Kruckeberg
Reproduction Effort Completed
February 4, 2005
NGA® Wire Service
The Nagyhills Golf Association® is pleased to announce the arrival of
Ryan William Kruckeberg into the NGA family.
Ryan was born on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 3:58pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz and measured a
massive 20” long. Proud parents Bruce
and Tammy Kruckeberg, along with Ryan and family doggie Elroy, are all doing
fine.
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A local golf professional stated that by age 4, he predicts that Ryan’s
putting stoke will be on par or better than his father Bruce. Congratulations Bruce and Tammy!
2004 Bank of Ann Arbor
FUTURES Golf Classic
Lake Forest Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
June 7, 2004
Louis Song (NGA® Far East Division Writer)
The 2004 Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Tour Golf Classic event has come to
past with Lindsey Wright winning the tournament by one stroke with an even par
round Sunday. That, however, was not the highlight of the weekend. More
memorable was the opportunity for I to experience my first professional golf
volunteer assignment. It all began with an idea of being around great players
of the most passionate game known to humanity- with all its grandeur and agony
entwined within our soul.
Having failed to attend the scheduled volunteers meeting, I called the
volunteer chairperson, Dianne Loy, and met her at Lake Forest Golf Club the
Wednesday before the tournament. As I ascended to the clubhouse, I sensed quite
a different feeling than I would typically experience at a golf course. Blood
was rushing into the farthest reaches of my being and my beady eyes widened
with excitement as visions of young, athletic women darted in and out of my
sight, whiplash was imminent. As the tingling sensation continued, I pondered
at how wonderful it is to see so many aspiring players committed to being the
best of the best. Speaking of the best, I had the privilege of meeting some of
the most talented players the LPGA will surely enjoy.
The first star is Allison Hanna, a Futures Tour rookie, who has
exceptional grace on and off the course. How do I know, as Andy will attest,
this young lady can stripe it off the tee with a full, fluid, rhythmic swing.
More importantly, she is pleasant, cordial, and eloquent- an obvious result of
good upbringing and intelligence. Andy and I didn’t see her again until the
10th tee where she let us play through since she was waiting for a couple of
‘ringers’ to complete her foursome. Yes, these gals can hit it but not as far
as my driver or Andy’s 4-wood- well.... on this particular hole. Anyways, his
ball landed in the fairway some 15 yards ahead of Allison’s (we were hitting
from the same tees as her all day) prompting him to write a note and leaving it
near her ball. While on the green, echoes of laughter filled the air as we
turned to see Allison and her playing partner reading Andy’s words.
I met up with Allison on Friday after driving the cart for another
three-some that morning (two made the cut while one still needs much work). She
thought that I was a friend who flew in from Oregon, her home state, since she
couldn’t really tell from my hat and sunglasses disguise. At an instant, I
wanted to say ‘yes’ only for a big hug and smooch (Kurnczism Theory, p. 84).
Nevertheless, I was respectful and explained that we met Wednesday. Asking
about her round, she responded gracefully that she played all right but had
issues on the greens- “17 greens and 38 putts will not win a tournament,” she
claims. Sticking to the positive, I told her that hitting 17 greens was awesome
and told her that her putting will come around. Then I asked her to autograph a
golf ball while explaining that the autographed ball would be pasted in
http://www.nagyhillsgolfassociation.com. I told her that we are just a bunch of
fun-loving guys who like to play and that we would follow her career on the
site. I also gave her my e-mail address and she will send me her business card
when ready. With only two tournaments under her belt, she is proving that she
has the talent and ability to play and play damn good – coming in 3rd and tied
for 12th, respectively. My not so bold prediction is Allison will win a LPGA
major within four years from today.
On Saturday, my oldest, Erica who will be 9 in August, and I walked with
the second to last group assigned as stander bearer and scorer. The players
were Katie Connelly, Kristy McPherson and Naree Song. Of course, Naree was
coming off a high having won the previous event in Indiana. Again, I am amazed
how effortlessly these pros strike the ball. They don’t hit it far but they do
hit it straight time and time again except for Kristy. There is no doubt that
this Southern girl believes in physical fitness since Kristy’s arms have
well-defined biceps and triceps. When she got a hold of it, she pumped it about
270 down the fairway. Actually, all three were ‘sneaky long’. I would give my
left eye to Karl to hit it like them. All three started the round at three under
but only Naree could hold on and finish even par for the round. But, she could
have done better or worse, no one will ever know.
