RESULTS & RECAP: 2011 Fall Memorial Member-Guest Tournament

Three of the forty-two teams completed the 36-hole tournament at a net total of 130 (-10) in the 1 best ball of 2 format.  Borges and McDonald, Dave Machado and Ben Machado, and Don Whalley and Tom Carroll, all ventured out to the 7th tee for a three-hole net aggregate playoff.

Machado/Machado and Borges/McDonald both recorded net birdies on #7, while Whalley /Carroll quickly slipped a shot off the pace, posting a net par.  All three teams made routine pars on the par 3 8th, and then moved to hole #9, a lengthy 453-yard par 4.

Remarkably, at least one player from each team reached the green in just two shots, including four of the six.  After Ben Machado managed a good two-putt from the back of the green for net birdie, and Tim McDonald followed with a tap-in net birdie as well, Carroll/Whalley still trailed both teams by a stroke.  Carroll had hit a clutch approach shot to roughly six feet in front of the pin, but needed to make his putt, for net eagle, to join the others for a sudden-death playoff.  Adding to the drama, Carroll ended up as the last player to finish the 9th.  His putt rolled into the center of the cup!

The 1st hole, a 456-yard par 4, played host to the start of the sudden-death playoff.  Fatigue was setting in for some of the competitors, as no team landed its ball on the green in regulation.  However, a net birdie would still be needed to win the hole!  His ball on the fringe, resting just a few inches off the green and twelve feet from the cup, Ben Machado emphatically drained his putt first.  McDonald was next, curling a nine-footer into the center of the cup from above the hole.  Last to putt was Whalley, faced with a shorter, but slippery, pin-high putt.  As it rolled toward the cup, he slowly walked out of his stance to retrieve the ball.  Unfortunately, the ball suddenly strayed slightly off path, spun nearly 360 degrees around the hole…and popped out!  Just two teams would move on.

The 540-yard 2nd hole, featuring a severely undulating fairway, a load of trouble for errant shots, and a slippery green, was next for the playoff participants.  The Machados, the lower-handicapped team, both safely navigated their way to the green in three shots.  When a stray approach shot by McDonald found a small tree and heavy grass, it was Borges’ turn to carry the remainder of the hole for the team.

Borges was faced with a lightning-quick up and down from behind the pin, while the Machados each had tricky, but makeable, birdie putts for the win.  When Dave and Ben both narrowly missed the cup, Borges carefully executed the up and down, forcing the playoff to the 3rd tee.  A sixth playoff hole would be needed!

At this point, it was obvious why these two teams were atop the leader board.  Through the five playoff holes, Machado/Machado and Borges/McDonald had matched each other shot for shot.  The teams had played the holes at net three under par, with both partners contributing to the effort.  However, both Borges and McDonald received a stroke on the scenic par 3, and the Machados knew they had to hit great tee shots to keep the playoff going.  With the pin tucked away in the top left hand corner of the severely sloped green, and the wind starting to gust from right to left, the hole presented a significant test. 

McDonald was first to tee off, his approach shot hugging the tree line along the right side of green.  The ball dropped from the trees and landed on the edge of the cart path, careening sharply left across the entire green and rolling inches into the rough beyond the flag.  Borges was next, his standard right to left ball flight ideal for the hole location.  The ball came off the club face almost perfectly, gently curving onto the putting surface and rolling by the cup to the back of the green.  With both opponents less than twenty feet from the hole, the pressure was squarely on the Machado tandem now. 

Ben went first. He had hit several clutch shots throughout the playoff, but now needed to hit a near perfect, and aggressive, shot.  Unfortunately, the ball was immediately grabbed by the increasing wind and slowly disappeared into the water hazard on the left.  Dave was next, but his approach also headed left!  The ball landed safely, but kicked left just enough to creep into the hazard.  The ball was located, but the shot was nearly impossible to hit close to the hole, or even on the green.  However, the Machados were not done yet.  Dave’s chip came out beautifully, coming to rest roughly twelve feet from the cup!  The putt would be difficult, but their hopes were still alive. 

Borges and McDonald, despite being fairly close to the hole, each had knee-knocking downhill shots on the slick green.  They were up to the challenge though.  When Dave Machado’s aggressive putt for par slipped by the right side of the cup, Borges and McDonald gently rolled their shots within a couple feet of the pin.  McDonald secured a net par, while Borges had a “gimme” putt for net birdie.  The playoff was finally over.  Despite a valiant effort by the Machados, not to mention Don Whalley and Tom Carroll, the team of Carlos Borges and Tim McDonald had risen to the challenge, survived the lengthy playoff, and secured the 2011 Fall Memorial Member-Guest Tournament title!