Seacoast Christian GC, October 6, 2017
News and Results – Event 11 “Seacoast Cup Playoffs” – TOP 8 Quarter Finals Round – Twin Oaks GC
Welcome to the 11th golf event of the 2017 Seacoast Cup Golf Tour. Our October 6 tour stop takes us to Twin Oaks GC. This challenging course is a tournament favorite as it demands the best of golfers. Not only will this course test your skills, but it will expose any errors or mis hits and keep you from posting a low low score. This course has historically set up favorably for our post season match play event. Today’s event is the third post season “playoff” event that takes us down the road to the 2017 Seacoast Cup Championship. Those players who have earned their Top 8 spot will continue to compete in “match play” format to earn post season “BIG” points to carry them to the top of the leader board. Those players who did not qualify for the “Championship Bracket”, will enjoy match play format in the “Player’s Bracket” and will also compete for points to determine our 2017 Player’s Cup Champion.
The majority of the field of players found their way to the range to get off some early swings to warm up. Our media photography crew was on hand to take photos and to get some early interview from some of the key match ups.
Some Match Highlights –
In Match #1 Baynes vs. Kellogg, Geoff Baynes, our top points leader came out strong and demonstrated how a “high” handicapper from Flight “C” can take on another “Flight C” handicapper Charlie Kellogg. Both players battled it out valiantly, but it was Baynes who kept his game in control and avoided the big “snowman” scores. Charlie, who has had a great post season run, stayed in the match for 10 holes, but but came up a bit short and posted several holes with big scores that gave the winning edge to Geoff. In the end, Baynes took the match at 3 and 2.
In Match #2, Clinite vs. Chan, it was a battle of the nerves. Chan pulled out with a commanding lead on the front nine , taking advantage of Ted’s “out of character” errant golf play. But after 11 holes, Ted turned his game around and slowly chipped into Chan’s lead. By the 18th hole, Ted needed one more winning hole to take the match to a sudden playoff. The pressure was quite high for both players as they both had 3rd shots to the green, but both players ended up needing a 4th shot to the green to salvage their pars. Ted had his struggles and tapped out for a bogey. With only 8 feet to negotiate on the 18th hole, Chan sized up the break of his last putt, looked at all angles , and was able to choose the correct line as he successfully sank his putt for the Win.
In Match #3 Frisco vs. Pavle, both players had there ups and downs in the scoring department. Nick Pavle got an early 3 up lead after 4 holes and kept the pressure on Justin Frisco for the front nine. But then during the back nine, Frisco’s game just could not turn around and taking a triple bogey on #12 totally unraveled his game. His goal to gain any kind of momentum to turn his game around only last a few more holes,as Nick sunk a putt for par on #16 to seal the deal and win the match.
In Match #4 Martz vs. Smith, both players took their best swings out of their golf bags, but mixed it up with some bad shots. This match took an early momentum turn towards Ebin Smith’s favor, as he enjoyed a 5 up lead after 6 holes. But slowly, Chris Martz hunkered down his game and began to score well as Ebin gave way to a few triple bogeys. By hole #12 the match was ALL SQUARE and it became a battle of who would not make the crucial mistake. With a 1 UP lead after 14 holes , Chris pulled out driver on #15 and bombed a drive to just about 60 yards from the green. He successfully got up and down for a tap in birdie to take a 2 UP lead. But Ebin came right back on the lengthy Par 5 #16 hole by sinking a birdie putt to get within one. Taking honors on the short par 3 #16 hole, Ebin stiffed his iron shot 25 feet above the hole. Chris sensed that he needed to come up big flushed his shot 20 feet below the cup. Ebin putted first, but missed as his putt broke more than expected. Chris stepped up to his putt and nailed the line and sunk his 20 footer to make birdie and seal the deal.
Congratulations to our Medal Stroke Play winners:
Low Gross Winners
Flight A – Chris Martz (79) –
Flight B – Rick Thistle (87 ) –
Flight C – Geoff Baynes (92) –
Low Net Winner – Rik Thistle (69) –
Post Match Interviews:
Match 1 / Baynes def. Kellogg 3 and 2
Charlie Kellogg explained, ” I tried my hardest to keep my ball in play and not to hit any balls out of bounds…but I ended up loosing a few today. This really hurt my cause….I did keep it close for the first 9 holes, but Geoff played steady and didn’t have multiple bad holes. He deserved to win today. Geoff spoke in the press room “I kept my cool today, and didn’t have any multiple big blow up holes. I did have a tough time on #10, but I managed to put it behind me and I kept focusing on the hole I was playing. I’ve learned in match play that I can only control what I can do…and not to let my opponent gain any momentum. In the end I came out a winner….Charlie was a great opponent today.”
