Justin Shoots Front Nine 50, Still Victorious

On Thursday, Mother Nature granted the restless Gardeniaville natives a reprieve, and wouldn’t you know it, a high stakes Vegas game broke out. The formidable team of Justin Walker and Kevin Joyce took on Chris Haggard and Jeff Park. Playing the ball down, Kevin Joyce birdied #1 and then told everyone to go F themselves. Haggard rolled in a 10 ft birdie putt of his own and the match was underway.
This well-played match made it all the way to the 8th hole before fireworks erupted. With the point total multiplier having been pressed to 14, Justin Walker chose an in-opportune time for a complete melt down. Tee shot found the left hazard, drop, third shot finds a tree root, left-handed attempt fails to move ball, takes unplayable drop, bladed over the green in six, chili-dipped to fringe in seven and three putts for a 10. Against a pair of 4’s from Haggard and Park, this hole yields a disastrous multiplier of 61 (meaning a total of 854 points) When Justin sees KJ’s disgusted look, he yell’s “Don’t put this on me, you should have made par.” The front nine ends and Haggard shoots a remarkable 36, which is 14 shots better than Justin’s total of 50. Jeff and KJ both carded something in the low 40’s.

Facing a sizable deficit, KJ and Walker finally see an opening on #11. Jeff flares one right, but stays short of the creek leaving him about 130 out. He then blades his next shot about 190 yards into the hazard over the green. A drop, 2 chips and 2 putts later equals 7. No big deal though because Haggard’s tee shot left him middle of the fairway, 105 yards out. Unfortunately his earth-first contact leaves him woefully short and in the front left bunker. Mindful of Jeff’s shenanigans on the hole, Haggard needs to get up and down for par to save the team. Instead, he flubs one out short and four putts for a Jeff tying 7. Routine pars by both KJ and Walker means a game-changing 660 points.

Hole #14 provided more drama as Haggard hit his second shot Oscar which led to a 7. Park three-jacks for a 6 and they lose another 600 points. They have officially lost their lead and their confidence. After trading pars on #15, the teams head to the tough 16th. Walker and KJ both hit good drives and solid approaches virtually securing par. Haggard is short on his approach, leaving a tough up and down to a back right pin. Needing a good shot from Jeff, Haggard uses the range finder to give Jeff an exact yardage of 168 yards. Jeff pures a six iron exactly 168 yards and finds himself 30 yards short of the green. Apparently Haggard is too stupid to use the range finder and Jeff is too stupid to know the difference. Jeff makes 7, Haggard makes 6, and they lose another 800 points.

With blood in the water, and despite Jeff shadow dancing in his line, Walker cans a 40 footer for birdie on #17. Only a clutch five footer for par out of Jeff, keeps them from dropping more than 300 points.
On #18, and on tilt, Haggard and Park press it up. Jeff hits his drive into the bunker, but Haggard is down the middle. Walker is on cruise control, and hits one in the fairway, 40 yards by everyone. Haggard hits on left, Jeff hits one right and both are left with terribly difficult flop shots to a front pin. Meanwhile KJ and Walker hit their approaches short but Walker wields his magical putter and puts it to gimme range. Park almost pulls off the miracle, but his flopper catches the lip of the bunker and ultimately earns himself a double bogey. Haggard hits a great shot and leaves himself a nine foot, downhill slider to tie the hole. Nope. It was not to be. Walker and KJ win another 1000 points. On the strength of their performance they have taken the early lead in Gardeniaville Cup points.