26th Annual Wedgewood Golf Classic

July 25th, 2009

Crowbush Cove, PEI

 

Low Net             Score            Low Gross            Score

                                                                    F9     B9     Total

1.  Peter Henderson       89                  1.  Mark Henderson    44     47       91

2.  Ray Girouard          89                  2.  Rob Power         50     46       96

3.  Mark Henderson        91                  3t. Jeff Prevost      49     51      100

4.  Rob Power             93                  3t. Shane Jackson     48     52      100

5.  Jeff Prevost          96                  5t. Peter Henderson   58     45      103

6t. Greg Sewell           98                  5t. Greg Eisnor       56     47      103

6t. Shane Jackson         98                  7.  Greg Sewell       50     56      106

8.  Greg Eisnor           99                  8.  Ray Girouard      55     56      111

9.  Rick Deveau          104                  9.  Ken Gardiner      58     60      118

10. Ian Lezama           107                  10. Ian Lezama        61     61      122

11. Ken Gardiner         112                  11. Rick Deveau       60     64      124

 

Average       53.6                         53.2

 

Net Scoring Average = 97.8

Tournament Scoring average = 106.7

Net Scoring Variance = 23 strokes

Gross Scoring Variance= 33 strokes

 

Putts                                Team Scores     Net   Gross

 

1.  Mark Henderson     31                     1. Mark/Ray          192     202

2t. Shane Jackson      33                     2. Jeff/Peter        197     203

2t. Greg Eisnor        33                     3. Greg E/Greg S     209     209

4.  Greg Sewell        34                     4. Rob P/Ian L       212     218

5.  Rob Power          35                     5. Shane/Rick        214     224

6t. Jeff Prevost       36                     6. Ken G             236     236

6t. Ray Girouard       36

8.  Peter Henderson    37                     Team Scoring Average:   210  215

9t. Rick Deveau        38                     Team Scoring Variance    44   34

9t. Ken Gardiner       38

11. Ian Lezama         42

 

Putting Average = 35.7

Putting Variance = 11 putts

 

Closest to the Pin:  Rick Deveau 18 Ft

Longest Drive:       Shane Jackson

 

 

Warm-up round: Eagles Glenn

 

                     F9       B9      total     putts

Greg Eisnor          42       42        84       31

Shane Jackson        47       37        84       ??

Jeff Prevost         41       43        84       ??

Mark Henderson       39       46        85       32

Peter Henderson      49       41        90       ??

Greg Sewell          45       46        91       ??

Ian Lezama           48       50        98       ??

Rob Power            50       49        99       32

Ray Girouard         53       53       106       36

Rick Deveau          55       53       108       ??

         Average:   46.9     46.0

 

Practise Round Scoring average = 92.9

 

 

Recap of Golf Tourney

 

The 26th WGC is completed.   Although numbers were almost 1/3 of the previous year all 11 participants were glad they made the trip to beautiful PEI.   Six of the guys (Rob, Mark, Greg E, Greg S, Peter, and Jeff) made it over on Thursday for a pre-practise round at Fox Meadows just outside Charlottetown.   Peter was telling everyone that would listen that by having 4 wedges in his bag his short game would be vastly improved.   He then provide quite of bit of entertainment to his playing partners Thursday (Jeff P, Greg E and Greg S) by blasting two sand shots clear over greens into other fairways.   The final time being on 18 and he had to yell fore for a group on another green.   This green-side bunker shot travelled at least 60 yards away from the intended flag stick.   To make matters worse Rob Power and Mark were on the balcony of the clubhouse along with two of Rob's buddies witnessing the whole thing.   Despite this awful finish, he still improved his back 9 by 5 strokes - a trend that would continue over his next two rounds.

The weather Thursday was excellent - almost too hot.   But a mid-afternoon tee time and some sodas on the course made it all very bearable.   Fox Meadow is a very nice course - almost right in Charlottetown.   A course you need to play a few times to get used to the nuances and slower greens.   There were a few memorable shots including Greg Eisnor hitting the bench beside the ladies tee on one hole and having his ball come back to almost where he was standing.   Mark claimed to be bombing his drives all day but it was hard to tell playing behind him.   He claimed to consistently be 30 yards beyond our group's best drives.   Jeff Prevost somehow managed to make a Par on a Par 3 after driving his tee shot into another fairway that was 40 feet elevated from the green we were playing.

