Buddy Meola

Sixty-four qualifiers for the Ace of Aces for 2022 played the two-day finals on Dec. 3 and 17. They were divided into four flights with one blue flight, two white flights, and one green flight. The finals were to be held on the 3rd and 4th, but inclement weather closed Cottonwood Golf Course on the 4th, so the second day was moved to the 17th. The planned lunch and Cottonwood Men’s Golf Association (CMGA) meeting was still held on the 4th to discuss the 2023 season.

John Stromstad was the overall Gross Champion, and Neal Lordos was the overall Net Champion.

Blue Flight: Low Gross Pat Conry, Low Net Michael Moore

First White Flight: Low Gross Jack Goyer, Low Net Robert Walk

Second White Flight: Low Gross Doug Friesen, Low Net Jerry Johnston

Green Flight: Low Gross David Spencer, Low Net Ernest Soczka

The annual Home and Home competition with Leisure World Golf Community was played on Dec. 8 and 10. Twenty-nine two-man teams from Cottonwood and Leisure competed the afternoon of the 8th at Leisure World Golf Course and the morning of the 10th at Cottonwood. Lunch was served prior to play at Leisure World and after play at Cottonwood. The Leisure World golfers played very well on their home course and took a 55.5 to 31.5 lead going into the second day. The Cottonwood teams took advantage of their course knowledge to post a 55.5 to 31.5 point score. The 87-87 tie allowed the CMGA to retain the Cup for another year.

A Match Play event was played on the 17th in conjunction with the second day of the Ace of Aces finals. Twenty-six members were pitted against each other by the Pro Shop, using comparable handicaps.

On Dec. 24 nine four-man teams competed in an ABCD assigned hole competition. The net score of the player’s assigned hole was used as the score for the team, as well as a second low net by the other team members.

First Place Team: Ed New, Jim Grube, Buddy Meola, and Jim Kay

Second Place Team: Bob Tomsett, Jim Werlinger, Tim Healy, and Paco Venegas

A flighted Pick Your Partner team event was played on Dec. 31. The format was a pick your drive with a two-drive minimum on both sides. The net score of the team was the team score.

First Flight: First Place Team: Bob Fish/Don Cerimeli, Second Place Team: Jason Burger/Tony Phillips

Second Flight: First Place Teams: (tie) Greg Botma/Scott Crouch and Craig Christiansen/Buddy Meola

Third Flight: First Place Team: Al Grefsheim/Steven Pearson, Second Place Teams: (tie) Stan Gross/Steve Cabe and Terry Cronin/Steve Martz

January events included the monthly Ace of Aces qualifier, a Presidents Cup qualifier for the 64 lowest net scores, the annual Member/Member event, and an ABCD assigned hole team competition.