Yankees Win Again!

l-r New York Yankee golfers Tim Matero, Greg Day's Hat, David Matero, Jim Harford

Chanting "One for the thumb," the New York Yankees, as represented by David Matero, Tim Matero, Greg Day and Jim Harford, captured their fifth consecutive Joe Merrill Invitational Golf Classic championship on Saturday. Led as usual by the Brothers Matero (David leading the way with an 83 and Tim following with an 87), the Yankees finished with a score of 162 in the best two balls of four format, edging Team "Two Too Many" Higgins' by one narrow stroke. There was a brief scoring controversy at the end of the tournament that imperiled the Yankees with disqualification, however it was ultimately determined that the Yankee team consulted with the tournament officials and corrected their score card prior to officially submitting it.

Team Higgins putts the signature island green on the 5th hole at Fox Ridge

Played under pristine summer conditions at the challenging and picturesque Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, Maine, the 11th annual edition of the JMI Classic featured a number of players entered for the first time. Three of those players were recruited by tournament Chair Joe Merrill in a desperate attempt to return to the winner's circle. Ken Fournier and Ed Rutherford were flown in from Phoenix, Arizona for the event, while Dennis Fournier drove over from Oxford, Maine. Alas, the effort was for naught as the latest incarnation of Team Merrill finished in third place and nine shots off the pace with a score of 171. A reformed version of The Pulverizers, with three first-time players, was next at 177. Team Tavern, a first-time entry representing the Finest Roadhouse in Kingfield, pulled up the rear with a score of 187.

Despite their last-place finish, Team Tavern brought home many individual awards. Tim O'Neal captured his first Drig Fournier Cup for carding the lowest individual score with a 79. Jean Rappleyea celebrated her first tournament by securing the prize for the lowest woman's score with a 112. Tim O'Neal also dethroned David Hopkins (The Pulverizers) as the long-drive champion on #17, however Hopkins did take a prize for the long drive on the 11th. Two members of Team Higgins won the closest-to-the-pin contests, with John Higgins taking the prize on #3 and Dave Marr knocking it closest on #13. Finally, the two Sandbagger Awards (high score) were presented to Jesse Pulver of the Pulverizers and Doreen Merrill of Team Tavern. Special thanks to Bill Higgins of Team Higgins for again providing lots of prizes, in the form of LL Bean shirts and a variety of tavern glasses.

Results


Team Matero (162): Jim Harford (100), Greg Day (97), David Matero (83), Tim Matero (87)


Team Higgins (163): Drew Turnbull (85), Bill Higgins (108), John Higgins (114), Dave Marr (85)


Team Merrill (171): Joe Merrill (104), Ken Fournier (87), Dennis Fournier (97), Ed Rutherford (105)


The Pulverizers (177): Jesse Pulver (117), Uncle John Pulver (104), David Hopkins (83), Don Gullickson (115)


Team Tavern (187): Tim O'Neal (79), Jean Rappleyea (112), Holly Higgins (140), Doreen Merrill (152)

Individual Awards:

Drig Fournier Cup: Tim O'Neal - 79
Low Medalist - Women: Jean Rappleyea - 112
Sandbagger - Men: Jesse Pulver - 117
Sandbagger - Women: Doreen Merrill - 152
Closest to the Pin, #3: John Higgins - 19' 4"
Long Drive #11: David Hopkins
Closest to the Pin #13: Dave Marr, 10' 6"
Long Drive #17: Tim O'Neal

Jesse Pulver (kneeling), l-r John Higgins, David Hopkins, Tim O'Neal, Holly Higgins (standing in for Jean Rappleyea), Doreen Merrill, Joe Merrill (standing in for Dave Marr)

The 11th Annual Joe Merrill Invitational Golf Classic 
will tee off this Saturday,
August 11, at 10:00 a.m. The location once again is
Fox Ridge in Auburn, one of the top courses in the
state.  At the moment we have five teams registered,
with efforts underway to put together a sixth entry to
fill the field.

The current lineup:
Team Matero: Dave Matero, Tim Matero, Greg Day, Jim
Harford.  Four-time defending Champions.  "One for the
thumb"?  I don't think so.  In fact, feel free to
break their thumbs.

Tim is shooting for a new trophy this year, and
therefore is going to be dragged behind the golf cart
with his hands tied behind his back and attempting to
hit the ball with a stick he found in the woods,
swinging it from his mouth. Alternatively, he is
going to be castrated and play wearing a dress. I
look forward to seeing how he answers the challenge.

Team Higgins: Bill Higgins, John Higgins, Dave Marr,
Drew Turnbull. Two-time champs trying to mount a
comeback this year. Hampered by having too many
Higginses on the team.


Team Pulverizers: Uncle John Pulver, Jesse Pulver, Don
Gullickson, Dave Hopkins. Dave is the reigning Drig
Fournier Cup winner. The rest are a bunch of
upstarts. I have no idea what to expect from this
team.


Team Nostalgia Tavern: Holly Higgins, Dave J, Brad
King, Tim O'Neal. Holly and another bunch of
upstarts. Apparantly David J took up golf as his
musical career waned. This is another wild card entry
that I know nothing about.


Team Merrill: Joe Merrill, Ken Fournier, Dennis
Fournier, Ken's friend Ed. Yet another group of
newbies. Team Merrill dissolved from under me within
the last two weeks, but I was able to land on a squad
that I think has a real good chance to take the crown.
I base this on the fact that everybody else on the
team is a much better golfer than I am.


New this year, representatives from DavejaVu
Productions have asked permission to send film crews
to record this historic event, and I have granted them
access. Participants may be asked to take a moment to
be interviewed by the filmmakers. Please treat them
with all the respect that they deserve. (This allows
a fair amount of discretion for you to decide how much
respect they deserve.)