Vintner's Golf and Social Club's Newsletter #13
Sixty-four players made it out on Labor Day weekend for the VGSC Event
#13, which is also our Stroke Play and Senior Club Championship. The mood was
set by the three-day weekend, beautiful weather that never gets old and a golf
course that is in great shape. It does not hurt to play with your good buddies, add a
little competition and some delicious Lakeside Grill food that never disappoints. Our
VGSC event was played on Saturday with the low sixteen gross scores playing on
Championship Sunday.
The VGSC Stroke Play was won in an impressive fashion by Andrew Pieper,
shooting 66-69 =135. Andrew had a four- stroke lead after the first day and never
looked back birdying our first hole en route to a three-under par 31 on the front
side. Making his second day front nine even more impressive was the tee on hole
one was behind our practice green and the tee on hole five was on the fourth tee
side of the lake. Andrew is a great young man and we were not only excited that he
won, but thoroughly impressed with his dominating two day scoring total. Andrew's
game and confidence will only grow from this victory and who knows how good he
will become. Dan Sakai was our low senior winning the Senior Club Championship
with a 71-70=141. Dan's second place finish two years in a row in the stroke play
was eased by adding $50 to his gift card total. Tom Pieper came in second place in
the Senior Club Championship with a 71-72 finishing only two strokes back in his
pursuit of his second VGSC Senior Club Championship. Mike Spiegel's 72-72, Sean
Murray's 76-69 and Fred Damato's 70-75 rounded out the top six finishers.
The first flight was won by before mentioned Andrew Pieper, who shot a 66
for net 65. Andrew won $30 in gift cards in the VGSC Event and $100 in gift cards
for the Stroke Play. In second place Andrew's father Tom Pieper shot 71 for net 66.
I cannot say enough good things about Tom and Andrew on and off the golf course.
Tom has been in Law enforcement his whole life and his son after some college
baseball is following in his footsteps. Dedicating your life to protecting and serving
the public is as good of a choice anyone can make with their life. In third place in the
first flight Bob Ackley shot a 79 for net 67. Bob qualified in the top 16 allowing him
to play from the championship tees on Sunday, where he faired quite well. In fourth
place in the first flight Bernie Rabanal shot a 72 for net 68. Bernie's 72 put him in
the top five going into Sunday, but a concert with his wife was much more important
than golf....smart husband. In a tie for fifth place Kent Vernon, Fred Damato, and
Greg Wright shot net 69's. Kent survived a two-stroke wrong ball penalty on the
first green en route to his afternoon wind-filled 74. Kent has an aversion to the
morning air, so smartly slept Sunday on his good round. Fred Damato is one of the
best 78 year old player you will ever see and in competition he gets better. Fred
shot 70 for net 69 and always makes a run at the youngsters in these events. Greg
Wright shot a 71 for net 69 and has improved his game in a year as much as I have
seen anyone improve their game. I know he would give a shout out to Bob Boldt and
Fred Damato for his ascent.
In the second flight Brian Gardner shot a 78 for net 64 winning $30 in gift
cards. More impressively he qualified for the Stroke Play and performed admirably
shooting an 82 finishing in twelfth place. In second place was Mike Bowers shooting
a 77 for net 66. Mike has steadied his game in the last three VGSC events averaging
a little over 78. Tim Reyes and Tom Narasky shot net 67's and are starting to get
more comfortable in tournament play. Both players are good hearted and I have yet
to see them in a bad mood. George Case and Bernie Zipp came in a tie for fifth place
with net 68's. If you know both George (87) and Bernie (78) it is amazing how
similar their swings and games are. Both of them get around the course with unique
swings and solid 150 yards and in accuracy. In a two way tie for seventh place Dan
Smith and Jaime Ponce shot net 69's. Dan's 80 started with a 35 on the front side
and his practice on the driving range definitely is paying off. Jaime works hard at
everything he does and it shows as his golf game has improved dramatically. I know
he would give a shout out to Bob Boldt who teaches him and buddy Jonathan
Eastman whose rivalry is as friendly and heated as the infamous Jeff Dennis and
yours truly. Bert needs Ernie....Fred needs Barnie....Jason needs Jeff.... and yes Jaime
needs Jonathan.
Our next event will be Saturday, September 24th in a 7:30 am shotgun or
Sunday, September 25th with straight tee times. The format will be a net four-club
event. We will play the old blue and white tees and as usual in the four-club some
players will play their best rounds of the year. Choose your weapons wisely.
Reminder: Do not miss the best event of the year our Member-Member Shootout on
Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th in an 8:00 am shotgun. Get your
schedule set and find a partner because we can only get thirty two-person teams in
this event.
Stroke Play and Senior Club Championship
Andrew Pieper
Dan Sakai
Tom Pieper
Mike Spiegel
Sean Murray
Fred Damato
Peter Thompson
Ken Leahy
Drew Kuehl
Greg Wright
Dannon Goetze
Brian Gardner
Bob Ackley
Mike Collins
Warren Monroe
66-69=135
71-70=141
71-72=143
72-72=144
76-69=145
70-75=145
76-74=150
75-75=150
75-78=153
71-85=156
76-82=158
78-82=160
79-83=162
77-86=163
81-84=165
Stroke Play Champion
Senior Club Champion
$100
$50