CONGRATS TO CONDOLEEZA Rice and Darla Moore for accepting the invitation to become the first female members of Augusta National.
No such congratulations, however, should be forthcoming for a membership that should have made the decision to allow women decades ago.
Rice was deemed worthy to represent the diplomatic interests of our nation on the world stage as Secretary of State and Moore is a legend of her own in the financial world, but before Monday’s decision both could only play Augusta as guests on Sundays.
A bit ridiculous to my sensibilities but I’ve grown up after the Civil Rights era and the Feminist movement shifted society’s views.
I’ve been taught the measure of a man or woman is their own merit and these two have plenty of merit.
I also wonder if Martha Burk and the National Council of Women’s Organization’s hadn’t made a public spectacle about admitting women back in 2002 if the decision to add women members wouldn’t have been made faster.
The membership of Augusta is comprised of a good percentage of the most powerful men in the world, men for whom bully and bluster can often fall on deaf ears.
That’s where you get the “but not at the point of a bayonet,” comment from Hootie Johnson.
Well, that bayonet has dulled in the past decade and Augusta will be the better for it.
SkyRidge champion
First Port Townsend’s Men’s Club Championship goes to a playoff and now SkyRidge Golf Course’s Club Championship ends with a one-stroke victory after some red-hot play on the final nine holes Sunday.
Steve Gish’s two-day total of 73-72 (145) bested Scott MacKay’s 76-70 (146) over the weekend.
The following information is pulled from SkyRidge staffer Jim Brooks’ account of the final round.
MacKay moved within two shots of Gish after posting a 37 on the front nine in Sunday’s final round and pulled within a stroke after a birdie on the 10th hole.
Each player started to throw their best “haymakers” with MacKay moving even with a birdie on the par-4 14th hole and Gish taking the lead back with a birdie on 15.
They each made par on 16 and went to the par-3 17th, also the KP hole.
Gish had the honors and landed his 9-iron within 10 feet of the cup putting the weight of the tourney on MacKay, who responded with a shot inside of four feet.
Both players then missed their birdie putts, putting it all on the line on the Par-5 18th hole.
Each dropped their drives down the middle of the fairway. Gish’s went 230 yards, about 40 yards further out than his competitor.
Gish launched his 3-wood long and left, ending up on the back end of the driving range, while MacKay cracked his 7-rescue club onto the putting green with a shot at a 45-foot eagle.
Faced with a back-left pin placement Gish popped a lob wedge over the pin, leaving him 20 feet for birdie.
MacKay’s eagle putt, which would have assured him of at least a tie, was dead on line, but a little firm, lipping out to 10 feet.
With the pressure on, Gish stepped up, knocking home the 20-footer for the club title.
MacKay then notched his fourth birdie of the back nine, good for a 33.
Gish’s two backside birdies helped him wrap a final-nine 34, and 72 overall.
“As a witness to this match, I would like to thank both players for one entertaining club championship,” Brooks wrote.
“Well done.”
I wasn’t there but I agree with Brooks assessment and wished a few of this year’s major golf tournaments had ended with such a tense finish.
Calling all Cougs
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will host the 10th annual North Olympic WSU Cougar Golf Tournament on Sunday.
The four-person scramble is open to Washington State University alumni, friends and fans. There is no need to have attended the school to play in the event.
A barbecue lunch will kick things off at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $40 per person with carts an extra $15 per seat.
The price includes green fees, lunch, range balls, hosted beverages and KP’s.
A $40 per team honey pot is also available.
Teams can be mixed male-female.
To be placed on a team or to sign up, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
JeffCo Amateur held
Dean Rigsby claimed low gross honors at the Jefferson County Amateur at Discovery Bay Golf Course with rounds of 74-79 (153).
Rich Boyd claimed low net with a two-day total of 129 and Larry Germeau was second with a net 135.
Discovery Bay staffer Randy White said “the course was in great condition, greens were mowed and rolled and the fairways were firm.”
A man without a team
A reader wrote me wondering about the Ryder Cup status of Carl Pettersen, a Swedish-born PGA Tour player who spent much of his upbringing in North Carolina and recently became a U.S. Citizen.
Pettersen, he of ill-timed the PGA Championship-penalty, has been lighting it up this year on tour with a win at the Heritage in April and some solid top-10 finishes.
All for naught however, in Ryder Cup terms.
His U.S. citizenship came after he turned 18, rendering him ineligible for the U.S. squad.
Because he plays full-time on the PGA Tour and not the European Tour, he can’t play as a qualifier or a captain’s pick.
If he would have won the PGA Championship he could have made the European team, as major winners get lifetime membership on the Euro Tour.
So for now and the foreseeable future, Petterssen is a man with two countries and no team to play for.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
