A small group gathered for what turned out to be a beautiful day to be in the woods throwing plastic at metal. A couple solid rounds were put together. Yet another personal best, and a see-saw battle for the lead.

I’d like to put Thom in the spotlight a little bit here. Thom started showing up for tags a little over 4 months ago. I remember his first round, because I thought he’d die. It was over 100 degrees out, and not being familiar with the course Thom hadn’t brought any water for during the round. But he stuck it out, played the entire round, and turned in a score of 120. I gave him a few pointers, advised him to bring water and figured we’d never see him again. Was I ever surprised to not only see Thom back next week, but he bought a tag! And he continued coming every week, and continued dropping his score. Now, some 4 months or so later, he turns in his personal best, and the next two weeks he scores even better. It’s encouraging to me to see players joining the group and coming back and improving their score rather than being discouraged and frustrated. Thom is the perfect example that you don’t have to throw 400ft to play Whispering Falls, you just have to be determined to finish.

Boger had me by two strokes at the turn. We both bogey 10, par 11 and drop in par 12. My drive on 13 makes the turn and ends up pin high, 50ft right. Thom says “I’m pretty happy with a drive at the crest of the hill.” Boger hits F(irst) A(vailable) T(ree) and kicks left in to no man’s land. Thumber gets caught up, escape layup and drop in 4 to my 3.
My drive on 14 misses the alley short, but I have a small window for a flippy forehand approach, lands 12ft away for a 3. Boger lands almost perfect in line with the sneaky alley, but his floaty approach gets caught in the weeds. His birdie putt looks like an instant replay from last week, line drive right in to the side of the cage. Drop in 4.
On 15 I hit my small gap, but catch a tree further down. Easy layup for 3. Boger hits FAT again and kicks right. He has a line for a high forehand appraoch but manages to get caught up by the smallest twig on the fairway. Smart layup to insure a drop in 4. Going in to 16 now I am leading by 1. My plan is to play it safe, short drive in to the open. My execution is another story and I end up left and throwing a spike hyzer to get back to the fairway. Approach and putt for my 4. Boger has a so so drive right around the gas pipe, his spike approach however is spot on. Drop in 3. Tied again. Boger drives first on 17, pulls it hard right and misses the second mando. From the drop he makes it safely across. His thumber approach drifted too far left and he’s left with a 50footer for 5. Comeback for 6. My drive hits the foliage at the left of the OB and somehow manages to squeak through and land safe. My approach hits the pines on the right side, leaving me 80ft out. Approach and putt for a drop in 4. I’m leading by 2 going in to 18. Boger hulks his driving in an ace effort but the headwind has other ides. Wide right, nice approach, drop in 3. My drive is knocked down short and left, straight up and down for drop in 3 as well.

Corey had a solid back 9, with a few shaved strokes on the front he would have been in the hunt.

Totals:
Brad L……………2…62…2
Eric B…………….8…64…7
Corey D………….7…67…8
Thom M……….20…79…17 Personal Best!
John C………….21…89…20
Nick K………….17…91…21

Matt, Russ and I will be joining Boger at Codorus on Saturday for the Autumn Open. Wish us luck! See ya on the course.
-Brad