After a few beers on the deck the group decided to head back to the Holiday Inn.   Peter, Greg S and Greg E had a cozy night in Eisnor's room but it was well worth it as Greg's company picked up the tab since he worked earlier in the day.   Friday brought some questions about weather but everyone agreed it looked like the rain would hold off.   With four more participants joining us in Cavendish (Ray, Shane, Ian L, Rick) everyone spirits were high despite the long range forecast for Saturday.

As the three groups went out a friendly wager was made on which group would have the best score by taking the best score from each hole in the group.   Eagles Glenn was chosen for a warm up round because similar to Crowbush it is a links style course.   But low scores seemed to make it too easy of a warm up.   Mark went out with a 39 that included two birdies, Jeff was 41 with 4 pars, and Greg E was 42 with a birdie and two pars.   The highest front nine was a respectable 55 by Rick.   The back nine saw some remarkable play highlighted by Shane's 37 (six pars and a birdie), Peter's 41 (3 pars and a birdie) and Greg E 42 (5 pars - 4 consecutive to start the back 9).   Overall scores were very good with three guys (Shane, Jeff, Greg E) tying for low gross at 84.   There was no score higher than a 9 (only 1) on anyone's scorecard with an overall scoring average under 93.   No one went higher than 53 on the back 9.       In the team competition, Mark, Greg E, Ray and Rob came out on top with a 74 compare to Peter, Jeff and Greg S - 75 and Shane, Ian L and Rick's - 80. It should be pointed out the winners had 4 players and only won by a stroke.   It looks like Shane anchored his team since he scored an 84 individually and the three of them ended up with an 80.     Shane and Peter were both disappointed with 18 as Shane bogeyed to finish 1 over par on the back, and Peter doubled to miss out on his chance of breaking 40 on nine for the first time in a long time.   No one in any group had a par on 18.

Everyone was feeling relatively confident about their games (7 birdies in the round) as we left to head back to Charlottetown around 5:00pm.   Before departing Peter bought a pair of rain gloves since they were on sale and heard good things about them.   The forecast for Saturday was gloomy.   Despite this, everyone had high hopes and felt good after a quick shower back at the hotel.   Since the rain had started the washer toss tournament was put on hold, and a decision was made to order pizza and stay at the hotel.   Everyone congregated in Room 142 (Shane, Peter, and Mark's room).   There was some dissention amongst the ranks about the Hawaiian pizza the Henderson brothers ordered, but the Donair and 2 meat lover's pizzas seemed to be enough to squash any serious outbreaks.   From there some serious drinking and reminiscing took place while we listened to Mark play the Black Eyed Peas 'Tonight is going to be a Good Night' 4-5 times.   Kenny Gardiner arrived on the scene around 9:00pm and was very quick to catch up with some impressive 'power drinking'.   He was very disappointed though when he found out no one was planning to go out on the bars.   Instead we stayed in room 142 watching MMA/UFC - I never know which is which.   Pairings for tomorrow's round were pulled out of a hat and at around 11:30pm everyone was kicked out of the room.  

That night most of us had visions of matching our scores at Eagles Glenn and prayed for no wind or rain.   However, we woke to a steady rain with gusty winds.   As we gathered for a hot buffet breakfast we all knew we were in for a test on the most difficult course in Atlantic Canada (in good conditions).   After breakfast we all donned our rain gear - head to toe and some of us left prior to 10:00am for a noon tee time only a half hour away.   Arriving at the course many competitors ordered 'hot chocolate' to keep warm in late July.     Winds were gusting and very few ventured out to the practise green or driving range.   After paying we were advised the course could get us on early.   So at approximately 11:40am - in a very heavy mist and windy conditions the first group of Shane, Rob, Greg S and Ian L teed off.   Shane making the fashion statement of the tournament was wearing a see through poncho with a hood - he purchased at the dollar store.   He had it tied in front like a 'halter top' so it wouldn't bother his follow through.   Although Daisy Duke was mentioned as a possible comparison - I didn't see the resemblance.

