Local Golf Report: Men's champs crowned at Prairie Farms

It was a week, and weekend of champions on the local golf scene.

At Prairie Farms Golf Course, the men's league season came to a close Wednesday night, with Bong-N-Bob's defeating Northern Edge in a playoff. The match was tied at 36-36 after 18 holes, before Bing-N-Bob's won on the first hole of sudden death.

Northern Edge, which was composed of Kyle Sheppard, Ricky Brown, Nate Baltrusch and Christian Oberquell, defeated Hole 19 in the semifinals Tuesday night.

Also Tuesday night, Bing-N-Bob's advanced to the championship match after beating Valley Furniture. The Bing-N-Bob's squad this year was made up of Jeremy and Jeff Jensen, Lunar and C.J. Evans and Buzz Pizzini. Congrats guys on your men's league title.

Speaking of Jeremy Jensen, he was a real big winner this week. Bensen, as I like to call him, shot a 2-over par 74 Sunday to become Prairie Farms Men's Club Champion for the second year in a row, and the fourth time in the last five summers. Jeremy had to battle it out in an exciting championship flight, which saw Jim Kato and Lunar each shoot 75, Jeff Jensen shoot 76 and Dr. Kevin Harada and Kyle Sheppard each post a 78. Jeremy Jensen was low gross winner of the championship flight, while Lunar was low net with a 63.

Rocky Brown won the second flight with a score of 78, while low net in the flight went to Nate Baltrusch with a 68. Greg Baltrusch shot an 89 to win the third flight, while Dave Herman won low net with a 69.

Meanwhile, at Beaver Creek Golf Course, the playoffs continued last Thursday night with the semifinals. Nalivka's defeated S&M Construction and Grip it N Sip It beat Valley Furniture. The championship match is slated for Thursday night. BCGC will also host its Men's Club Championship Sept. 10.

Finally, here's a little friendly golfing tip for all of you and it has nothing to do with swings, putts or lies. And, I'll preface this by saying, what happened to me Sunday was in no way an excuse for the way I hacked up Prairie in the club championship. If golf has tournament or championship attached to it, I usually hack anyway.

But back to my advice: Look down. We live in snake country, or as my good friend Brett Gilman and I like to call it "Snakeville." And I don't just mean look down when you're in knee-deep rough. Snakes, as I've learned, like cool, green grass, like fairways, and while I'm usually on the lookout for snakes, I didn't really think about one in the middle of the fairway, after what was a great tee shot on Prairie's toughest hole. Anyway, disaster was avoided by my screams, and cat-like reflexes, but nevertheless, I learned a new lesson Sunday - snakes can be anywhere at anytime. And I'm now just as afraid of baby rattlesnakes as I am of the big ones.

Prairie Farms Men's Club Championship

(Scores are Gross Only)

Championship Flight

Jeremy Jensen 74 (1st Gross)

Jim Kato 75 (2nd Gross)

Lunar Evans 75 (1st Net)

Jeff Jensen 76 (2nd Net)

Kevin Harada 78 (3rd Gross)

Kyle Sheppard 78

Kyle Miller 81

Dave Boles 82 (3rd Net)

Jerod Boles 83

Brett Gilman 83

Buzz Pizzini 85

Second Flight

Ricky Brown 78 (1st Gross)

Nate Baltrusch 83 (1st Net)

J.T. Schubert 86 (2nd Gross)

C.J. Evans 87 (3rd Gross)

Chad Edgar 89 (2nd Net)

Mike Erickson 91

George Ferguson 91

Jim Wirt 92

Barry Kato 92 (3rd Net)

Tracy McLain 95

Willard Fladager 98

Rodger Freier 98

Third Flight

Greg Baltrusch 89 (1st Gross)

Dave Herman 90 (1st Net)

Cal Wirtzberger 91 (2nd Gross)

Scott Miller 94 (2nd Net)

Dave Greenwood 94 (3rd Gross)

Brad Rhukamp 96 (3rd Net)

Kerry Ward 98

Curt Leeds 103

Gene K. 105

Barry Zanto 106

Mike Ritz 108

Wayne Bolken 111

Darrin B. 115