For Men’s Night this week, we’ll be playing our Chicago format on the Front 9. All players play from white tees and Rule of 75 players (age + handicap >= 75) may play golds. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in all completed cards to the Pro Shop.
Chicago Format:
Players start with a negative number of points (based on 18-hole course handicaps) then add positive points during their round. The idea is to get from the negative to the positive, clearing your “hurdle” by as many points as possible.
Account Charges for Match Play + Stearns Cup
Our MGA accountant extraordinaire—Mr. Pete Strass—has been working diligently in the back office this week to get all charges for the 2024 Match Play and Stearns Cup tournaments added to our member accounts. Thank you as always, Pete, for your meticulous work!
MGA Digest: 2024 Stearns Cup
Finally, our virtuoso creative editor—Mr. Chuck Roster—has done it again with an amazing cover rendition for our Stearns Cup champions. Fantastic stuff, Chuck! If you missed all of Chuck’s photos and swing sequence edits yesterday, be sure to check them out!
2024 Stearns Cup: A Weekend for the NGC History Books
What an incredible day of golf we had Sunday for the conclusion of the 2024 version of the Stearns Cup which was capped off by the longest and most thrilling playoff in recent NGC history. First and foremost, we wanted to say thank you to Tiffany (who absolutely crushed it!), all the NGC staff, Chuck (our tournament photographer and Golf Digest swing sequence editor extraordinaire), and all our MGA members who made the weekend truly special. And thank you to Mr. Stearns — the spirit of competition and camaraderie that your legacy at NGC embodies is unbreakably tied to the love of the game that we all share. NGC is a place where our strongest emotions come alive and that was on full display during this year’s tournament.
Congratulations to both our champions and the teams that challenged them throughout the weekend through their outstanding performances.
In the Net Division, after a fiery Saturday, we were treated to an unforgettable Sunday that turned into an all-out sprint to the finish. Through countless twists and turns, one team rose above, proving that in the end, golf conquers all. After narrowly edging out our runners-up, Oral Pottinger & Leo Goff, who posted an impressive -14, we send our genuine congratulations and a big well played to Ed Clarke & Mark Mattis, who claimed victory with a winning tally of -15, etching their names and partnership permanently on the Stearns Cup!
Champions – Ed Clarke & Mark Mattis (-15) – 110 Chase Points – $91.87 each 2nd – Oral Pottinger & Leo Goff (-14) – 95 Chase Points – $72.19 each T-3rd – Erik Rosales & Royce Huffaker (-13) – 80 Chase Points – $32.81 each T-3rd – Kevin Dick & Bruce Sedlak (-13) – 80 Chase Points – $32.81 each T-3rd – Paul Weidenfeld & Scotty Kimmel (-13) – 80 Chase Points – $32.81 each 6th – Torey Diggs & Carl Ford (-12) – 35 Chase Points T-7th – Joey Jewell & Colin Zoski (-9) – 20 Chase Points T-7th – Ron Turner & Brian Carlstrom (-9) – 20 Chase Points
The battle for the Gross title of the Stearns Cup unfolded in spectacular fashion, with 36 holes proving woefully insufficient to crown a victor. As the shadows lengthened over the sun-drenched course on a glorious Sunday afternoon, we all played witness to a heart-pounding playoff and remarkable displays of skill, grit, and nerve. Matt Doherty & Joe Lapan faced off against Ryan White & Jared Powell in a fierce competition, with both teams pushing each other to the limit. The competitors dug deep, delivering a spectacle that had the crowd in a frenzy as the drama intensified hole by hole—including two nerve-wracking trips down the pressure-packed 18th hole and a journey back to the Front 9 for holes 1-4. Suspense truly filled the air with each swing, keeping everyone on the edge of their (cart) seats until the champions emerged. The historic playoff included…
#18: A stellar tee shot under pressure from JP was followed by a stone-cold par putt from JL
#18: Another equally fearless par by MD was answered by JP’s clutch 3 to match
After the absolutely epic back-and-forth, Matt Doherty & Joe Lapan emerged as the 2024 Stearns Cup champions, sealing their victory with heart and determination in one of the most thrilling finishes the tournament has ever seen.