Here is what happened – on the 10th tee, a par 4 slight dogleg right with
a blind tee shot, Miss Song (no relation) push-faded her drive into the hazard.
Unfortunately, the volunteering spotter had no clue where her ball landed (they
should have a tougher requirement for spotters because these guys stunk; they
couldn’t see jack unless the ball landed on their head). Everyone was looking
in the hazard some 20 yards closer to the green to no avail. I, having the
undistinguished experience of hitting countless balls right knew that they were
looking in the wrong area. I went back to another clump of wet jungle and found
a Titleist 3 with small black dots surrounding the “3.” I motioned to the group
and Naree’s caddie confirmed it was her ball. Sadly, the lie in the hazard was
unplayable and she dropped outside the hazard finishing the hole with bogey.
The issue is this – if she would have taken a drop from where everyone
was originally looking would she have carded a better score. Perhaps she could
have holed it from the drop for birdie or hit it closer than 30 feet and made
par. It may have launched her on a big run and she could have won two in a row.
Or, she could have shanked it into the gunk and walked away with triple
eventually missing the cut by one. Was I wrong to look in a more likely area?
Should I have not said anything and picked up the ball as a souvenir after the group
left the fairway so she would have a shorter shot to the green? No one will
ever know. All I know is that there is a fine line to what may appear to be
equitable for spectators. As for me, I would have preferred to find my ball, be
disheartened that I couldn’t make a reasonable swing, taken the drop and
stroke, and eventually finish the hole; this would be the right call- to take
my medicine and go on. Since none shot laser beams from their eyes at me, I
knew that it was the right call, quite unlike Tiger getting relief from a
one-ton boulder. It would have been nice to pocket the ball, though, and sell
it on eBay when she makes it big (Kurnczism Theory, p. 37).
Naree did finish alone in 5th while Kristy placed T30 and Katie T48.
These kids were great. They autographed Erica’s hat and Naree even signed a
ball for Erica from one Song to another. My hat goes off to these skilled
players and hope they have instilled the embodiment of etiquette to my daughter
for someday she may be out there grinding over five foot par putts. It is good
that the ladies have a precursor to the LPGA, some place where they can hone
their skills as professional athletes and professional people. Sure, there were
some distant individuals with some appearing cocky and aloof. Yet, better than
their male counterparts, many are sincere and seem honored just in having the
opportunity to compete at this level. No, the purses are not lucrative and the
courses are not all pristine but they have made the commitment and dedication
to this game and have the heart and desire to win. Most being young are away
from family and friends but still have the ability to smile and be gracious.
My only contention is that the Futures Tour committee understands this
devotion and improves their position in this sport’s market. The prizes are
low, sponsorships are mostly local, and the venues could be better. In fact,
many national sporting news agencies like the Golf Channel, CBS, ESPN, CNN,
etc... do not regularly recognize this tour. The goal will be for groups like
the NGA® to promote higher spectator and sponsorship participation to drive
revenues and purses up. Let all who peruse these pages leave with a newfound
obligation to spread the word. I had a super experience and anticipate
supporting the future of this tour with grand excitement.
The Greatest Ball Striker Ever – Ben Hogan Versus Karl Nagy
June 11, 2004
NGA.com (NGA® Wire
Service)
It has always been said it is hard to compare different
eras of golfing excellence with one another.
Most historians will agree that either Jack Nickalus or Tiger Woods is
the greatest golfer of all-time, but it is far from a unanimous choice. The same case can be said for golf’s Greatest
Ball Striker. Many names come to mind:
Sam Snead, Ralph Guldahl, Lee Trevino, Mac O’Grady. Nevertheless, the two names that pop to the
top of most lists are Ben Hogan and Karl Nagy.
