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BONUS GREATEST
By greg gulas
POLAND
The Greatest Golfer of the Valley got underway Monday with 24 teams taking part in the fifth annual Miller Lite Greatest Scramble Championship at The Lake Club.
It took three extra holes, but Joe Beeson’s 25-foot uphill putt helped lift his teammates John Doughton Jr., Johnny Doughton III and Griffin Todd to their second scramble championship in five tries.
“We had the same putt on the first playoff hole, only it was about 10 feet longer,” Beeson said. “We left it out as it didn’t break as much as we thought.
“It was the same line as that first putt, only this time I just played it with a little less break.”
Beeson, who was playing in his second Greatest scramble and is now a two-time champion, said he learned a lot about putting over the course of the day from his teammates.
“Of the four of us, I’m probably the worst putter but I learned a lot from my teammates today,” he said. “It was nice to sink the winning putt, but an even better feeling to win as a team.”
The other group that shot 56 to force the playoff was the team of Jim Armeni, Nate Mullen, Bryan Brownfield and Derek Gordon.
Mullen said Beeson’s putt was spot on.
“His putt was uphill, broke left to right and he just buried it,” Mullen said. “It was an excellent putt. We played well today, but neither group had their best swings. It was a fun time and an excellent competition.”
Doughton, Jr. said the goal is always to win.
“The mindset is to win and you do that by making the best shots that you can,” he said. “Joe’s putt was awesome and great to watch as it rolled into the cup.”
Doughton III, the team captain, thought that the winning team would need to shoot 15 or 16 under in order to hoist their trophies.
“We were happy with 14 under and a playoff,” he said. “The greens were rolling fast today and pin placements were tough, but a win is a win.
Todd said numerous putts like Beeson’s were left out on the course.
“We probably had that type of putt six or seven times today, but Joe drained it when it counted and it was an absolutely phenomenal effort,” Todd said. “It was an absolutely perfect day, everyone had a blast and it doesn’t get any better than playing The Lake Club on a Monday.”
Four teams finished in a tie with 57, one stroke off the pace but a 28 on the back nine (the other three teams shot 29) gave the team of Greg Strollo, Todd Bury, John Moliterno and Keith Shubert the scorecard playoff and sole possession of third-place.
Joe McHenry, who is in his 34th year with Superior Beverage Group/Miller Lite, serves as the sponsors’ executive vice-president.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be a sponsor for the Greatest Golfer of the Valley scramble championship,” McHenry said. “We’ve done this since its inception and like it because scrambles like this and throughout the area all summer long, support our many brands, including Miller Lite.
“We appreciate all of the hard work done by The Vindicator. They are a class act to put on an event like this.”
John Diana, Lake Club director of golf, remains impressed with the tournament and its growth over the years.
“It’s great to see how the Greatest Golfer of the Valley has grown over the years and into what it has now become,” Diana said.
The week continues on Thursday with the Greatest Long Drive Championship at host Tippecanoe Country Club. Free and open to the public, the event begins at 6 p.m.
Then on Friday, 300 golfers tee off in the Farmers National Bank Greatest Golfer of the Valley adult tournament. Play starts at Mill Creek on Friday; continues to four area courses Saturday, then concludes Sunday at Lake Club.