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This Month's Hook & Slice



Cubel and Stalo Bust out to Major Win

Chris Stalo and Jeff Cubel broke fast from the gate(way) on derby weekend. They birdied 6 of the first 7 holes and kept a clean card on the back nine, then sweated out final hole challengers for the Major victory. The winners posted a record tying 8 under par 64.  After finishing 3rd for 3 years in a row, Paul and Phil Parent were able to move up to 2nd this year with a 7 under par 65.  3 teams posted 6 under par 66 to tie for 3rd place including Scott Wilsey and Brian Lardin, Gregg Nothdurft and Rod Theunissen, and Chris Dunmore and Erika Fitzpatrick. Tommy O'Neill and Bryan Wessel Jr. finished in the money for the first time in their budding careers in only their 3rd and 4th starts. On course prizes went to John Ferlito and Justin McCue. Last year's winner Willi Hesse achieved the milestone of 250 Tour starts. Brian Lardin got his 10th 3rd Place finish of his career. This year's field set a tournament record with 19 teams finishing in red numbers.  Jeff Cubel moves up 22 spots in the World Rankings and is in contention for a Match Play Championship berth. He also takes back the season money list lead.  The winner's tied the record low score set by Chuck Withey and Chris Cooley in 2015 and tied by Jeff Klipa and Mike Prieskorn in 2016.  It is Cubel's 2nd win and 1st Major win in his 66th start. Stalo validates with his 2nd Major Title and 4th Tour win in 48 starts.





Rookie Levine Gets 1st Tour Win

Rookie Stewart Levine birdied his final hole, the 16th, to take the Chelsea Classic by 1 stroke at Even Par. Helen Puffenberger tied Scott Wilsey and Paul Parent for 2nd place at 1 over Par 73. On course prizes went to Mike Bidigare and Bill Gordon, the clear highlight of their days as both were playing their first rounds of the year. Rick Floyd hit a milestone of his 100th Tour start.  Tom W Litzler moved to #2 in all-time Chelsea $ won and Eric Birkle moves to #3. Birkle also led the field with 28 putts while Ryan Kiekbusch, Wilsey, yesterday's winner Corey McCue, and Erika Fitzpatrick all hit 10 greens. Eric Kiekbusch and Dave Oliver each hit 10 fairways. Levine moved up 18 spots in the World Rankings to #61 with his 1st win in only 5 starts on Tour.


Corey McCue Gets 2nd Sparty

Young Tom Litzler made his 2024 Tour debut at the Sparty in mid-season form. He birdied his final hole, the 15th, to gain a regulation tie with Corey McCue at 1 under Par 71.  But in the playoff, McCue prevailed by 1 shot to take his 2nd Sparty Classic Title. This is the 3rd straight year the Sparty has been decided by a playoff. Eric Birikle took 3rd at Even par and Erika Fitzpatrick took 4th at 2 over par 74.  Tom W. Litzler took the on course prize and Connor Duncan earned the Skins Game invite.  This is the 10th time  T. R. Litzler has finished 2nd on Tour. Greg Paddison led the field with 28 putts. McCue, T.R., Don Jones and Zach Palmer led with 11 greens hit and Chuck Withey hit 10.  Scott Wilsey hit 10 fairways. McCue moves to #2 in the Sparty all-time money list behind Commissioner Dunmore. Corey's win also decisively retakes the #1 World Ranking spot, which he ceded to Erika Fitzpatrick last August.  This is his 13th Tour victory in his 146th start.   

Greg Kline Wins 4th Tin Cup Title

David Martin birdied 2 of his last 3 holes to gain a regulation tie at 2 over par 74 with Greg Kline, who had led most the Tin Cup back nine. In an eventful 4 hole aggregate playoff, Kline took the lead with a birdie on the 1st, only to give it back with bogey on the 2nd hole. But a bogey for Martin on the 3rd hole proved fatal and Kline was able to par the last for victory.  With the win Kline tied the Tour mark of 4 victories in the same event, matched only by...Greg Kline, also a 4 time winner of the Tour Championship.  This is also the 3rd Kline win of the Tin Cup in 4 years, with son Noah having won last year. Phillip Parent took 3rd at 3 over par 75 and Gregg Nothdurft, John Raymond and yesterday's winner Tom W Litzler all tied at 4 over par 76 for 4th place. On course prize went to Rich Dunmore while Paul Parent earned the 1st Skins Game invitation of the year.  Tim Markel and Mike Prieskorn led the field with 27 putts while Raymond had 28. Helen Puffenberger led with 13 fairways hit while Ken Westerman and Tom Carroll had 12.  Greg becomes the 2nd cagy veteran with over 300 Tour starts to win this weekend, posting his 26th win in his 341st start.