Over the next 40 minutes all three groups teed off and completed number 1.   Clearly everyone had troubles with the conditions and nerves at the time.   Peter had honours in his group on number 2 despite shooting a 'snowman' on the Par 4 rated as the fourth easiest hole on the course.   Other scores in his group included 2 tens and an eleven.   Shane was the only golfer to par the hole and his group had two doubles and a 10.   The final group fared better with two bogeys and a triple.   To recap, 4 out of 11 golfers in double digits, only one par and combined we were 38 strokes over par after the first hole.   The rain and high scores continued for the next few holes with no one paring the 2nd hole despite it being the 2nd easiest on the course.   By the time we reached the longest drive hole - number 5 the rain/mist had stooped but the high scores had not.   Number 5 lived up to its billing as the hardest hole on the course with no one making par on it.   There were 4 bogeys, 5 double bogeys and two quads.   Shane had one of the quads despite winning the long drive with a shot right down the middle of the fairway.     Peter removed his rain gloves and rain pants at the start of this hole.   In theory it was a good idea but he neglected to consider all his grips were wet and proceeded to get the other quad on the hole.

Part of everyone's frustration and anxiety was a very overzealous Marshall who continuously berated us for slow play.   This despite no one seemingly behind us and nowhere to go in front of us!   This led to more than a couple of golfers muttering about the amount of money we spent and we'd never come back.     One bright spot was the golf cart "Ale Angel" Jessica.   She had big brown eyes and a beautiful smile.   Rob Power in his infinite wisdom opened a tab on his credit card.   By the time Peter and Rick found out this they each ordered a tall boy Stella.   Anyway, everyone concluded 9 and the overall feeling was it couldn't get any worse.   Mark had a very good 44 in those conditions.   The only other 2 golfers to break 50 on the front were Shane - 48, and Jeff with a 49.   Ray G had a very respectable 55 being the only other player beside Mark, to hit below his handicap on the front.   Uncharacteristically high were:   Greg E - 56, Peter - 58, Ian L - 61, Rick - 60, and Ken G at 58.

The back nine started quite well for everyone with 1 par, 6 bogeys, 2 doubles and two others on number 10.   However number 11 - in many ways a signature hole at Crowbush - was a different story.   This par 5 requires a layup second shot followed by a long third (200 yards) into a slanted elevated green.   Although rated as only the eight most difficult hole - it ate up the WGC crowd.   Double bogey was the best score and only Peter and Shane achieved that score.   There were 3 snow-mans, 3 quads, two - 10's (Mark was one of them) and one 12 by Rick.   From what I saw - most people did ok with their first couple of shots (a few exceptions with errant tee shots into the woods), but it was the shot over the marsh and into the green where the mistakes were made.   Following this demoralizing hole was closest to the pin on number 12.   Give credit to Rick who bounced back from the worst hole of the day to stick it inside 20 feet and win closest to the hole.

The rain was gone on the back nine but the wind still gusted at times.   Putting was a challenge for all as despite the wetness they were much faster than Fox Meadow and Eagle's Glenn.   Combine this with the fact that very few competitors went on the practise green before the round and our putting numbers were up over other years.   There were a total of 4 - 4 putts, 34 - 3 putts.   Two golfers had 21 putts on 9 holes including Ian L (both front and back) and Peter.   Mark's 13 putts on the front were by far the best and included 5 one putts.     The next fewest putts for 9 holes were Greg Sewell's 16 on the front nine.  

The back nine did not show the improvements everyone hoped for with the better weather.     Only three competitors did better on the back: Rob Power improved by 4 strokes, Greg Eisnor by 9 strokes and Peter by an astonishing 13 strokes.   One golfer (Ian Lezama) had an identical score; all other 7 golfers went up on the back, with Greg Sewell increasing the most by 6 strokes.

  Peter actually had the low back nine with 45 including 4 pars.   He was disappointed by the triple bogey finish on 18 which included his only 3 putt on the back nine.     This almost cost him the low net trophy as he and Ray (playing in same group) were tied overall for low net.   Using the standard regressive approach to break ties, Peter's 7 was enough to beat Ray by one stroke.   Ray's 8 was the highest score of anyone on the last hole which was rated as the number 1 toughest hole to par on the course.   Other highlights from back nine included Rob, Shane and Peter tying for fewest putts with 16.     Rob actually had 0 putts on 17 - the only 0 putt of the day!   Ken went through a four hole stretch to start the back nine where he scored nothing better than a triple - his sixty on the back nine was one of the biggest surprises of the day when you consider his 89 on his home course of Glen Arbour last year.     There was only 1 birdie from 11 golfers through the entire round (Jeff Prevost with a 2 on number 6) and only 30 pars combined - remarkable!

