Westside wins Men's Golf League title

The 2020 Men's Golf League at Marian Hills came to an end last Thursday, August 13, as Team Westside Casino (WC) defeated Team Larry Ross Construction (LRC) 21.5 to 18.5.

WC consisted of Dell Stiles (A), John Sautter (B), Larry Lett (C), and Justin Paul (D). LRC consisted of Substitute Kirk Stiles (A), Rick Levesque (B), Larry Ross Simpson (C), and Justin Paul (D).

WS welcomed back Paul that night as he finished his COVID-19 quarantine that day after testing positive a few weeks ago. Paul was the team's leading scorer with 6.5 points. It was Paul's second Men's League title.

"It feels great," Paul said. "I am just coming off of COVID isolation. I lost my taste, but I tasted victory tonight."

Sautter scored 6 points for WC, Lett scored 5.5 points, and D. Stiles scored 3.5. Stiles and he was pitted against his nephew K. Stiles, who scored a team-high 6.5 for LRC.

"I am the only one that lost, but we still won," K. Stiles said. "My teammates carried my (butt) all year. That's the way it went all year long."

K. Stiles birded on four of the last five holes in the championship.

"It definitely turned the match around," K. Stiles said.

In the semi-finals, K. Stiles birdied five holes. When he was facing his uncle in the championship, he said that the two were extremely, but respectfully, competitive.

"I have looked up to that guy for a long time, along with a lot of other people, so I want to bring my best game," K. Stiles said.

K. Stiles and Levesque had beaten their counterparts 10.5 to 9.5, but the table turned when the C/D portion came in. Lett and Paul outscored the Simpson brothers 12-8.

At the second hole, C. Simpson caught a little luck as his ball headed out of bounds.

"I lucked out and hit the tree," he said.

He said it was not the first time that a tree has saved him from having to driving the ball out of bounds. C. Simpson shared his thoughts on the 2020 season.

"With COVID and everything going on, it was great," C. Simpson said. "Everybody was responsible, and it went good."

His brother and team Captain Larry Ross Simpson was confident that his team would defeat his longtime friend D. Stiles' team for the title.

"I think we are going to get him tonight," L. Simpson said ahead of the championship.

A few minutes later, D. Stiles got the attention of the PCN reporter and then pointed his attention to a golf ball. Stiles said that he had found the ball labeled with the "Larry Ross Construction" logo and mentioned to the reporter that he would give the ball back to L. Simpson after he had defeated him in the championship game.

Later that day, Simpson proved to be a good sport and showed the PCN the ball that Stiles had found.

The PCN caught up with Sautter at hole three and he explained why he felt the was the hardest on the course.

"It's all uphill, it's a par four, and it's long," Sautter said. "I like the water over there to the right, and normally I don't miss it, but I missed it today."

When asked about his season, Sautter admitted that it was his teammates that pulled him through.

"I put two out of play in the first hole, and I put myself behind in the scoring to put more pressure on me," Sautter said. "So now, I am good to go."

At hole three, D. Stiles nailed a ball right through an opening in a tree; the ball slowed down near the out of bounds line. LRC's Levesque had the best drive at hole 4 (with the large water hazard) as the ball landed 25 feet to the right of the hole and rolled towards the hole. He was seven feet away from the cup.

"I tried to play right of the hole so that it would come down the bank, and that's the way it went," Levesque said, also mentioning that he kept the ball low to avoid the wind taking over."

Levesque was appreciative that the league has been able to play games weekly despite having to deal with COVID-19. Levesque said that he felt safe golfing amidst the pandemic. Like almost every golfer that day, Levesque spoke well of the course and its upkeep.

"They put a lot of effort and money into it," Levesque said. "We try to support it, and I hope that more people support it."

Before the league championship, Ross Rimser of Team Phillips County Insurance hit a hole in one at hole seven at 5:30 p.m. Simser became the third golfer to hit a hole in one this summer at Marian Hills Golf Course.

"I don't feel any different or anything, it just finally happened and it was a perfect shot," Simser said.

The hole was set at 135 yards away.

"I looked at it and thought, that's a 7-iron for me tonight," Simser said. "I hit as sweet as I had ever hit a club."

Simser said that the ball landed ten feet short, rolled, and then disappeared.

"I thought 'I just hit a hole in one and nobody is here to witness it,'" Simser said.

In his 35 years of golfing experience, Simser had never hit a hole in one.

"We had a good season," Simser said. "I had a good team that showed up every night, and we just came up a little short."