Event No. 23: Rifleman Shoots ‘Em Down

[Nate]

Winning a Golfers Gone Wild Tour event gets a player thousands of GGW points, cash and most important of all, bragging rights.

Past winners have proffered several myths as law; riders always beat walkers, long hitters have advantage from shorter tee boxes, and that the GGW handicap is systematically unfair. On Saturday, September 12, with a win, Rifleman shot down all those myths while shooting down the GGW field.

Ten of the GGW met for the 23rd Tour event of the season on the Blue Course at Green Garden Golf Club. Green Garden Blue is a beautiful 6287 yard, par 72 layout located in Frankfort, Illinois. But the Rifleman announced to the GGW that there is a now a new sheriff in town.

Rifleman has long been known for his saying “it’s all about the 2nd shot”. But using his new PING G15 driver, Chuck Conner hit almost every fairway; walking in at first place with net 63. Lucky Lefty rebounding from a tough week, settled for riding shotgun with a net 64. Country Strong, playing exceptionally well of late, had a net 65 and came in third by less than a stroke over Kappatain Styles.

The rest of the golfers were also competitive, Grade A (68), Quick Draw (70), Way Cool (70) broke par net. But along with Cadillac Blue (73), Silent Assassin (74) and Double D (75), they just ended up as part of the shooting gallery.

Grade A won the most skins on the day. Grady won 7 skins with a key birdie on #11 and par on #16 over water. Rifleman won the first 4 skins with a solo par on the tough #4, a par 3 with a severely undulating green guarded by bunkers on all sides. Lucky Lefty, Kappatain Styles and Double D all won 2 skins each. Sam the Silent Assassin won 1 skin with a solo par at #12.

Country Strong continues tied for the lead in total skins for the season with 60. Though he shot an 85 scratch with 7 pars including 5 straight, Ron was unable to break a skins tie with an absent TaylorMade Kid.

Match Play Competition continued at Green Garden Blue.

The match between Lucky Lefty (+5) and Double D was over long before sundown, 5&4. Grade A (-2) flushed Quick Draw (+2), 2 up. Cadillac Blue (+1) held a winning hand versus Silent Assassin, 1 up.

In the most interesting match of the day, the Rifleman (-6) outdueled Kappatain Styles, 2&1. K Styles, knew when to fold-up and with his third loss was eliminated from competition for Match play Champion.

Rifleman shot down his match play opponent, the rest of the GGW Field and several myths along the way while earning his first victory on tour this season. Tee boxes? Walking vs Riding? Handicaps? Rifleman shot ‘em all down, he won and so end of discussion. If you don’t agree with him, next week GGW Tour resumes at Palmira in St. John, Indiana. Don’t shoot the messenger, just bring your “A” game and outgun your competitors.