Match 2 / Chan def. Clinite 2 UP
Ted Clinite described his round, ” When I saw Curtis roll in his first putt of the day from 25 feet to save par, I knew something was up for the day. My swing was very inconsistent and it just didn’t feel right all day. I’ve played enough golf to know how to make the right adjustments but it came a little too late as I got 5 down going into the back nine. Curtis even had some of his strange golf woes too, but he seemed to par and tie me on the holes that really counted. I did make a come back and even had a chance to tie at the end…but I came out short.” Curtis with a facial expression of disbelief said, “I made a lengthy putt on #1 for a Win, and I made a good solid putt on #18 to close out the match. All the golf in between those two holes can be described as crazy, unbelivable, or ugly. I know Ted didn’t have his “A” game today. I had to grind it out in the last half, as he totally took over the momentum of the match and I was even preparing myself mentally to going into a sudden death playoff. But Ted ended up not getting up and down on #18 which game me the opening to close the match. He really had his chances today, but somehow I scored when I needed to, and took advantage of every opportunity he game me. Ted is one of the best competitors on our Seacoast Tour and I’m sorry that he didn’t have his best today.”
Match 3 / Pavle def. Frisco 3 UP
We found Justin Frisco cleaning up after his round… ” Today’s round was not my best. I floundered to much today and never got into my regular rhythm. When I did string a series of holes together, Nick was there to match my play so I was unable to make up any ground. Before I knew it, I had dugged too deep of a hole and by hole #16, he nailed my coffin shut by parring the par 5. He deserved this win today. Nick Pavle had a big smile on his face and said, “Today I can described my round as being quite special. For once, I felt I got into “the zone” where I had control of my swing. There were a few blunders, but I was able to over come them, and when I made those errors, Justin didn’t capitalize and take advantage of the few open doors I gave him today. I really tried to focus today on fairways and greens and pretty much stuck to this plan. I truly felt in control of this match and kept the pressure on Justin all day Before I knew it we were on #16 and shaking hands, as my 3 UP lead closed him out. I know Justin has a much better game than what he showed today, but that’s competitive golf and I’m happy to move on to the Semi Finals.”
Match 4 / Martz def. Smith 2 and 1
Ebin sent in his post game comments to the media room by email and said, “Chris was a great competitor. When he got 5 down on me, he somehow turned on a switch and a tremendous momentum shift took place. On #6, he announced that he was a bit “mad” at his level of play, and then he proceeded to smash a drive that ended up only 20 yards from the green. From there I realized that he wasn’t kidding and that he was serious about making up the deficit that he had. I battled hard and mentally tried to stay focused, but then Chris ended up getting a 1 Up lead on hole #13. We both felt the tension and pressure of the match, but with the added pressure both our games elevated another notch. I realized that to win a hole one had to make birdie. It ended that we traded back and forth birdies on the next few holes, but by hole #17, par 3, Chris nailed a long birdie putt to win the match. I have to give him credit for turning his game around and pulling out an incredible display of spectacular golf in the end. Martz was intercepted before he got into his car after his round…“I had to dig deep today, especially when Ebin had a 5 Up lead on me. I don’t want to make any excuses, but my wife and I just had our first baby two weeks ago, and my sleep schedule has been far from normal. I attributed my poor play early in my round due to a lack of sleep…my morning felt like a blur…but then after 6 holes, my body and mind started to feel like I was truly on a golf course. Then I somehow flipped on the switch to my mental faculties on how to play my game and before I realized it, I was back in the match. I was able to put a series of holes together which got me right back into the match and by #13 took a 1 UP lead. Ebin fought hard on the last few holes of the match and one had to birdie to gain any lead. On #17, I flushed my PW to the green 20 feet below the cup and successfully putted out for birdie and the Win. I had a big sigh of relief after the round. Ebin was a tough competitor today and now I know why he became the 2016 Seacoast Cup Winner.”
