The Shamble Really Worked Out

GREENSBORO — When he suggested the league play a shamble last Tuesday night at Mountain View Country Club, Brian Niemi probably had no idea how well it would work out for his foursome.

He never could have predicted how well his partners would respond to last week’s challenge. In a golf shamble, everyone hits their own drives, then all players go to the best drive of the four, and from there, they all play their own ball until it’s holed out. It was a best ball event, so the best score of the foursome was posted on each hole.

That worked out extremely well for the group that included Niemi, Mike Cloutier, Roger Boone and Andy Lemieux. The latter three posted their absolute best rounds of the season. The winning foursome combined to shoot a one-under par 34, and with their high handicaps, they netted a 19.25 to win by three strokes.

Boone was the best of the group. His average this year is a 54, but he made five pars, including the first three holes consecutively, to post a 41. By doing so, he carded the low net round of the evening, an ultra low 23.

But right behind him were Cloutier and Lemieux. The two of them have been averaging a 52 all year, but they both posted a 42 on Tuesday. They tied for the second best net score with a 24. Meanwhile, Niemi posted a 39, three strokes under his season average. It all added up to an easy win.

After three straight pars, the team got a bogey on four. But Lemieux nailed a birdie putt on seven and Niemi left his approach on eight just 13 inches from the pin and easily made birdie from there. A par on nine gave them their fifth for the round.

Ending up in second place and also finishing strong was the foursome of Wyatt Bellavance, Randy Bellavance, Adam Whitney and Cole Leroux. They shot a three-over 38, but had the handicaps to knock it down to a 22.25. They birdied their last two holes, with Randy Bellavance getting his on eight and Whitney on nine. Randy Bellavance also birdied two.

Back in third place with a two-over-par 37 and a net 22.75 was the foursome of George Gattone, Brad Ferland, Dan Gauthier and Mike Gauthier. Ferland’s 42 led this team as Gattone and Dan Gauthier both posted a 43 and Mike Gauthier a 47. They carded seven pars, bogeying just the first and fourth holes.

Right behind them in fourth place was the foursome of Dan Rogers, Dave Rogers, Doug Allen and Jeremy Kaufmann. They posted a 39 with their five pars and netted a 23.25. Both Kaufmann and Dan Rogers posted rounds of 45.

The low team gross score of three-under 32 was posted by Joe Mulligan, Neal Mulligan, Patrick Mulligan and Darwin Thompson. Everyone in this group carded sub-40 rounds. Neal Mulligan posted the nights low round, a one-under 34 with two birdies and one bogey.

Right behind him were Joe Mulligan with an even-par 35 as Thompson posted a 37 and Patrick Mulligan a 39. Neal Mulligan also won closest to the pin on three, leaving his drive nine feet, five inches from the pin.

Over on five, Boone continued his banner night by winning closest to the pin there, putting his drive just eight feet, seven inches from the pin. On nine, Nat Fixx won closest in two during his first night in the league, leaving his approach two feet from the pin. Fixx posted a 36. Also breaking 40 on this night were Tim Bellavance with a 38 and Pat Hussey with a 39. Tying for third place in low net were Tim Bellavance and Rowdy Doyon, who shot 41, with a 26.

Next week the Tuesday night league will be hosting their midseason championship.