Under sunny skies and 80+ degree temperatures, a crowd of 40 golfers and spectators once again converged on the hallowed grounds of the Sand Coulee Memorial Golf Course to witness and/or participate in the 7th Black Eagle Invitational. New faces, old faces, new friends, old friends, all coming together for the purposes of having some golfing fun, picnic, and walk off with the $191 Hole-In-One money (which no one did). Anyway, there was $304 in available prize money but as the hole-in-one money of $191 went uncollected, $113 was paid to winners of the various competitions:
Nancy M. on the tee, hole-in-one hopefuls standby.
Closest To: Carol1'-9" $13,Craig K.1'-11" $13Sand Trap:Justin S.(2) $10, Diane K. (1) $6
Chip In: Tom M. (3) $6 Longest Straightest Drive: Colt T.341 $12,Cindy W.171 $4,
Putting:Diane K.(20) $20,Craig K.(14) $16 Women's Low Score: Diane K. 4 Under $8,
Men's Low Score:Angel Q.17 Under $11. Hole - In - One Carry-Over $191
New Course Record Established!!
A mark that had been untouchable for 6 years was finally bettered. Eric W., playing in the very first Black Eagle Invitational, holed a 55 yard shot on the back nine for a 15 under par round. Eric's front and back nines were 10 and 11 respectively. Two years later, Tom M. had it at 12 under and in 2003 and 2004 the best was 11 under. The greenskeeper has made some improvements to the course over the years but this year, a newcomer to the tourney, apparently didn't realize how hard the course is. There were actually four players tied at the end of the front nine at 8 under par: Rick M., Cliff R., another newcomer, Laurene (yes a lady!!) and Angel Q. Laurene was licking her chops knowing that the women's course record was 8 under par shot by Cindy W. also at the 1st tourney. All Laurene had to do was get around the back nine one under par and the course record was her's. Well, the pressure was too much for her and she skied to a 25 on the back finishing second at one under, behind the eventual winner, Diane K. at 4 under.
The "course record" is actually quite sacred to those who have played in most of the tourneys. In fact, several years ago, there was an incident of cheating and the claim of a new course record was denied by the rules committee and the guy has never been invited back, and no reference to him on this website exists! Jerk! So, after talking with Angel, and checking with the course marshals and observers, Angel's back nine score of 9 gave him a total of 17 under par, an official new course record!
Angel Q. New Course Record Holder at 17 under
Since it was his first time around the hallowed Sand Coulee Memorial Golf Course, Angel felt he had nothing to lose and "going for it", hit a very Lucky shot. On the back nine, lying two just across the bridge, he hit his third over the pond towards the culvert. Had the ball not gone into the trees, rattled around, and dropped near the fairway he would have been in deep trouble. Now lying three, he only had to get it across the culvert and into the "hole". It did take him 6 to get it there but nevertheless, it was that bold shot that captured a win and a course record. Congratulations Angel on your fine play! Second place finisher at right, Rick M. is looking through a gap at the bridge. He's also "going for it" (a shot of 64.281 yards to a landing area near the bridge about the size of the hood of his truck).
Rick's shot was actually perfectly struck; a high lob wedge that landed softly just where he was aiming and the exact, correct distance. So it seems that more riskier shots were attempted this year, and not just by Angel and Rick. One person in the group on the left hit a fairly risky shot also (might have been Kris). There were three of us standing under the tree that guards the corner and with the approaching group we were all aware of our position. We figured that the tree trunk would protect us. There was this gawd-awful scream then a golf ball went whizzing past us. Then we heard much laughter. Hmmm.
The course improvements planned for this fall will will make it more tempting to take the big risks and break those course records. Longer, riskier shots will be afforded those who care to tempt the water, the culvert, and the bridge. But records are made to be broken and what the heck, go for it! What have you got to lose besides 14 or 15 golf balls?
Left are Gretchen, Aisha, Justin and Diane. Above, Craig, Bob and Janie, Bob B., Carol, and Sharon. At the right, Doug is serenading a group of women; (Sally on his left, then Faye, Patricia, the empty bag of chips, and Ruth.)
On the front nine, Aisha, on the left, developed a little pull-hook. So every other shot she hit was pull-hooked into the pond. We figured that when she got to the back nine, where a little pull-hook can actually help you, she would be fine. Well when she got to the back nine, she developed a little push-fade, which put every other shot into the water. She was a good sport though.
