I SPENT MUCH of the weekend racking my brain for a reason to root against the Aussies threatening to take home their nation’s first green jacket after decades of heartbreak.
Jingoistic national pride in wanting to see an American in green?
An Angel Cabrera win to further the belief that this may be the greatest year in Argentine history, with Pope Francis’ election and the soccer-pope Lionel Messi’s record-breaking goal-scoring season?
Tiger Woods coming back from a ridiculously late penalty?
None were good enough to root against those accents, that seemingly-carefree attitude, and their play-making abilities.
Another classic weekend at Augusta National.
Kudos to winner Adam Scott, and what a display of sportsmanship and pride by Cabrera. Each would have been truly worthy of donning the green jacket.
The putt to take the lead by Scott, that approach and putt by Cabrera on 18 to tie . . . wow.
And then, two more holes of absolutely electric golf in the playoff to decide the winner.
This year’s U.S. Open, British and PGA Championship have a lot to live up to.
Ludlow Demo today
Port Ludlow assistant pro Darren Posey dropped me a note about today’s Callaway, Cleveland Golf and Titleist Demo Day.
Reps from those manufacturers will visit Port Ludlow with their 2013 product lines from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
Special pricing will be available for clubs purchased at the event.
Port Ludlow is also offering $2 hot dogs and domestic beers down on the driving range.
Any orders more than $150 will receive a free round of golf.
Cedars Lady niners
Registration closes Thursday for the Lady Niners at Cedars at Dungeness annual Memorial Scramble Tournament on Thursday, April 25.
Proceeds from the event will go to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
Last year’s event raised $887 for the hospice group in memory of dearly departed lady golfers.
This year’s nine-hole game will cost $40 for walkers and $50 for those using a cart.
The cost includes green fees and a light lunch of a sandwich, chips and dessert, with the majority of the fee being donated to the hospice.
Participants will gather at 7:45 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Club members invite all lady golfers to join in this worthy endeavor, whether a member of the golf club or not.
The only requirement is a handicap and GHIN number.
Applications can be obtained from Jan Boyungs, who can be reached at 360-797-1452.
The Lady Niners played a game of Math 303 in windy conditions last Thursday, in which only first and second place were awarded.
In Math 303, players count holes one through three and six through nine then subtract half of your handicap.
Andi Grams placed first in Division 1 with a 25.5, followed by Lili Gomes with 27.
In Division 2, Sandy Deckmand and Lee Stanley tied at 28.
Boys & Girls tourney
Cedars at Dungeness will host the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula’s 22nd annual golf tournament on Friday, May 10.
The four-person scramble has a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start.
Golfers will all receive a box lunch in their cart provided by Olympic Ambulance, and have a chance to win a cash prize with a hole-in-one thanks to First Federal.
Players will also receive tee prizes sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino.
The scramble is a part of the Sequim Irrigation Festival Crazy Day activities, and organizers will have a “crazy hole” in recognition of the festival.
Club kids, high school golf team members and Irrigation Festival Royalty will all turn out for the fun.
More sponsorship is provided by Ameriprise Financial — Len Lewicki and Sound Community Bank.
Entry is $100 per person, $400 per four-person team.
Tee sponsorships are available for $150.
To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/BGCGolf2013 or phone Janet Gray at 360-683-8095.
SunLand demo slated
SunLand Golf & Country Club will host a Demo Day event, with representatives from Callaway Golf and Adams Golf visiting the Sequim course from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 25.
A lot of positive chatter surrounds this year’s new Callaway Razr Fit Extreme driver, so go and see for yourself out at SunLand.
PT Golf Club
The Port Townsend Golf Club’s men’s club’s Spring Fling Scramble and steak feed will be held Saturday, April 27.
Entry is $30 per player, with only $5 green fees for nonmembers.
Format is a blind draw scramble and will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
The men’s club Matchplay Championship was moved to Saturday, May 4.
Entry fee is $30 per player with discount green fees for nonmembers at only $12.
This is a double-elimination all-net match play format tournament that lasts through the summer.
For more, phone PT at 360-385-4547.
PT women’s club
Port Townsend’s Women’s Club is meeting for play at 10 a.m. Tuesdays through April before switching to a 9 a.m. tee time in May.
Club members welcome all players for a “get acquainted” round this month.
New member Patti Spencer joined the group last Thursday and notched a birdie on hole No. 2. Way to go Patti!
The game of the week was Whiners in which two holes in the nine-hole round may reverted to par. Half the player’s handicap determines the net score.
There were six women in the competition with Barb Aldrich placing first with 24, Betsi Farrell second with 31 and Vicki Handyside and Starla Audette tied at 31.5.
For more on the Port Townsend Women’s Golf Club, phone Barb Aldrich at 360-385-5465.
PAHS alums rained out
Former Port Angeles High School teammates Emily Cook and Ev Grier met up again recently at the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference Spring Classic at Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton.
The pair graduated in 2010, and their Olympic League golf seasons had them playing Gold Mountain’s Cascade and Olympic layouts on a regular basis.
Cook is now a junior at Pacific Lutheran University, and Grier is a junior at the University of Puget Sound. Both schools are located in Tacoma.
Puget Sound hosted the Spring Classic tournament. Unfortunately, after 24 hours of rain, the tournament was canceled before play could begin on day two.
The Northwest Conference wraps up the season at the Oregon Golf Association course in Woodburn, Ore., on Saturday and Sunday.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