Hogan was born in Texas in 1913. At 12, he turned to
caddying, receiving 65 cents a round at the Glen Garden Country Club. In his
spare time, he began to play. After his caddying was through for the day, Hogan
spent hours upon hours on the driving range. Despite having an uncontrollable
hook, he turned pro when he was 17 and joined the
Nagy, born in Ontario in 1969, moved to Michigan in
1970. He did not play golf until he
turned 15 years old. In his spare time
he worked at a local donut shop and Parks and Recreation facility. Nagy joined his college golf team in 1991,
however a less than serious team attitude did not prove a benefit. Despite a solid game, he did not practice too
often and did not turn professional. In
1999, Nagy won The Players Championship (
The below photos are of Ben Hogan during his 1951
Masters triumph and of Karl Nagy during his sensational 1999
.gif)
As you can see, it is very difficult to distinguish the
differences in the golf swings of Hogan and Nagy; many experts have claimed them
to be identical. It has even been the
case that when Nagy dons his tam during a round, whispering of ‘Wee-Ice Mon’
and ‘The Hawk’ can be heard throughout the golf course.
|
Name (Full Name) |
Ben Hogan (William Benjamin Hogan) |
Karl Nagy (Karl Nagy) |
|
Birthdate |
8/13/1913 |
10/4/1969 |
|
Birthplace |
Dublin, TX, USA |
Windsor, |
|
Residence |
Fort Worth, TX, USA |
Plymouth, MI, USA |
|
Death |
7/25/1997 |
|
|
Wife (Maiden Name) |
Valerie (Fox) |
Courtney (Thomas) |
|
Wedding |
April 1935 |
June 1999 |
|
Children |
NONE |
Evan |
|
Height |
5’ 8” |
6’ 2” |
|
Weight |
140 lbs |
220 lbs |
|
Joined |
1933 |
N/A |
|
Joined NGA® |
N/A |
1995 |
|
|
62 |
0 |
|
Major Championship Victories |
9 |
0 |
|
NGA.com Tour Victories |
0 |
2 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
|
MPGA Team Championships |
0 |
3 |
|
Ryder Cup Record (overall) |
2-0-0 (3-0-0) |
0-0-0 (0-0-0) |
|
Guldahl Cup Record (overall) |
0-0-0 (0-0-0) |
5-3-0 (24-32-7) |
|
Predominant Rule Change Aspiration |
Increase the size of the golf cup to put more
emphasis on ball striking and less on putting |
Increase maximum amount of clubs from 14 to 15 to
allow for an extra wedge |
We may never all agree on who is the greatest ball striker
of all time, but nonetheless both Ben Hogan and Karl Nagy would be in
everyone’s top two list, that is for sure!
NGA Players Enter 2004 Michigan Amateur Championship
May 29, 2004
NGA® Wire Service
Three elite members of the Nagyhills Golf Association® have
filed their applications and fees in hope of participation in the 2004 Michigan
Amateur Championship at Grosse Ile G&CC beginning 6/22/2004.
Unfortunately for the
NGA’s big three, none of them had enough cahonus to qualify them 2004 Michigan Amateur
Championship.
Steve Lawler’s 79 at
Radrick Farm GC (Ann Arbor, MI) on Monday, 5/17/04 was three shots above the
qualifying score of 76.
Karl Nagy’s 77 and
Kurt Goetzke’s 78 at Dearborn CC (Dearborn, MI) on Friday, 5/21/04 were one and
two shots above the qualifying score of 76.
The NGA’s own Andy
Kurncz acted as caddie for Lawler and Nagy.
Goetzke was without a caddie.
Radrick Farm
GC Qualifying Results (5/17/2004)
Dearborn CC
Qualifying Results (5/21/2004)
In My Own Words –
Goetzke Chokes At Michigan Amateur Qualifier
The story of how Kurt Goetzke crushed his hopes of qualifying for the
1987 Michigan Amateur Championship (as recapped in an e-mail message)
LOCATION: Radrick Farms Golf Course (Ann Arbor, MI, USA)
DATE: Summer 1987
FROM: Kurt Goetzke
SENT: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 9:29 AM
TO: Dan J McKay; Steve Lawler
CC: Karl Nagy
SUBJECT: RE: Michigan Amateur
DEFINITELY RADRICK FARMS...that is the sight of my best and worst
achievement (Nagy was a great Caddy...thanks for not making me hit driver on
the last hole buddy!!!)...I was one hole away from qualifying comfortably for
the Amateur...I would have been top 10, in fact and better than DEAN KOBANE
(78)...Par for 77...I finished on Number 9...a short par 4...I feared out of
bounds left, so I hit 3 Wood...unfortunately, I popped it up...hit 5 iron into
the left front bunker...the bunkers were not as good as they are now...thinned
it over the green...hit great flop to 12 feet or so...knocked putt by 3 feet...made
that for double and 79...10 man playoff for 1 spot...Birdied the first hole to
move on...hit huge drive on next hole...sand wedge to 20 feet below the
hole...IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT!!! Three
putted...other guys both got up and down...bye, bye Goetzke...Lost to other guy
for 1st alternate spot...took like 3 more holes...1st and 2nd alternate did not
get in...
