance in the game.

The day got off to a quick start on the first tee as Dylan Bronson chose the wily septuagenarian, Ron Mack as his partner.  Ron's shortish drive and approach left him 70+ feet from the back left pin position.  His putt from just off the green scurried 10 feet past and right of the cup. After several failed birdie attempts by the field Ron calmly rolled in his putt for a net 3 and what turned out to be the only Team win of the day.

Holes 2 and 3 were field wins highlighted by Ed "The Ghost" Kay's 10 foot 3 for 2 on the second.

Hole #4 featured a back left pin.  Carter, hitting third knocked it to 11 feet and Captain Jeff Kay made a seemingly poor choice in passing on the 9 time club champ.  As Carter dreamed about converting HIS greenie into a double mark and some quick cash, yours truly stepped to the tee. A beautiful 7 iron never left the pin and looked on track for the first ever C & C hole in one. It was not to be but the ball had stooped just 20" short of the hole. 

That was close enough for Jeff.  I promptly dumped him and went for the loner.  Who's afraid of the big bad 9 time club champ? As six or seven medium to long range birdie attempts failed it was Carter's turn to save the field, and save them he did as he easily rolled his putt in the hole (he's not a 9 time champ for nothing). My putt was a virtual gimme but there are no gimmes when there's a chance to hang someone on a loner. I did not allow the vampires to quench their thirst for blood and made my putt.

Keith Knight, as Captain on #5, found out why it is always tough to put your fate in the hands of a 14 handicapper (in this case, Bill Schwert) as neither player could card a 4 (or net 4) and lost the two hole carryover. Of course Keith would have a little help from the turf monster as he played two awful chip shots.

Dr. Fries converted his greenie on #8 from 7 feet and carried Brad for the three hole carryover win. On #9 JR McCarthy learned The Schwert was off his game today as neither could card a 3. Some guy with 9 club championships rolled in a slippery downhill 7 footer for the field win.

On #11 I did not make the same mistake as I put my fate (and faith) in, say it altogether now: 9 time club champion Carter Lucas. Carter almost succumbed to some witch's spell as he left his thirty foot eagle putt 7 feet short. He managed to overcome the shock, made the putt and halved the hole.

Another loner was attempted on #14, this time by Dylan.  Captain Bronson hit it to 11 feet and waited as the field could manage nothing inside of 20 feet. In the end his birdie attempt just rolled by and the hole was halved.

On #16 Carter finally was felled by the first timer curse. Ed Kay passed on the chance to even see The Schwert's tee shot when he chose Carter.  Not really a bad choice sinceCarter hit a good tee shot and had 180 left to the green. Unfortunately, Carter could not match the birdies by Brad, Keith and Phil Yawman and he and Ed lost the three hole carryover.

With the rain getting heavy play was cancelled and the big loss on #16 put Carter on the drink check. Our 9 time club champ vowed a return visit next week (if the weather is good). That could be interesting as the patriarch of our little coven, the head vampire, the all time blood sucker (errrr, money winner), The Count himself, Dr. Jim Mason should be back in action.

Game Summary:

West Course
Players 13
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3

Total Marks 19

Mark leader - Carter Lucas, Dave Fries, Keith Knight 3 each
Overall Leader - Dave Fries $38