NCGA Parent/Child: Final recap
-- photo NCGA
LIVERMORE, Calif. (July 8, 2012) -- The team of David and Jason Marks fired a net 70-68–138 to capture first place in the President Flight of the 15th Annual Parent/Child Championship at Poppy Ridge.
The alternate shot-style event was divided into three flights, based on combined team handicap index. The Marks’ used a consistent second round in which the pair had but two blemishes on the card, a bogey on the 14th and a double bogey on the 16th hole. The double bogey was quickly made up for, however, as the duo rebounded with an eagle on the 507-yard par-5 17th.
“We didn’t make any mistakes and no big numbers,” son Jason said of their consistent performance. Dave agreed, “We’ve played this a bunch and we used to always make some huge numbers and it just didn’t happen this weekend.”
Michael and Rick Grenz finished with a net 70-70–140 to take second and were followed closely by Mitch and Wayne Card’s net 70-71–141 to round out the medalists in the President Flight, for players with a handicap under six.
In the Director Flight, with handicaps ranging from 7 to 12, the team of Dan and Tim Laskoski took top honors with a net 70-67–137. The pair started with a birdie on their first hole of the tournament and continued to set the tone for the 36-hole competition. The Laskoskis finished the first round five strokes out of the lead, despite two net eagles. The second-round red scores started at the first hole yet again, as the pair rolled in seven net birdies and capped the round with a net eagle on the 17th to come in with the one-stroke win over the first-day leaders.
“We made a birdie on the first hole and that was a great way to start. We set goals for ourselves this afternoon to just keep making pars,” Dan Laskoski said. But the favorite part of playing with his son for Dan is the camaraderie. “The fact that we can spend two days together with no real distractions is great.” This tournament is fantastic. The format is great and it’s a wonderful way to keep families together,” he said.
Second place went to Bill and Kurt Seckington after posting a net 65-73–138. Third place finished with a three-way tie as Sean and David Seltzer (74-69–143), Henry and Christopher Mata (74-69–143), and Burt and Ali Hoffmann (76-67–143) all earned medals in the flight.
Dave and Kate Swanson came in with a net 59-69–128 to dominate the Secretary flight, comprised of teams with a combined handicap of over 13. Roy Bernardi and Jarrett Hill earned second with a net 66-73–139. Rounding out the medalists were Geoffrey and Madelyn Brown with a net 65-75–140.
“It was the most magical series of events. It was like pitching a no-hitter,” Dave said of their net 59, the lowest round of the tournament in any flight. “The toughest part when you play that well and just start okay today – Kate mentioned ‘we’re not doing as well as yesterday’. We will never do as well as yesterday. That was pretty magical.”