VINTNER’S GOLF AND SOCIAL CLUB’S NEWSLETTER #14
Seventy players played in VGSC Point Event #14 on Saturday, September 26 th in either the 7:30
am or 12:00 pm shotgun starts. This event was a one day individual low net format. The twist was it
also was the first day of our VGSC Senior and Stroke Play Championship. The top 20 low gross scores
played on Sunday to see who would be crowned king of THE STROKE. The tees were shortened on
Saturday with hard hole locations and rolled greens. On Championship Sunday the tees were moved
back back back back and the hole locations were tempered. Both days the course was in nice shape
and per usual there were great people to play golf, eat delicious food and enjoy drinks with. Oh yea,
there was a competition going on and there were some true competitors in the field. Jan Jakovac (6468=132) won his third straight VGSCS Stroke Play Championship by two strokes over a heavy hearted
Josh Van Duyn (63-71=134). Cory Synnestvedt (66-73=139), Lucas Cozzitorto ( 71-69=140) and Andrew
Pieper (72-71=143) rounded out the top five finishers. We would be remised if we did not mention
one of VGSC finest Don Whittington passed on Sunday. A memorial service will be held on Sunday,
October 18th at the Vintner’s Golf Club. All drinks will be served half full or what we used to call a
Whittington.
In first place in the first flight of our VGSC Event # 14 was Josh Van Duyn who celebrated his
birthday by shooting a bogey free 63 Josh birdied five of our ten par fours en route to a 63 for net 64.
Josh is a great friend and I’m sure his grandpa was looking down on him with pride as he busted his
300 yard plus drives all weekend. In second place in the first flight was the “Crowned King of Stroke”
Jan Jakovac who shot a 64 for net 65. Jan doubled his last hole, but did not let it get him down coming
out Sunday firing on all cylinders. In third place tie in the first flight were Gary Glenn and Cory
Synnestvedt with net 66’s. Cory shot a two under par 66 with his zero handicap, while Gary shot an
impressive 72 with a six handicap. In fifth place, Larry Gomez shot a 73 for net 67 and is enjoying
striking those titleist irons and wedges. In a five way tie for sixth place were Glenn Andrade (68),
Cody Barclay (73), Ted Johnson (74), Fred Damato (70), and Bob Ackley (75) with net 68’s. All these
players played well enough to qualify for the second day portion of the tournament.
In the second flight, Dan Doughtery shot his lowest VGSC tournament score 72 for net 62.
Dan plays in both our Wednesday and Thursday Night leagues and comes up just like me from Benicia.
In a second place tie were Greg Wright and James Hardee with net 63’s. Greg told me he was better
than his VGSC handicap and proved it by shooting a 75, while James and his group was mildly
surprised with his 75. In fourth place, Phil Stoddard shot a 72 for net 64 that included thirteen pars
and a birdie over the last sixteen holes. Jaime Ponce shot an 84 for net 66 and as usual looks good in
his Stanford Cardinal Red. Watch out for those 4-0 California Golden Bears Jaime. James (134), Jaime
(133) and Phil (132) are one-two-three in our third trimester point race. In a tie for fifth place Andy
Tarap and Tom Narasky shot net 67’s. In his VGSC tourney debut Kelly Norris shot an 81 for net 68
winning some gift card money. Rounding out the players in the money were two of our coolest
customers: Winston Wallace and Brian Stegner with net 70’s.
Our next event will be the infamous VGSC Member Shootout on Saturday, October 24th and
Sunday, October 25th in an 8:00 am shotgun. This is a two day event and the $100 entry fee will
include 36 holes of golf with cart, range balls, prizes, food both days, non-alcoholic beverages and a
keg of Heineken beer. Throw in the fun you and your partner will have playing four two-person teams
in two days and you got yourself a deal. The top two teams in each of our six team divisions will
qualify for the Horserace that is always the most fun our members have all year. If you have not
played in it you have missed out. Get your schedule together and enter the tournament immediately
as we can only get a certain amount of teams in this event. With that said all entry fees must be paid
by the Wednesday before the event to guarantee your team’s spot. This way we can set up the
tournament properly and get as many people to enjoy the event as possible. You may bring a
guest/non-member to this event. We love and will miss you Don.