Mayne receives plenty of help in NEWGA Team Challenge

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

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Pat Mayne is arguably the best player in the Northeastern Women’s Golf Association right now.

When she also gets plenty of help from her playing partners, the rest of the field is in trouble.

Mayne, who recently switched from Pinehaven Country Club back to Western Turnpike, where she was club champion for many years, fired in four birdies and captained her “shamble” team to victory in the NEWGA Team Challenge Tuesday at Shaker Ridge Country Club.

Real teamwork in golf is difficult because the sport is an individual one by nature, but NEWGA’s “shamble” format made good use of all four players in the group. Each team was required to use both the low gross and the low net score on each hole, and each player’s score could only be counted once on each hole. Just as in a scramble format, everyone hit their tee shot, and each player could play off the best drive. The only catch was that every team had to use each player’s tee shot at least once per side.

Mayne’s team, which included Ilene Gaffney of Cobleskill Golf & Country Club, Diane Fowler of Pinehaven Country Club and Donna Heskett of Burden Lake Country Club, took full advantage of the format with a sizzling score of 15-under-par 127 to win the first flight by a whopping eight shots.

“We played extremely well as a team, and everyone contributed,” said Mayne, last year’s NEWGA champion who plays to a 4 handicap. “Although the handicaps helped with our net scores, we had seven gross birdies, and that’s pretty good in this format.”

Mayne, who teamed with Karen Feldman to win last year’s Gazette Women’s Best Ball Championship, birdied the third hole, chipped in for birdie on the fifth hole and rolled in two more birdies on the 14th and 18th holes. She also got up and down for several key gross pars.

Gaffney clicked for birdies on the 14th and 16th holes, while Heskett chipped in for birdie on the tough par-4 seventh hole.

“Not only did several players contribute at least one birdie, but we all also drove the ball very well,” said Mayne. “We were really close on several of the par-4 holes, nearly driving the green on a couple of them.

“We all enjoyed playing together in this format. It was definitely a lot of fun.”

Pam Gabel of Leatherstocking Golf Club captained the second-place team that shot a 135 and included Caroline Merritt, Rosebud Digesare and Mary Law Powell.

Feldman, a former tennis pro out of Olde Kinderhook, led her team, which included Winnie Brown, Patti Adamkoski and Heidi Glazier, to a score of 136.

In the second flight, Gail Brophy’s team of Carolyn Moore, Debbie Battaglia and Debbie Mikhitarian posted a score of 143. Diana Ramos of Pinehaven paced her team of Joyce Blau, Heather Morrison and Debra Cottrell to a runner-up finish in that flight.

In the third flight, Jen DiIorio captained the winning team that shot a 137 and included Barbara Giering, Dorothy Mikhitarian and Diane Hans. Lynn Momrow was the low handicapper for the runner-up team that shot a 144 and included Mary Ann Fuina, Lynn Cummings and Judy Mysliborski.

A total of 20 teams competed.

RESULTS

(Par 72)

First Flight — Pat Mayne, Diane Fowler, Donna Heskiett, Ilene Gaffney, 127; Caroline Merritt, Pam Gabel, Rosebud Digesare, Mary Law Powell, 135; Winnie Brown, Patti Adamkoski, Karen Feldman, Heidi Glazier, 136; Audrey VanAlstine, Linda Kolnick, Carol Benham, Suzie Mansfield, 137; Joanne Wheelock, Melody Irving, Darlene Downing, Sue Chambers, 144; Sue Nesbitt, Betty Ann Evans, Jan Vincent, Betty Robinson, 148; Elaine Sauers, Carol Litwak, Pam Farhart, Susan Wronowski, 151.

Second Flight — Carolyn Moore, Debbie Battaglia, Gail Brophy, Debbie Mikhitarian, 139; Joyce Blau, Diana Ramos, Heather Morrison, Debra Cottrell, 143; Patricia Healey, Chan Lee, Anne Choquette, Jeannine Goodale, 145; Tracy Beckett, Kim Lloyd, Sue Landauer, Suzanne Ryan, 146; Rosanne Greenwood, Gail Wayand, Flo Liberatore, Kathy McLaughlin, 147; Jeannine Mannix, Joan VanSlyke, Anne Hartranft, Carol Aiello, 162.

Third Flight — Barbara Giering, Dorothy Mikhitarian, Diane Hans, Jen DiLorio, 137; Judy Mysliborski, Lynn Cummings, Lynn Momrow, Mary Ann Fuina, 144; Dianne Meckler, Amy Solomon, Barbara Orris, Selene Balick, 144; Lynne Keil, Pat Jones, Joyce Toussaint, Anne Poulin, 146; Jayne Piche, Betty Heller, Fran Otto, Robin Peters, 151; Marie Budd, Susan Walsh, Janet DiFabio, Laurie Furlong, 152; Susan Reeks, Gina McCormick, Judith Rudolf, Anne Engster, 153.