The senior champions are crowned at La Contenta Golf Club

It was a busy day for the senior golfers who competed in the match play finals of various flights at the La Contenta Golf Club in Valley Springs.

In the battle for the Club Championship title, June’s leading money winner, David Dean, showed he is no longer “forever a bridesmaid but never a bride” and dominated his match. After finishing runner-up on several occasions, he showed true determination and perseverance to finally prevail and inherit the Championship crown.

On the white tees flight, Mike Mendoza stayed well hydrated as he crushed his opponent to take the title. On the gold tees flight, Gary Stockeland defended his title once again, defeating one of the club’s best players. Gary has held his title for so long that he has installed neon lights outside his house that read “Home of the La Contenta Seniors Gold Flight Champ.”

The King of Portugal declared a national holiday after learning that Crown Prince Carlos Lourenco had been crowned Red Teas Champion. Lourenco’s villa in Portugal is now the second biggest tourist attraction after Fatima. Rumours say the Pope may attend the celebrations in Carlos’ honour.

While these important matches were taking place, the majority of seniors were playing bogey points per flight. In the white tee flight, Russ Hart continued his good play to finish first. Al Liberato posted the lowest gross score of the day (79) to finish second. Left-hander Jim Shepard continued his winning streak to secure third place. Larry Youngblood won enough money for fourth place to buy two candy bars. One player in this flight was injured by a bad shot. He said he had a five when it was actually a six.

From the golden tees, Frank Elizondo scored the most points of the day (43) as he crushed the competition. Our groupies rank Frank as the 12th best looking golfer. In second place was Grandpa Gabe Karam, who played with an injured finger. Think about how he would have played without that injury.

Retired attorney Norm Miley bolstered his case by playing one of his better rounds of the year, finishing third. Retired cement mixer Ron Huckaby says golf isn’t nearly as hard as his job as he finished a solid fourth. One of the better players in the flight was three shots over par after six holes, but unfortunately for him, one went over a house, another over a lake and the last over a pool. George Dillon matched his best round of the year, finishing first in the flight with the depleted red tees.

On the No. 8 hole, which is closest to the hole, Dean and Liberato, the seemingly weekly winners, were first and second. The flight members encourage these two to take a nice long vacation. On the gold holes, Jim Sickler had the shot of the day (7 feet) and then evened it on No. 13. On the red holes, Dillon was first as he was the only one to hit the green.

In the competition for No. 13 in the whites, Mendoza won all the money. In the golds, Elizondo took second place. Steve Weyrauch won all the treasure in the reds.