So, here are my choices...not necessarily in this order except for
RADRICK BEING FIRST:
RADRICK (Monday)
FIELDSTONE (Wednesday)
PHEASANT
DUNHAM HILLS (Friday, Period End)
DEARBORN CC (Friday)
Tragedy Strikes Kurncz
Family
April 11, 2002
Kurt Goetzke (NGA.com Staff Writer)
April 5, 2002 started off like any other day for NGA member Andy Kurncz,
but it soon it would take a tragic twist.
The previous night, the family cat Carmel, age 12, had mysteriously
slipped outside unbenounced to the family members that were present. Being an indoor cat, Carmel must have been
very scared and confused.
The family finally discovered that Carmel was missing when Andy's
daughter, Lauren, age 8, approached her daddy with a tear in her eye and
proclaimed, "Daddy, where's my precious kitty, Carmel? I have not seen her in hours." Being the
concerned dad that Andy is, he soothed his terrified daughter's concerns by
suggesting that Carmel was just hiding or sleeping and he would surely come out
in the morning. Unfortunately, that did
not occur.
As a cold chill took over the crisp
spring night, Andy and his wife Cori snuggled under layers of warm, comfortable
blankets, while outside, another drama was occurring.
Morning came and still there was no sign of Carmel. As Andy sipped his morning coffee, his
thoughts drifted to other concerns...the long day ahead, bills to pay, The
Masters, Landing Strip lounge, cigars, food.
His mind was so full, that it did not have any room for what seemed so
insignificant, the still undetermined whereabouts of Carmel. As he went into the garage and to his car,
suddenly, something strange coursed through his body and it stopped him in his
tracks. He spontaneously cried out,
"Carmel, are you here?" The
strange sensation remained, but after a moment it dissipated and he got into
his car and pulled down the driveway, onto the road. After a moment, he heard a strange scratching
sound, and then, a thud. He quickly
stopped his vehicle and got out to find a horrific site in front of him... the
pan caked remains of what once was Carmel, the loyal family cat. He must have been hiding in the wheel well to
keep warm overnight. Horrified, Andy did
not know what to do, but he somehow managed the moxie to scoop Carmel to the
side of the road and proceed on with his day.
Upon arriving at home, Andy was faced with the task of informing his
daughter what had happened. "Daddy,
we still haven't found Carmel yet", wept little Lauren. Andy then got down on his haunches so he
could be face to face with his innocent child.
Suddenly, a horrific tearing sound occurred as his tight pants split
from his sack to his crack. Trying to maintain
his fatherly composure under such dire conditions, Andy looked little Lauren in
the eyes and said gently, "Sweetheart, Carmel was very old and it was time
for him to go to Kitty Heaven. He's
there now playing with the biggest ball of yarn ever." Content with her fathers loving concern and
compassionate answer, Lauren hugged her dad and tearfully exclaimed, "Bye,
Bye Carmel! Have fun in Kitty Heaven. I love you!"
After changing his pants, Andy went about the task of disposing of the
evidence. He went back to the scene of
the crime and put what was left of Carmel in the trunk of his car. He then proceeded to a dumpster up the street
and gave Carmel his last rights and burial.
To this day, Andy still wonders what that feeling was in the garage
before he ran the poor creature over.
Was it a sign??? He will probably
never know for sure, but he must face the fact that he will have to live with
this the rest of his life. "Maybe I
could have done something different", mulled Kurncz, "maybe I could
have saved Carmel from such a woeful demise.
I guess we'll never know."
Crazy For Mazie
April 10, 2002
Nagyhills Golf Association® (NGA Wire Service)
The Nagyhills Golf Association® would like to announce the arrival of Mazie
Lee Lawler to the NGA family. Mazie Lee
was born on Thursday, April 4, 2002. She
weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and measured 19 3/4” long.