Champions – Matt Doherty & Joe Lapan (-4 won on 6th playoff hole) – 110 Chase Points – $91.87 each 2nd – Ryan White & Jared Powell (-4) – 95 Chase Points – $72.19 each T-3rd – Weston Happ & James Hsiao (-3) – 80 Chase Points – $49.22 each T-3rd – Kyle Armstrong & Sam Bowmer (-3) – 80 Chase Points – $49.22 each 5th – Jim Sussmann & Patrick Escalambre (-2) – 50 Chase Points 6th – Brad Simonich & Brad Adams (+3) – 35 Chase Points T-7th – Nathaniel Burgess & Dave Krukowski (+7) – 20 Chase Points T-7th – Jim Prendergast & Matt Nolan (+7) – 20 Chase Points
Well done today, boys — what a fantastic day at the club. It was a true honor to once again have Mr. Stearns with us, and we can’t express enough gratitude for the incredible legacy he has brought to the club we all love. A special thanks to Scotty for the arrangements, to Mr. Stearns’ grandson Ryan for hitting the pressure first tee shot and, of course, to Mr. Stearns for being an absolute legend.
Attached you’ll find the groups and starting holes for tomorrow’s 2nd Round which will again start with a 9:30 AM shotgun. We have very tight competitions on the Gross and Net leaderboards — tomorrow should be a very exciting Sunday showdown!
Attached you’ll find the groups + starting holes for tomorrow’s first round of the 2024 Stearns Cup with a 9:30 AM shotgun start. Additionally, you’ll find the Tournament Rules Sheet which includes the general MGA Tee locations for Saturday & Sunday.
Scotty Kimmel has arranged for Mr. Stearns to join us tomorrow morning around 9:00 AM so we will likely start our pre-tournament announcements early.
Scoring
All tournament scoring will be handled via the NGC App. The app can be found here for iPhone and here for Android. All groups will be pre-loaded into the App. We ask that each team uses the App to track their playing competitors’ scores by selecting their name in the App.
19 players came out last Thursday for a Stableford showdown on the Front 9 and, when all the points had been tallied, one man scored an impressive total of 22 to take home the Men’s Night win. Well played and congrats to Bruce Sedlak — maybe fall isn’t so bad?! 🍁
Team sign-ups close tonight at 8:00 PM final MGA major of the season, the Stearns Cup, which is set to be played this weekend — Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th.
To confirm your team’s sign-up, double check the online leaderboard here.
The format for Stearns Cup is 2-man teams playing 2-day, 36 hole, best ball for both gross and net awards. 100% of handicaps apply for net play. Standard MGA tees, with Rule of 75 for gold tee players.
Stearns Cup: Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th — 2-man teams with 9:30 AM shotgun start each day Cost: $25 per player — All players must be MGA members Online Registration Portal: https://mga.golf/Stearns-Cup-Sign-Up Team Registration Deadline: Thursday, October 3rd @ 8:00 PM
Men’s Night 10/3 — Phantom Teammate Stableford on the Back 9
As we continue to count down to the Stearns Cup this weekend and the excitement of team golf, we thought we’d have some fun with a phantom teammate for Men’s Night (and decide how that guy compares to a real teammate 🤔). This week, we’ll be playing the Back 9 using our traditional Stableford format but, for 3 of the 9 holes, your “teammate” has your back with a net par. This means that only your best 6 holes on the Back 9 will count toward your final Stableford tally (with your worst 3 holes being covered by Mr. Phantom as net pars).
Please record your own gross scores for all holes and the scoring spreadsheet will automatically calculate your best 6 + 3 teammate net pars.
May the best “team” win!
Competition Rules for Men’s Night 10/3
For this week, all Men’s Night competitors play the Back 9 using 100% of their Back 9 course handicaps. Points Chase points will be awarded to the top one-third of the field.
Men’s Night rounds may be played at any time on Thursday with an accompanying MGA member. Please record gross scores for all holes on scorecards with names clearly marked and turn in completed cards to the Pro Shop.
We will be playing the ball DOWN EVERYWHERE and RAKE and PLACE for all bunkers. If your ball ends up in a bunker, you may lift, clean, rake and place within the bunker, no closer to the hole.
Balls that land in bunkers with new sand that cannot be found due to the ball embedding in the sand may be replaced without penalty at the most likely landing spot as determined by the consensus of the player’s fellow group members. Rake and place within the bunker, no closer to the hole.
Balls marked on the green may be replaced to the side of any “Dollar Spot”, dead patches, “Crabgrass” weed patches, and/or fungus/disease, no closer to the hole. Additionally, “Dollar Spot” areas, dead/diseased patches, or “Crabgrass” weed patches on the green may be considered Ground Under Repair from which putting-line relief may be taken (as far as necessary), no closer to the hole.
