2014 PBB Champions: Ed Ryan & James Walsh
May31
With the course in prime condition and the weather not
far behind the 2014 PBB Finals couldn't have had a better day. The
Ryan/Walsh combo, known for their uncanny ability to make par from
anywhere, faced off against the steadier Hertz/Vogel team - who keep
the ball down the middle and the pressure on their opponents.
Plus - remember who finished one/two in last week's Best
Back Nine. Scramblers vs Skill; Hit 'n Hope vs Fairways 'n
Greens. Sounded like a great matchup.
But as we planned to bring our beers to #18 for a dramatic conclusion - Ed and James had other plans. They weren't going to let it go to the back nine. True to type Hertz/Vogel opened with a regulation par - and Ed chipped it in for a birdie/win. On #3 Ed was out of it, so Walsh took over getting par and a stroke for another win over Hertz's regulation par. And so it went until the turn when Ryan/Walsh were 7Up. Hertz/Vogel won #11, but without last week's miracle on the back the best they could do was hang on until it was over. An all-par push on #13 and they'd run out of room. Match ended 6 and 5.
Congratulations to Partners Best Ball Champions Ed Ryan and James Walsh. They repeat their major championship win from 2010.
See the Finals Match Card See 2014 Draw
But as we planned to bring our beers to #18 for a dramatic conclusion - Ed and James had other plans. They weren't going to let it go to the back nine. True to type Hertz/Vogel opened with a regulation par - and Ed chipped it in for a birdie/win. On #3 Ed was out of it, so Walsh took over getting par and a stroke for another win over Hertz's regulation par. And so it went until the turn when Ryan/Walsh were 7Up. Hertz/Vogel won #11, but without last week's miracle on the back the best they could do was hang on until it was over. An all-par push on #13 and they'd run out of room. Match ended 6 and 5.
Congratulations to Partners Best Ball Champions Ed Ryan and James Walsh. They repeat their major championship win from 2010.
See the Finals Match Card See 2014 Draw
2013 PBB Champions: Chris Paul & Rob Herschenfeld
On the summer's first really warm
weekend our four finalists teed off at
80 degrees and things only got
hotter from there. After 9 holes they were All Square.
Chris and Rob managed to take #10, but the lead was short
lived. The match stayed close throughout the back and they
came to 18 tee All Square.
By that time the sun and heat were really factors. The group was exhausted and dehydrated. Alan teed off first, but didn't really have any gas left. Jeremy hit next and pulled it into the trees left. Rob went down the middle and partner Chris was only a little left of that.
Jeremy found his ball and punched out across the fairway to about 120 yards. At this point you can switch to the video below for live action shots of the final swings - or read on.
From beside the cart path on the right Jeremy hit a wonderful high wedge that flew all the way to the back pin and stuck. 4 feet for par. Rob hit his second shot pin-hi, but it slid off the green and into that nasty, thick rough Scotty seems so fond of. Rob mis-hit his chip and Team Goldberg was looking pretty good. But Rob redeemed himself by making the gutsy par-saving 12 footer. Jeremy had a 4 footer left which he coolly brushed in. All Square after 18 - and on to the tiebreaker.
Returning to #18 tee the course was backed up, so the group moved to an opening on #11 for the first hole of sudden death. Jeremy, Rob and Chris hit three of the nicest tee shots under pressure I've ever seen. All in the fairway. All in wedge range.
Rob hit first - to 3 or 4 feet, but above the hole - not a sure birdie by any means. Chris then hit the green as well. With all the pressure on his shoulders Jeremy missed the green right and his chip left a twisting 10 foot putt for par. When that hooked wide of the hole the match was over.
By that time the sun and heat were really factors. The group was exhausted and dehydrated. Alan teed off first, but didn't really have any gas left. Jeremy hit next and pulled it into the trees left. Rob went down the middle and partner Chris was only a little left of that.
Jeremy found his ball and punched out across the fairway to about 120 yards. At this point you can switch to the video below for live action shots of the final swings - or read on.
From beside the cart path on the right Jeremy hit a wonderful high wedge that flew all the way to the back pin and stuck. 4 feet for par. Rob hit his second shot pin-hi, but it slid off the green and into that nasty, thick rough Scotty seems so fond of. Rob mis-hit his chip and Team Goldberg was looking pretty good. But Rob redeemed himself by making the gutsy par-saving 12 footer. Jeremy had a 4 footer left which he coolly brushed in. All Square after 18 - and on to the tiebreaker.
Returning to #18 tee the course was backed up, so the group moved to an opening on #11 for the first hole of sudden death. Jeremy, Rob and Chris hit three of the nicest tee shots under pressure I've ever seen. All in the fairway. All in wedge range.
Rob hit first - to 3 or 4 feet, but above the hole - not a sure birdie by any means. Chris then hit the green as well. With all the pressure on his shoulders Jeremy missed the green right and his chip left a twisting 10 foot putt for par. When that hooked wide of the hole the match was over.