In the end, only Ray and Peter shot their handicaps.   All other 9 golfers were above their Handicap.   Ray's consistency and ability to keep his head in the game after a bad hole, along with Mark's stellar front nine was enough to propel them to the team trophy.   Mark won the low gross by 5 strokes after opening a 4 stroke lead after the front nine.   Although Peter and Jeff were only a stroke behind in combined gross score, they finished 5 strokes off Mark and Ray with the handicaps factored in.   Ken was at the other end of the team spectrum - teamed with himself due to an odd number and he was 23 strokes over his handicap and 29 strokes higher than last year's score.   Not sure how we handicap him next year!

After the round everyone was anxious to get back to Charlottetown and a hot shower!   Room 142 was again the meeting place and a combination of wet clothes, left over donair pizza, Henderson brother's gas and Shane's feet - left the room smelling less than appealing!   However, everyone made it through the trophy and prize presentations.   Everyone was feeling good from the drinking and music as we departed for Boston Pizza.   In fact, Greg Sewell was feeling a little too good.   The old spiced rum kicked in and after spilling a drink at BP, the newly single Greg proposed to the waitress that cleaned it up and claimed she loved golf.   Although somewhat spurned by her response, Greg continued with the rest of the crowd to St. James Gate Pub.   This place was recommended by the waitress at Boston Pizza for guys our age.   Well it wasn't a bad spot with a band that was at times excellent and other times awful.   Throughout the night various people from our party departed back to the Holiday Inn.   Somehow, Greg S and Rick had a twenty- something dollar cab fare.   I find this hard to believe considering I lived there for over 2 years and never heard of a cab exceeding $10.   However, it seems they got hungry for pizza on the way back and made the cab driver wait for them in excess of 15 minutes while they got their food!   Peter and Jeff P were the last two standing and closed the bar sometime after two.   The cab ride home reminded me of another nuance about the Charlottetown cabs.   Jeff and I flagged down a mini-van cab.   When the cab stopped we couldn't see inside the tinted windows.   The side door opened to reveal three nicely dressed college girls sitting in the back two rows.   Neither myself nor Jeff climbed into the vacant passenger seat up front.   Jeff climbed in the very back with one of the girls and I found myself sitting on a bench seat with two cute UPEI ladies.   We dropped them off first and Jeff informed me the next day that I kept commenting on their 'big hair' being right out of the eighties.     A weekend would not be complete without me disrupting my roommates - so at 2:30am I pounded on the door even though I had a key.   Just like the old college days, I proceeded to tackle Shane back into the room when he answered the door out of a deep sleep.

A quick breakfast the next day saw most people on the road by no later than 9:30 am with rumours circulating some left as early as 7:00am.   That was my personal recap of the weekend - a good three days of fun and golf.   I'm growing to enjoy this tournament and the camaraderie more and more.   Next year will be the Moncton area of NB as we will be playing the beautiful Fox Creek in Dieppe on Saturday, July 24th.   The warm up round is TBD but there was talk of Pugwash or Amherst as both are under an hour from Moncton.   Hope to see at least 16 guys next year.

P.S. One regret from the weekend was not connecting with Braum Fader, Jay, Rob Grant, Ian Grant and Clinton Richards as they were all on the Island for Rob's stag party.   Apparently they were calling my Blackberry and leaving messages.   Unfortunately, I had it turned off and didn't realize until I got back to NS that I had 4 messages from them.   They went to Peake's Quay on Sat night - thinking we would be there.   Perhaps they forgot some of the bad memories from 6-7 years ago when we attended that bar and almost got kicked out (same year as the mussel juice incident).   Apparently the place was rocking with lots of sights (according to Braum), but we're probably getting too old for that scene - at least that what Sewelly's fiance at Boston Pizza thought!

  Yours Truly

Peter G Henderson

2009 Chair WGC