Above are Ken R. maker of extremely fine furniture and his wife Van, an ultra-marathoner. No one has ever been where they were, ever before.
Ain't life grand!
Bob B., resting at left, finally finished the front and back nine and managed to keep his score this time. In all fairness, Bob doesn't play golf except for this tourney. He says he loves the great food and the wonderful wines and the crazy mix of people. He borrows clubs, steals balls from the hole in one box, and complains the whole way round. This year he finally posted a score: 201. (I didn't ask what his nines were.) What perserverance!
Ken R, on the right, competing in the putting contest, compelled to take off his shoes to sooth his sore feet after playing a much differant course than the rest of us (see above picture). He brought the most fantastic home-made sausages from home grown piggies. The sausages lasted about 7 minutes and were raved about with most everyone wanting more. Since he only brought about 10 pounds we all had to share. Take a minute and check out his home-made furniture; click here.
Then there was the Longest Straightest Drive Contest
This year's LSD contest was pretty exciting, if you were paying attention. In previous years, we were lucky to see two or three balls total finish within the boundaries. This year was much differant. For some reason people were hitting it straight and true and all the way to the end of the target area. The length of the range is 341 but the landing area is only 6 wide. So, Tom M. gets up and puts 5 of 10 inside the boundary, the longest being 339. When the first guy gets up and hits it that straight and that long, it's usually over. He figured he'd won it. BUT, Craig K. gets up and hits one 339 and a half! Not over yet! Justin S. gets up and hits one 340 to beat Craig! The picture at the top left shows Craig's Marker and Justin's ball. Justin's isn't good enough either. Bottom left picture shows Justin's marker and the eventual winner's ball within 6 inches of the end line. The bloke pictured at left, with a drink in each hand, and about to celebrate an 80th birthday, takes top honors, besting all the young bucks. Congrats Colt, well done!
Cindy W., current women's course record holder won the ladies LSD with a blast that measured 171. Her husband, Bill also competed this year and is usually the perennial favorite but having arrived back from China on Friday and attending a wedding in Yakima on Saturday, was just not quite right. Game competitor though. And Jim and Cindy B. did not make this year's tourney because of that same wedding. They tried to get their son to change the wedding date but as usual, women rule.
Reigning LSD Champ
Colt T.
Competition Payout Causes Spontaneous Celebration
At left, are Craig and Diane K. high-fiving after they find out they won the Putting competition. Diane has $20 in her hand and Craig $16. Craig also won the Closest To, add $13 more. Diane also won the Ladies Sand Shot $6 more, and Low Score $8 more. Now Craig and Diane did manage to consume some beverages during the day and by early evening Daine had to have help stashing all their income. Craig had no problem stepping up and stuffing the cash in her shorts that apparently had no pockets. There are other pictures of the two of them but they can't be seen here, yet. So add it all up and you will find that Craig and Diane walked off with $63. I think they'll be back next year. Can Diane 3-peat???
By sunset, many had left for home. But there were several stragglers ripping drivers into the cow pasture across the fence. Mighty swings all of them. But the mightiest thing heard was a wee small voice saying "OK Justin, two more but then we're going. Right?" And then a weeeeee small voice saying "Yes dear."
So thanks to all who came and participated and made us laugh, and made us cheer, and made us duck, and made great appetizers and great sausage and dips, and hid some great wine in the bathroom cabinet (yes, I found it). And, with nearly a dozen newcomers this year, next year's tourney promises to be a very good time. Don't forget, the Hole In One carryover is at $191 and will surely reach $225 next year.
Watch for your invites to the 8th Black Eagle Invitational Golf Tourney.
Winning Score History
2000 Eric W. 15 Under Par Cindy W. 8 Under Par (Course Record)
2001 Bill W. 9 Under Par Cindy W. 6 Under Par
2002 Tom M. 12 Under Par Faye C. 7 Under Par
2003 Barney G. 11 Under Par
Nancy and Margaret Even Par No Playoff "TOO HOT"
2004 Bill W. and Jim B. 11 Under Par No Playoff "TOO TIRED"
Theresa M. 5 Under Par
2005 Tom M. 9 Under Par Diane K. Even Par
2006 Angel Q. 17 Under Par (Course Record) Diane K. 4 Under Par
