Little Scores At The Park’s Big Cup

The winning foursome (left to right) of Mary Theisen, Steve Chomeau, Betty Chomeau, and Chris Buengener.

Years from now, I will look back on Sunday, May 23, 2010 and appreciate that I played in Peninsula Park’s first annual Big Cup, and quite possibly the first scramble ever held at the park. It was a beautiful day for an eclectic mix of Northern Door scramblers and Peninsula Park regulars. It was definitely a unique outing, and not just because it was the driest scramble I have ever played in (as the Park does not serve alcohol).

It was a strange sight to see the collection of golf carts lined up in front of the clubhouse for a shotgun start at noon. Stranger still was not beginning my round on #1’s prominent tee box, but instead taking what seemed like a five-minute ride to the far-reaching hole #6.

The weather was great – mid-70’s and mostly sunny. But the wind picked up noticeably throughout the day, finishing the outing with almost a two-club wind from the south. That made the men’s longest drive winner, Tomm Hummel, all the more impressive, especially with big bombers, including Ivan Bridenhagen in the field. In the last group of the day on #5, 60-year-old Hummel hit a booming drive of over 275-yards into a fierce headwind.

The field of 84 golfers was divided into two divisions: men’s and mixed. Two groups tied for the lead in the men’s division with a net score of 59 (12 under). In a card playoff, the team of Bobby Boettcher, Todd Voeks, Rich Weisgerber, and Ryan Weisgerber beat out second-place finishers Adam Nelson, Cubby Hartl, Chris “Jykes” Reichel, and Mike Daubner.

It was a family affair for the champions of the mixed division, who came into the clubhouse just one stroke behind the men’s winners with an impressive score of 60 (11 under). The winning team comprised of Chris Buengener, his sister Betty Chomeau, her son Steve Chomeau and family friend Mary Theisen (see photo). Only one skin was awarded for an eagle on #16 with the spoils going to the threesome of Mike Becker, Tony Gonzales, and Phil Symons.