By Mike VanZandt

– Brannan, Pettit, Finch, Irvine Sweep Loaded Field

– O’Brien Falters; Comeaux/VanZandt Tie for First

– Comeaux’s Wedge Dashes Playoff Hopes for Six Golfers

Brannan, Pettit, Finch, Irvine Sweep Loaded Field
Sweet swinger Charles Brannan led his team to a two stroke win on the last Sunday Scramble of the year at the Ranch. Joined by Jason Pettit, Brent Finch, and James Irvine, Brannan’s team lodged four birdies and no bogeys in the 9 hole event. Dewey Jones, George Flores, Hoss Strimple and Michael Comeaux tied for second place with Monte Morphew, Keith Nelson, Bob Brown and Lance Ferguson. Also tied for second were Shannon O’Brien Mike Mitchell, John F, and Roy Strimple. Roy sank a monster forty foot birdie putt on the sixth hole to highlight the day’s activities. In last place at even par were Bob Jackson, Strake Jesuit golf phenom Robert Brown, Mike VanZandt and Aggie Fish Jentry Weisinger. Here’s hoping 2014 brings more and better golf to each and every golfer out there. Don’t forget that the deadline for sending a 1099 to Shannon O’Brien for your gambling losses is January 31st.

O’Brien Falters; Comeaux/VanZandt Tie for First
Shannon O’Brien shot a 10 over par 37 on the Turquoise Par 3 layout at the Ranch Thursday, December 26th to finish last in a seven man field. Mike Comeaux played the last five holes in one over par to tie steady Mike VanZandt at four over par and a share of first place. A father/son match-up between David Buchanan and Wes Buchanan saw Pops Buchanan edge son Wes by one shot, 33/34. Both golfers had three double bogies and four pars but Pops birdied the tough 8th hole to edge Junior for third place. Head golf pro Michael Mitchell saw half a dozen putts lip out of the hole on his way to a 35. O’Brien earned a share of the skins pot with Buchanan with a par on the first hole to add more cash to his gambling winnings for FY 2013.

Comeaux’s Wedge Dashes Playoff Hopes for Six Golfers
Four two man teams teed off the Sunday before Christmas at the Ranch. All four finished at even par. For the second week in a row, the pitch off for all the loot was one-shot per man from 101 yards to the second green. Closest shot to the pin would win the scramble. Jason Pettit was licking his chops after last week’s shot to four feet for a playoff win. A repeat performance would give Pettit three Sunday Scramble wins in a row. Comeaux’s partner Mike VanZandt, who had carried Comeaux through the first nine holes with his deadly chipping and putting, shot first and landed fifteen feet from the pin. Shooting second, Comeaux’s gap wedge “landed like a butterfly with sore wings on the green” (thanks to Brian Hewitt), a mere four feet from the flagstick, dashing the hopes of the remaining three teams. Confidence wavering but ever game, lumber mogul Dabney Harrison and Head golf pro Mike Mitchell, missed the green. Mitchell and Harrison had surprised everyone by making the playoff after being seriously overserved at Dave Hoelzer’s Birthday/Christmas Party at Coconut’s the night before. Shannon O’Brien’s partner (whose iron play was the main reason they were in the playoff), hit the green inside VanZandt but further away than Comeaux’s nifty shot. Jason Pettit and Sweet Charlie Brannan missed the green ending Pettit’s chance of a threepeat. The cash made a nice early Christmas present for Comeaux and VanZandt. A special thanks goes to Dave Hoelzer from the golfers at the Ranch for his unwavering support of golf on the Peninsula for the last ten years. We wouldn’t be hacking around the old P. Cross Ranch without him.

(12-31-13)