2017 Player’s Cup Bracket : We had 10 players come out in match play format to compete in our “Player’s Bracket.” All players who do not qualify for the Championship Cup bracket can come out and participate in our post season match play events. The season totals of points from the regular season roll into the playoff post season points. Players who are knocked out of the Championships Cup division slide into the Player’s Cup divison up until the Semi Finals. Several players who did not make it into this year’s Championship Cup bracket surely made some noise this week and racked up “big time” post season points to make a charge at being the “Players Cup Champion.” Here are the results below:
Next Event : Friday, October 20, 2017 Place: Arrowood GC 7:30 am start
Quest for the 2017 Seacoast Cup– This year will be filled with full of fun times on the golf course. Monthly Friday events will be available for golf stroke play competition. All players who have an office SCGA index will be place in respective flights to compete with players of their own golf playing ability / potential. Players will earn points according to their placing in each event. Two Major events will be available for a 27 hole competition (April / July) where there will be an increased value in earned points. September begins the “Playoff Season” where twenty players will earn their way to this year’s match play event. Points are earned by finishing well in both individual low gross and low net score postings. Additionally points may earned in different team and individual events ranging from match play, 4 man team best ball, and 2 man best ball events. Net Skins are also another category that allows players to add points to their monthly points.
Remember only those players who have an Official SCGA or USGA golf index qualify for low net play and compete in Seacoast Christian Golf Club Points System. Players who participate in our events who do not have an official golf index / handicap, will be assigned a “Flight” depending on their level of play. These players also may be assigned a course handicap and may participate and qualify for team net play points. Players who desire to qualify for Seacoast Christian GC Playoffs, must be a member of our SCGA affiliate club. For information on how to become a member and to obtain an official golf index contact Curtis Chan and visit : Membership and SCGA.
Leader board – With the completion of our 3rd playoff event, the leader board has been readjusted. Our Top 4 players are now positioned to continue on in the Championship Cup Playoffs which is scheduled on Friday, October 20, 2017… this will be our 4th Playoff event of the post season. Here 800 points awaits those who can win their “match play” match and will continue on to the “Semi Finals.” The rest of the field will play in the Player’s Bracket and compete for 400 points. The tournament committee has determined that players who are within 600 points of the top player in the Player’s Cup division will have a chance to unseed this player and has a chance to take this top spot. So by winning their next match and posting a low gross / low net score one will be able to climb the ladder and stake their mark at becoming the next Player’s Cup 2017 Champion.
Seacoast Cup Playoff Season – (September – November). If you have been playing in this golf group for over 5 years then you know that after August, our playoff season begins. Match Play format is instituted for our rounds, in addition to our low gross/low net play. With the added element of “match play,” players get to stir up their competitive juices and bring out their game faces to bring out the best golf they’ve ever played. Many players have shown their “A” game, while others find how difficult it is to play golf when everything is on the line.
This year, the Golf Tournament Committee has reviewed the last few seasons and have instituted a few new elements to our “Playoff Season.” If a player has sufficient points to be in the “Top 20” then he will qualify to participate in the Seacoast Cup – “Champions” bracket, which will determine our club champion. Below is the playoff calendar of events. Note that events will take place every 2 weeks until November.
- No more “Bye” weeks for our top 4 players. All players will continue to earn points in our playoff season. The “Top 20” and “Wild Card” rounds will take the top 20 and top 16 players (total points) respectively. Your total points earned throughout the year will determine qualifications for “The Top 20 and Wild Card” playoff rounds. This will allow players to possibly lose a match, but still continue in the playoffs if they have the points to sustain their level to be part of the top 16. Only when we get to the Quarter Finals will there be eliminations for losing a match.
- Players will continue to reply back to event invite emails to obtain their spots for the event. If a “Top 20” player desires not to participate in an upcoming event, then the next seeded player (#19) will then be given the opportunity to play in the “Champions” bracket.
- “Match Play” points will have an increased value per playoff event. The deeper one goes into the playoffs, the more value for a match play win. For the “Top 20” and “Wild Card” events, players who’s match ends in a TIE will split the earned points. Tie matches in subsequent events will have a “tie-breaker” sudden death playoff…see below.
- “Player’s Cup Bracket” – for those who don’t qualify or have fallen out of the “Championship Cup” bracket, your points total will transfer into the “Player’s Bracket.” In the Player’s Bracket, players will be matched up with other players in the same bracket to have match play competition. Points will also be earned for Wins and Ties. Value for Player’s Bracket wins are 250 points. All Players who fall short of making it to the Semi-Final Championship bracket qualify for the “Player’s Bracket.” There will be no TIE breakers for tie matches in the Player’s Bracket. Points will be split between the two players.
note: TIES / Tie breakers: For “Top 20” , “Wild Card” matches, Tie matches will have total points split between players. In Quarter Finals / Semi Finals, “TIE” matches will continue by having players return a designated “drop area” (150 yard marker from hole) on the 18th hole for a sudden death playoff to determine winner. In Championship Finals, TIE matches will be settled by returning to tee box #18 hole for sudden death playoff.
