The mornings might be cold these days, but golf in Middle Georgia certainly hasn’t stopped! Here at the Brickyard, we’re excited about our golf events planned for 2016, which kick off with the Super Bowl Scramble on Sunday, February 7th.
The Super Bowl Scramble will have a shotgun start at 1pm on February 7th and will be a mixer with the Mercer Men’s Golf Team. We encourage our members to sign up now! Entry fee is $20 and does not include the cart. Call us in the Golf Shop to sign up at 478-477-6765.
If the competition is as heated as the Christmas Scramble, we’re in for a show! Here is a recap of our Christmas Scramble, written by Head Golf Pro, Carl McNeil:
The day started off cool, but the play heated up quickly as 17 teams teed off on Saturday, December 19th. The course being in immaculate shape, every competitor knew low scores were going to be needed to get into the 6 team shootout.
Headed Out!
As the scores started rolling in, it was apparent that it was going to be tight for qualifying with early predictions of 68 or better. The teams gathered at the scoreboard as the final groups were finishing. A collective hush fell over the crowd as the scores of Dr. Mixon and partner Bart Tharpe (62) and Bret Stansfield and Brenton Easom (63) were posted, knocking out all teams 68 or above and requiring a match of cards for the teams that shot 67. Bill Martin and Dr. Tafor emerged as the last team to get into the shootout.
The teams of Mike and Michael Kitchens (64), Steve Gurley and Conrad Massey (64), and Ed Hutcheson and Fielding Gurley (64), joined the other 3 teams on 16 tee box to settle the Christmas Scramble Battle Royale.
All teams got off the tee box cleanly, with only the Stansfield-Easom team having some tree trouble for their second shot. The Hutcheson-Gurley team hit their second shot short onto the upslope of the green. Two teams hit the green in regulation with Bart Tharpe throwing a dart to six feet from the left rough, then calmly stroking in the slick left to righter for a birdie, securing his team’s advancement to the next hole.
After chipping to 8 feet above the hole, the Hutcheson-Gurley team both burned the edge of the cup for their par making bogey. That left the other 4 teams who had made par to chip off to see who survives and advances forward. All teams turned their backs to the hole so no advantage could be gained by watching the results of each teams’ chips. Michael Kitchens Jr. hit a beautiful chip to about 3 feet below the hole, but unfortunately it was 6 inches too long, as every other team hit amazing chips to a foot or less, eliminating the Kitchens-Kitchens team.
The remaining four teams moved on to 17, which all parred in routine fashion. All four teams now proceeded to the chip off and with the tension thick in the air, the teams of Stansfield-Easom and Martin-Tafor each hit chips to within 6 inches if the cup, eliminating the tournament low scoring team of Mixon-Tharpe and the team of Gurley-Massey.
Final Four!
As the sun was setting and the temps dropping, both remaining teams played up 18. The Martin-Tafor team hit their approach to 20 feet left of the hole while the Easom-Stansfield team pitched their 3rd shot to about 10 below the hole. The Martin-Tafor team two putted for par and awaited the results of the Stansfield-Easom birdie putt. Brenton, putting first, burned the left edge, leaving the stage for his partner. After carefully studying the line, Bret struck a solid putt that somehow stayed straight and lipped out on the high side, eliciting a Mickelson-like jump as the ball approached the hole. As an impartial observer, I must say much like the Mickelson jump at Augusta, Mr. Stansfield’s vertical jump will never be confused for an NBA player.
Both teams then headed to a chip off with the Stansfield-Easom team chipping first. Their best effort finished two feet left of the hole. After Dr. Tafor chipped to four feet, Bill Martin calmly nipped his wedge shot to 6 inches, securing the victory and claiming bragging rights until next December. Thanks to all who competed!
Christmas Scramble Champions, Steve Tafor and Bill Martin