Proud parents Steve and Holly Lawler, along with baby Mazie, are doing
fine.
Early nicknames for baby Mazie include ‘The Taller Lawler’ and
‘Maser’. Congratulations Steve and
Holly!
2002 Guldahl Cup
Handicaps
April 4, 2002
Karl Nagy (NGA.com Staff Writer)
The Nagyhills Golf Association® has released the official player
handicaps for the 2002 Guldahl Cup Matches scheduled to take place at the
Lakewood Shores Resort in Oscoda, Michigan, USA on April 19, 20 & 21,
2002. The handicaps were determined
using the USGA's Handicapping System formula along with players scores from the
1999, 2000 and 2001
2002 Guldahl Cup Handicaps
Karl Nagy (Plymouth, MI) 5
Dan McKay (Madison Heights, MI) 7
Eric Fournier (Harper Woods, MI) 9
Andy Kurncz (Fenton, MI) 9
Kurt Goetzke (Ferndale, MI) 10
Ron Clifton (Plainwell, MI) 13
Coree Raden (Caledonia, MI) 13
Louis Song (Plymouth, MI) 14
This year's Guldahl Cup will be conducted as a five round event with a
total of 30 points available. The
combination of team and individual matches scheduled to be played are:
Fri 4/19/02 (AM Matches at The Serradella) Best Ball Team &
Individual Match Play (6 points)
Fri 4/19/02 (PM Matches at The Wee Links) Scramble Team (2 points)
Sat 4/20/02 (AM Matches at The Serradella) Alternate Shot Match &
Stroke Play (8 points)
Sat 4/20/02 (PM Matches at The Gailes) Total Score Team & Individual
Match Play (6 points)
Sun 4/21/02 (AM Matches at The Gailes) Single Individual Match Play (8
points)
A number of past Guldahl Cup champions are in the field and should play a
large part in determining this year’s champion.
Two time Guldahl champion Karl Nagy is a golfing juggernaut and will
definitely be expected to carry his team to victory. Dan McKay and Louis Song, the only players in
the field never to taste Guldahl defeat, are back to reclaim the Cup they won
last spring. Both players have recently struggled with their games, but have
promised to be in fine shape come match time. Three time contestant Coree Raden
and his west Michigan sidekick Ron Clifton, two time Guldahl loser, are expected
play an integral role in their teams attack to victory. Andy Kurncz, another three time Guldahl Cup
contestant and captain of the most recent Guldahl Cup victory, knows what it
takes to win again. States Kurncz,
"I know what it takes to win!"
Also participating is one time loser Kurt Goetzke and rookie Eric
Fournier. Goetzke, armed with a new
belly putter, and Fournier, armed with two cases of Bud Light, are believed to
be non entities this tournament.
Past Guldahl Cup Champions
2000 Ron Clifton (Captain), Coree Raden
2001A Dan McKay (Captain), Karl Nagy, Steve Lawler, Louis Song
2001B Andy Kurncz (Captain), Karl Nagy
Former Guldahl Cupper’s Steve Lawler and Matt Maser are not participating
this year. Lawler’s wife Holly is scheduled to give birth to their first child
on April 12, 2002. It was deemed best that Steve begin the process of
fatherhood near his wife and child rather than on the links of Oscoda. Maser,
who moved to Illinois last fall, has not been heard from and is believed to be
fighting for his life on the streets of Chicago.
©2002 Nagyhills Golf Association. All Rights Reserved.
Spring Into 2002
April 1, 2002
Kurt Goetzke (NGA.com Staff Writer)
As spring took hold in the quaint
city of Marshall, Michigan, the first official round of golf for the year 2002
took place on Friday, March 30th at the Medalist Golf Course. The Medalist, measuring a tame 6,007 yards,
requires accuracy off the tee, but once in play, the golfer is afforded many scoring
opportunities. Yet, rust is always a
factor this early in the season, and it showed on more than one occasion.
On a crisp, cloudy morning, 5 men
descended on this fine test of golf. The
teams selected for the day consisted of Karl Nagy and Ron Clifton on one team vs
Kurt Goetzke, Andy Kurncz and Louis Song on the other in an 18 hole best ball
competition. Side bets were also placed,
with Nagy and Goetzke going even up, Goetzke giving Song 7 strokes and Kurncz 2
strokes, while Nagy gave Kurncz 6 strokes and Song 11. Ron participated only in the team bet, a wise
choice as we will soon see.