Bare areas larger than one club-length, bare areas immediately adjacent to cart paths, and tire tracks should be considered Ground Under Repair. DROP within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. Additionally, netting in re-sodded areas, drain trenches, and exposed rocks added as topper for drainage systems should be considered Ground Under Repair from which free relief may be taken, no closer to the hole.
Tall grass and unmaintained sections of the course may be played as penalty areas. These areas include: the hill between the cart paths for the 4th and 5th holes, right of the 7th hole fairway, the hill between the 7th and 8th holes, surrounding the back and left of the 11th green, right of the 13th fairway and surrounding the 13th green, right of the cart path on the 14th hole, on the hill between the 14th and 16th holes, right of the 15th hole and surrounding the 15th green. In the case you do not find your ball in these areas, follow the standard red penalty area dropping procedure.
Any player who does not meet the MGA 2-in-30 handicap posting policy or has not submitted a written appeal for exemption prior to play to [email protected] if they are unable to meet the requirement, will automatically play as a 0 handicap for Men’s Night.
This week’s format allows for the completion of a 9-hole round that is valid for handicap posting purposes.Men’s Night scores must be posted promptly to your handicap account. Any player who places but has not posted will have their score disqualified from placement consideration.
Team sign-ups close tomorrow at 8:00 PM final MGA major of the season, the Stearns Cup, which is set to be played this weekend — Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th.
To confirm your team’s sign-up, double check the online leaderboard here.
The format for Stearns Cup is 2-man teams playing 2-day, 36 hole, best ball for both gross and net awards. 100% of handicaps apply for net play. Standard MGA tees, with Rule of 75 for gold tee players.
Stearns Cup: Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th — 2-man teams with 9:30 AM shotgun start each day Cost: $25 per player — All players must be MGA members Online Registration Portal: https://mga.golf/Stearns-Cup-Sign-Up Team Registration Deadline: Thursday, October 3rd @ 8:00 PM
Men’s Night 10/3 — Phantom Teammate Stableford on the Back 9
As we continue to count down to the Stearns Cup this weekend and the excitement of team golf, we thought we’d have some fun with a phantom teammate (and decide how that guy compares to a real teammate 🤔). This week, we’ll be playing Men’s Night on the Back 9 using our traditional Stableford format but for 3 of the 9 holes, your “teammate” has your back with a net par. This means that only your best 6 holes on the Back 9 will count toward your final Stableford tally (with your worst 3 holes being covered by Mr. Phantom as net pars).
Please record your own gross scores for all holes and the scoring spreadsheet will automatically calculate your best 6 + 3 teammate net pars.
May the best “team” win!
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Match Play Final Four: Main & Wildcard Brackets
We’d like to send out a thank you to all competitors for completing their matches to get us to the semifinals in both the Main and Wildcard brackets. Congrats and well played to all those who have now reached the Final Four:
Main Bracket Final Four:
Leo Goff vs. Torey Diggs
Erik Rosales vs. Mark Mattis
Wildcard Bracket Final Four:
Joe Lapan vs. Jack Sullivan
William Keyes vs. James Hsiao
The next round deadline for Final Four matches is Monday, October 14th.
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2024 Stearns Cup — Team Sign-Ups
Team sign-ups continue for the final MGA major of the season, the Stearns Cup, which is set to be played this weekend — Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th.
To confirm your team’s sign-up, double check the online leaderboard here.
The format for Stearns Cup is 2-man teams playing 2-day, 36 hole, best ball for both gross and net awards. 100% of handicaps apply for net play. Standard MGA tees, with Rule of 75 for gold tee players.
Stearns Cup: Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th — 2-man teams with 9:30 AM shotgun start each day Cost: $25 per player — All players must be MGA members Online Registration Portal: https://mga.golf/Stearns-Cup-Sign-Up Team Registration Deadline: Thursday, October 3rd @ 8:00 PM
Team sign-ups continue for the final MGA major of the season, the Stearns Cup, which is set to be played next weekend — Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th.
To confirm your team’s sign-up, double check the online leaderboard here.
The format for Stearns Cup is 2-man teams playing 2-day, 36 hole, best ball for both gross and net awards. 100% of handicaps apply for net play. Standard MGA tees, with Rule of 75 for gold tee players.
Stearns Cup: Saturday & Sunday, October 5th + 6th — 2-man teams with 9:30 AM shotgun start each day Cost: $25 per player — All players must be MGA members Online Registration Portal: https://mga.golf/Stearns-Cup-Sign-Up Team Registration Deadline: Thursday, October 3rd @ 8:00 PM
