Bob Edelblut
The President’s Cup, viewed by many as one of the top Men’s Club special events, was played on March 28 and 29 at the Preserve and MountainView golf courses. It is a stroke play tournament played with full handicap and the lowest net score for the two-day event takes home the trophy. This year 75 players grouped into seven flights suited up for the challenge and every last one of them just knew that they had a chance to win! Okay, maybe some of them thought that they did.
The quality of golf played by this year’s field was truly amazing. On the first day at the Preserve 58 players had net scores lower than par and 12 of that number were at 65 or better. The scores for day two at MountainView were equally spectacular. This time 52 players broke par and 10 of that number were at 65 or better. Certainly, all of these contestants thought they had a real chance to win. Great golf, gentlemen. Do we need automatic drug testing?
Okay, it is time to reveal the flight winners and their scores. I might suggest that you secure your seat belts. Flight 1 was won by Scott West with a net score of 133; Flight 2 was won by Fred Schneider with a score of 132; Flight 3 winner was Bob Ogle with a score of 130; Flight 4 was won by John Bidegain with a score of 122; Flight 6 winner was Al Tracy with a score of 130; and Flight 7 was won by Bruce Twining with a score of 129. All of these scores are borderline fabulous. The flight winners who deserve a little extra praise are John Bidegain whose score of 122 placed him in second place overall and Al Tracy who shot his age (82) on day two and his net score of 63 helped him to win his flight easily.
As the title states, Tony Blunt is this year’s winner of MPMGA’s President’s Cup and the golf that he played for 36 consecutive holes is almost unbelievable. Tony had near career rounds each day: 78 at the Preserve and 77 at MountainView, which produced net scores of 60 and the winning total of 120. Well done and well deserved!
All members enjoyed a delightful meal prepared by our SaddleBrooke TWO Food and Beverage division. It was perfect and thanks to all of you who made it so. Dr. Joseph Larson with Oro Valley Dental Arts was once again the featured sponsor at our luncheon. Thanks again for your many years of support. Also, we would like to thank Golf Cars of Arizona and Lexus of Tucson Auto Mall for your willingness to provide us the chance to win a new golf car or a new Lexus. Some day we will have a winner, I predict. Lastly, we must thank Don Erickson (Special Events Chairman) for running a super tournament and Matt Hudson (Director of Golf) for using all of his professional and volunteer staff in ways that helped to make this a special tournament.