On the short first, it appeared that the aforementioned rust may not be a
factor, as 4 out of the 5 split the middle of the fairway, and three of the
five hit the green. But no birdies were
achieved and soon, a pattern would become painfully apparent. After halving the first two holes a
breakthrough for Team GKS finally occurred on the short third. After a safe tee shot to the far right of the
green, Song faced a lengthy birdie effort. 40 feet and a missed Clifton 15
footer later, Team GKS was 1 up. It was
a lead they would never relinquish.
As the round continued, it was
apparent that one player was hot with the flat stick. Kurt Goetzke, owner of a brand new split grip
long putter, began to claw his way to a good round. With one putts on 5 holes on the front nine,
an erratic ball striking day was being salvaged by the putter. All this would change on number 9.
Always the mark of consistency,
Karl Nagy was in prime form from the start of his round. With Faldo-like precision, Nagy got out of
the gate with 5 straight pars. It was
apparent that he was going to be tough to beat on this day, and if not for a
bulky putter, his eventual round of 1 over par 73 could have been much lower.
Yet, some of the field was
struggling with their game. The par 5
5th was the first to bite the combatants.
A triple bogey 8 for Louie Song slowed him down after his birdie on the
previous hole, and a painful to watch 11 for Ron Clifton, derailed his fine 1
over after 3 start.
Much of the play for the next few
holes was uneventful. Then came the
short par 5 9th. At 452 Yards, the hole
seems docile, but a small landing area and a lake on the left make accuracy a
premium. Kurt Goetzke stepped on the tee at 2 over par. His team had halved the next 5 holes after
winning the 3rd. A well struck drive began up the right side with a hard draw. Unfortunately the ball took a hard kick left
and just stayed out of the water, but was in the confines of the hazard. With
the ball well above his feet, Goetzke feared a hook into the water left of the
green...and his worst fears came true when a poorly struck 5 iron left the
clubface. Andy Kurncz followed Goetzke
into the hazard left, but was able to escape with a bogey 6. Goetzke was not as
fortunate. After a drop, a chunked 4th,
a "Texas Wedge" just to the front fringe of the green, and three
strokes of the putter later, Goetzke had carded an 8. Kurncz was later overheard consulting with
Nagy as to whether a four putt should be placed on the scorecard. Fortunately for Goetzke, the rules of golf
afforded only a 2 putt.
As the back 9 took shape, it was
apparent that Ron was not going to be of much help to Karl. Two 8's and a 10 sent Ron crashing to a back
nine 53 and final score of 100. The Best
Ball match stayed as it was until the Par 5 13th, where Karl was not able to
get it up and in from the fringe and therefore suffered an unsavory bogey. Goetzke and Kurncz both pared to put Team GKS
up 2 with 5 to play. Nagy finally got
off the schnide by birding the Par 5 15th, but that number was matched by an
equally solid birdie from Louie Song.
The death blow came on the Par 3 17th, when Andy knocked a 6 iron within
15 and sank the putt to complete a 3 and 1 trouncing for Team GKS.
Yet, there was still one subplot
remaining. As the players stepped onto
the 18th tee, Karl had locked up his other matches, but the ones between Kurt
and Andy and Kurt and Louie were still much in doubt. As the players reached the putting surface,
Kurt was faced with an 8 foot left to right putt in order to win his match with
Andy and halve his match with Louie.
Unfortunately, Kurt's putt slide painfully just below the hole for a
final hole bogey. With that miss, his
match was halved with Andy and he lost by one stroke to Mr. Song.
All in all it was a fine day of
golf. Karl sandwiched 2 bogeys and a
birdie between 15 pars, while Kurt holed 13 pars in his 79. Andy had a solid
ball striking day, but could never really get the putter going, and he carded a
respectable 81. Louie had the most
birdies of anyone in the group (2), but a case of the hooks due to an ailing
back sent him back to Livonia with an 85 in his pocket. As for Ron, it was great to see him.
