JMI #4

Scarborough, Maine, 8/12/00.

The fourth installment of the historic Joe Merrill Invitational Golf Classic (JMI 2000) proved to be a record-shattering event. Under partly cloudy skies that defied the dire predictions of rain, a course softened by the wettest summer in recent memory yielded unprecedented low scores under some intense competition.

Team Higgins, a foursome of strapping young gentlemen appearing for the second time after failing to field a full squad the previous year, led the assault on the storied Willowdale Golf Course. Behind the steady play of Drew Turnbull and Dave, whose last name escapes me, the Higgins team fired a total of 153 under the best-two-balls-of-four format, shattering the tournament record by six strokes and besting the second-place finishers, Team Kwiatkowsky, by eight (also a tournament record). Brock Kwiatkowsky, the captain of the team bearing his name, realized that the core of his team needed some help if they hoped to contend. And help he did find in the person of Mark Hall, the first professional ever to enter this event. Mr. Hall shot a 74 to brake the long-standing tournament record, previously held by Drig Fournier, by one stroke and capture the coveted Cup bearing Fournier's name, symbolic of the low gross score for the tournament.

Led, as always, by the Brothers Matero, Team Matero, heretofore perennial runners up after capturing the inaugural event, followed with a 163, good for third place. Despite missing the crown once again, Tim Matero continued to fill out his golfing paraphernalia with a variety of JMI 2000 prizes, thanks to his long drive and closest-to-the-pin awards. Team Fournier led the second division teams, finishing fourth with a disappointing 169. The disappointing play of Drig Fournier, who struggled to an 87, cost the team any real chance to compete. Following in fifth place was Team Collins, a beefy crew indeed who came in at 172. Last place, alas, was left to Team Merrill, captained by Joe Merrill, the tournament's visionary, who once again failed to field a squad of effective ringers. As putt after putt failed to fall on hole after hole, the heroic struggle was lost, and the Merrill foursome staggered in at 173.

All in all it was a grand day of competition, as not only did the winning records fall, but the scores on the high end of the spectrum were also lower than ever. Evidence Team Merrill and the Sandbagger Award, captured by Dave Fournier at 116, the first time no player in the tournament exceeded 120.

Following are team and individual scores and awards:

Team Higgins (153):

Dave Marr (80); John Higgins (108); Bill Higgins (105); Drew Turnbull (77)

Team Kwiatkowsky (161): Earl Conrad (106); Colt Kwiatkowsky (102); Mark Hall (74); Brock Kwiatkowsky (98)

Team Matero (163): Scott Sancomb (112); Tim Matero (84); Dave Matero (86); Doug Austin (107)

Team Fournier (169): Dave Fournier (116); Don Fournier (93); Drig Fournier (87); Alan Lipman (106)

Team Collins (172): J.P. (110); Greg Collins (94); Russ (89); Frank Cushing (99)

Team Merrill (179): Joe Merrill (105); Rick Martel (100); Paul Fazio (103); Rich Stanley (91)

Individual Awards:
Long Drive, 2nd Hole: Drew Turnbull
Closest to the Pin, 7th Hole: Tim Matero
Long Drive, 10th Hole: Tim Matero
Closest to the Pin, 15th Hole: Greg Collins
Sandbagger: Dave Fournier
MVP (spread vs. teammates): Mark Hall, 24 strokes
Drig Fournier Cup (low score): Mark Hall

(Mark Hall, Tim Matero, Greg Collins, Drew Turnbull)