Buddy Meola
The Cottonwood Men’s Golf Association started the 2022 year with an Ace of Aces Qualifier on Jan. 1. This is an event where the Low Gross and Low Net from each flight qualify for the 2022 Ace of Aces tournament.
First Flight: Low Gross Bob Tomsett, Low Net Dennis Chenier; Second Flight: Low Gross Marty Hobby, Low Net William Moore; Third Flight: Low Gross Don Klein, Low Net Andreas Lichter; Fourth Flight: Low Gross Russell Grgich, Low Net Scott Johnson
The Ace of Aces finals for 2021 was played Jan. 8 and 9. This two-day event was Low Gross and Low Net with a winner in each flight.
First Flight: Low Gross Bob Tomsett, Low Net John Stromstad; Second Flight: Low Gross Neal Lordos, Low Net Martin Oerter; Third Flight: Low Gross Timothy Mandt, Low Net Charlie Gilligan; Fourth Flight: Low Gross Earnest Soczka, Low Net Bill Score
For the members who hadn’t qualified for the Ace of Aces finals, an alternate flighted Low Gross/Low Net competition was played on Jan. 8.
First Flight: Low Gross Marcus Steinhausser, Low Net Steve Lowe; Second Flight: Low Gross Bob Lewis, Low Net Jim Werlinger; Third Flight: Low Gross Dan Paxton, Low Net Rick Gaube; Fourth Flight: Low Gross David Spencer, Low Net Martin Schniepp
On Jan. 15 and 16, the yearly Member/Member event was played by 56 teams divided into five flights. The two-day format includes a 9 hole pick a drive, 9 hole team alternate shot, a 9 hole team one net score, and a 9 hole team two net score. The second day’s play was followed by lunch in the San Tan Ballroom, where the results were totaled and the winners announced.
First Flight Winners: Michael Moore and Pat Conry, First Flight Second Place: Phil Carlson and Kip Kaler
Second Flight Winners: Jim Grube and Jim Rumpler, Second Flight Second Place Rick Miller and Bill Score
Third Flight Winners: Jim Werlinger and Gene Kivi, Third Flight Second Place Bill Parsons and Tim Healy
Fourth Flight Winners: Grover Hargrove and Jim Czaja, Forth Flight Second Place Steve Steinhilber and Mike Kopacz
Fifth Flight Winners: Don Bartolo and Rich Johnson, Fifth Flight Second Place Earl Whiteman and Bob Kruse
On Jan. 22 a Match Play format was played. The match competitors had similar handicaps and were paired by the Pro Shop.
On Jan. 29 the Qualifier for the Presidents Cup was played. The 64 players with the lowest scores were then seeded in four brackets for match play. Over the next six weeks, matches will be played until the final two players play for the Players Cup Championship.
February events will include two Ace of Aces qualifiers and the three-day Club Championship. The Club Championship will have a Club Championship flight, a Seniors Championship flight, a Super Seniors Championship flight, a Masters Championship flight, and a Legends Championship flight for those players over 81.