In My Own Words – A
Killer Blow
The story of how Kurt Goetzke played Autumn Ridge Golf Course’s 16th hole
during the 1st round of the 2001
RECAPPED: Karl Nagy
COURSE: Autumn Ridge Golf Course (Fort Wayne, IN, USA)
DATE: September 24, 2001
Goetzke hits a towering tee ball (STROKE 1) toward the right side of the
green. It hits near the pin and bounces over
the back of the green (STROKE 2). Where did it go? His playing partners suggest
that Kurt hit another ball, just in case the first one is unplayable, or worse,
OB. Kurt agrees, still assuming that there is no chance his first ball is out.
For God's sake, the ball hit the freaking green. A lackluster provisional shot (STROKE 3) is
"Longeway'ed" by Goetzke into the right water hazard. A statement is
made that Goat really hopes his first ball is OK. Upon reaching the back of the
green, Kurt's ball is found. Unfortunately it has come to rest mere inches OUT
of BOUNDS. Goetzke begins to spout profanity. Playing partners Steve Lawler and
Karl Nagy recall a similar incident a few years back when a Goetzke approach
shot struck a green, bounded over the back and rolled 50 yards OB. They share a
laugh. With his head slumped, Kurt begins the journey 90 yards back down the
fairway where his provisional sliced into the hazard. (STROKE 4) He drops and
plays a masterful wedge shot (STROKE 5) to within 18 feet of the pin. Goetzke,
of course, misses the putt (STROKE 6) and taps in (STROKE 7) for a quadruple
bogey 7. Goetzke’s somewhat good round is screeched to a halt.
2001 United States
Amateur Public Links Qualifier
June 16, 2001
Whiteford Valley GC
Ottawa Lake, Michigan, USA
2001 NGA.com Tour Members Karl Nagy, Steve Lawler, Kurt Goetzke, Andy
Kurncz and Matt Maser participated in a sectional 36-hole qualifier for the
2001 USGA United States Amateur Public Links Championship (Pecan Valley GC, San
Antonio, Texas, USA). Unfortunately,
none of the NGA.com Tour members came close to qualifying. Better luck next year!
36-hole Qualifying Scores
Steve Lawler 81-77 158 (+14)
Karl Nagy 78-80 158 (+14)
Matt Maser 79-82 161 (+17)
Andy Kurncz 82-80 162 (+18)
1999 Goldenrod
Invitational
April 9 - 11, 1999
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Kearney Hills GL and Players Club of Lexington (Old Course, New Course)
1T Kurt Goetzke (14) 77-70-65-70 282
1T Matt Maser (15) 73-71-69-69 282
3T Karl Nagy (11) 71-72-76-69 288
3T Steve Lawler (10) 76-70-68-74 288
5 Louis Song (20) 78-73-63-75 289
6 Craig Isham (20) 72-79-77-73 301
7 Mark St Andrew (13) 71-78-79-78 306
8 Ron Clifton (16) 77-79-79-77 312
DQ CJ Noll (16) 72-79-DQ-DQ DQ
DQ Jeff Earl (18) 84-72-DQ-DQ DQ
1998 MPGA State Match
Play
July 27 - August 1, 1998
The Pines at Lake Isabella GC (Qualifying Round 1 & Match
Play)
Eagle Glen GC (Qualifying Round 2)
Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA
Qualifying Scores
|
PLAYER |
HOMETOWN |
SCORES |
POSITION |
|
Kurt Goetzke |
Canton, MI |
89-78 167 (+23) |
105T |
|
Matt Maser |
Plymouth, MI |
82-85 167 (+23) |
105T |
|
Karl Nagy |
Plymouth, MI |
84-84 168 (+24) |
111 |
|
Mark St Andrew |
Dearborn Heights, MI |
83-DNS |
DQ |
|
Steve Lawler |
St Clair Shores, MI |
86-DNS |
DQ |
Steve Lawler and Mark
St Andrew were DQ’ed after missing their scheduled tee time for round 2. Unfortunately the pager alarm they set to
wake them up in the morning went unheard.
The story they made up about a flat tire also was not convincing enough
to sway the tournament committee.
Match Play Results
Kurt Goetzke DEF Harold Tramski (Port Huron, MI) 5&4
Kurt Goetzke LOST to Jeff Obertyniuk (Chesterfield Twp, MI)
WALKOVER
Matt Maser LOST to Steven McEwen (Royal Oak, MI) 6&5
Karl Nagy LOST to Dave
Reese (Livonia, MI) 4&3
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