Charity donation to Gleaner's


Tom Litzler Tames the Animal House

Tom W Litzler gathered 2 birdies of his 3 on the day on the final two holes to post a 2 over par 74 and then outlast Greg Kline and Jeff Cubel who finished T-2 at 4 over par 76.  Commissioner Tyler Floyd finished 4th at 5 over par 77.  On course prizes went to new rookies Connor Duncan and Stewart Levine. Gregg Nothdurft finished in the money to pad his all-time money winnings lead at the Animal House Classic. Litzler and Kline moved up in the Animal House all-time ranks to 4th and 5th in money won. Kline led the field with 29 putts. Helen Puffenberger led with 12 fairways while Kevin Gregoire and Eric Kiekbusch had 11.  In the traditional Zoo Animal Playoff, Chuck Withey outlasted Mike Geisser after 3 extra holes. Litzler and Jeff Cubel also made the Zoo putt off but bowed out after the regulation 4 holes.  Litzler gets his 11th Tour win in his 303rd career start. He jumps 10 spots in the World Rankings to #25.



Hesse Takes Candy from a Baby

Willi Hesse dominated the field at the Sweet Sixteen Sunday. Willi opened with 4 birdies in the first 5 holes and then went birdie-birdie-eagle on 9, 10 and 11 to pull away for a 7-Under Par 16 hole score. Ron Hiestand took 2nd at Even Par and Chris Stalo tied Chuck Withey for 3rd at 1-over Par.  On course prizes went to Hiestand and Gregg Nothdurft. Nancy Hiestand reached a milestone of 50 Tour starts. Eric Birkle led with 30 putts and Don Ward hit 11 greens.  For Willi this is his 8th Tour win in his 248th start. He also logged his 40th Top-4 Finish on Tour.


Pine View Won by a 2nd McCue!

Justin McCue got his 2nd Tour win and became the 2nd McCue to win at Pine View.  Justin played a Scheffler-like steady round, staying within one shot up or down of his final Even Par score, and watched his challengers fade. Jeff Cubel fell victim to the Pines and finished 2nd at 4 over Par, with Don Ward and Rick Floyd tying for 3rd at 5 over Par.  On Course prizes went to Erika Fitzpatrick, Cubel, Scott Wilsey and Tyler Floyd who also made his debut as West Division Commissioner. Ward led with 30 putts, Rick Floyd and Erik Kiekbusch let with 11 fairways and Ryan Kiekbusch had 11 Greens.  For Justin McCue, his 2nd Tour win came in his 26th start.  Justin may be the farthest traveling member of the Tour. He plays 6 to 7 events a year out of Midland Michigan.


Charity check presentation.


Q-School 2 Cool and Successful

Tyler Floyd is the new West Division Commissioner.  He replaces Corey who did a great job for the last 4 years. We appreciate all that Corey did.   Congratulate Tyler next time you see him.  We are glad to have Tyler as commissioner. 

We have also added Erika Fitzpatrick to the MT Marketing and Blogger Team. She has created an InstaGram site and the QRS Code will direct you to the page so you can follow it and interact with the MT.  She will talk about upcoming events and offer “Look back in History” during the season.

This next weekend is Easter weekend starting with Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.   Thursday night is the deadline to register for Q School event on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday April 7.  These are good events for new member to get 2 of their 3 rounds needed to get a temporary handicap.  They are also good events for the returning members to knock some winter rust off the game and get back out and swing clubs in a competitive environment. 

I will all who sign up for Q School and look forward to seeing everyone. 

We are down to 3 weeks until the start of the 2024 season with Q School 1 and 2 on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.  Those of you looking to knock some rust off the game from a winter layover and new members looking to kick start you handicap process the Q School events are a great to build on your 2024 season.  Several ways to register Entry@mulligantour.com and via Mulligantour.golfclub.net as Brian starts adding the schedule into the software website. 

Several changes in the schedule this year due to conflicts and an extra weekend between Memorial Day and July 4^th based on July 4^th falling on a Thursday.  Par 54 is on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend as Strategic Fox has an outing on Friday, May 31.  So, Fox Hunt moved up to Friday, June 7 and Par 54 moved back to Friday, May 24.  We are also going to play the Sr Open on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend so Father’s can spend Sunday with the Family.

Fifty Cent was moved up in the schedule so that we can hold Match play the weekend after RWB which is on Sunday, July 7^th.   A lot of the schedule is booked and course are increasing prices again in 2024.  The course continue to see more people playing since the 2020 season.  

Reminder that the 2024 annual membership fees are due and if you register and pay by March 25 the annual membership fee is only $120.  After March 25 the fee is $140.  Please send in your membership application and pay your 2024 membership fee.

I will send out another notice next week to remind everyone of the registration deadline for Q School is Thursday, March 28.

Thanks

Chuck

We are quickly approaching the start of the 2024 Season.  It is time to register for the 2024 Season.  Attached is the 2024 application and you can also find a copy on the MT website.  Please fill it out and return.

chaswithey@outlook.com

The Annual Dues remain the same for 2024.  The deadline for early registration and discounted Membership dues is March 25^th.   Payments can be made via Check to our PO Box, Zelle or PayPal.  If you need help setting up Zelle or PayPal reach to me and I will assist.

I will be sending out a Start of the Season email in the next 2 weeks. 

Looking forward to seeing all of you during season. 

Thanks,  Chuck