2017 PDL XV – SPF 70 Burns Field at Pinehurst to Claim Fountain of Youth Cup
The 15th Ponce was played at the cradle of American Golf in Pinehurst, this May 3rd-7th 2017.
Chairman: Bill Wainscott
MVP: Jamie Rankin
Ted Oakey Spirit Award Winner: Patrick McManamy
Wooden Spoon: Wes Battle
Tournament Results & Summary
Click Here for All Results and points earned.
This year’s Ponce was dedicated to the loving memory and friendship of Richard Massie, who died in February.
The 15th annual Ponce kicked off on Wednesday with 15 participants at the Practice round on Pinehurst #8. The opening ceremony took place at the iconic Payne Stewart statue adjacent to the 18th hole at Pinehurst #2. Neil Thomson and Clark Coulbourn remembered Dick Massie and all that he had meant to the Ponce as a golfer and friend. Neil said, “Every drained clutch putt, each sunset through these North Carolina pines, every beer, laugh or memory with an old friend, we remember Richard who we know was with us all this week.”
Kyle Franz, course architect who has worked under legendary designers Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Doak at courses like Pinehurst #2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Pacific Dunes, talked to the Ponce about restoring the Sand Hills courses to their original Donald Ross intents.
SPF 70, comprised of Jamie Rankin, Scott Winn, Muscoe Garnett and Bill Wainscott, swept their morning fourball matches on Thursday morning at Pinehurst #2, taking a 2 point lead over #Winning #Tin Whistles (One of the worst team names in Ponce lore) and Canteen Express. Sorry, Not Sorry was surprisingly swept and shutout.
As thunderstorms threatened the afternoon’s captain’s choice at Mid Pines, SPF 70 and #WTW shot -6 in 9 holes with Canteen Express 1-stroke back at -5 and Sorry, Not Sorry still shutout with 0 points at -3.
Friday morning at Mid Pines, #WTW made their move, winning both matches of Pinehurst Alternate Shot. Three of the four matches was decided by 1-3 strokes while Klim/Coulbourn throttled Battle & Gilbane by double-digit strokes. In the afternoon of four-ball at Pine Needles, all four teams split two matches, leaving the standings tied at the top between SPF 70 and #WTW going into Saturday singles. (The Ponec had never been tied this late in the tournament.)
Three players went undefeated (4-0): Jamie Rankin, Isaac Morton and Clark Coulbourn. Rankin earned his second MVP honors via a vote of his peers due to his strong showing for the victorious SPF 70. Rankin and Morton earned 5.625 points for their teams while Coulbourn staked 5.25 pts. Scott Winn earned votes as well due to his 3-1 record and 4.625 points, defeating Jeremy Bird in singles (3&2) and Bird/Battle in Four Ball 4&3.
Late Saturday at Pine Needles during Singles, the Fountain of Youth trophy hung in the balance. Most of the day, all four teams were winning two and losing two matches. That result would pit SPF 70 with #Winning # Tin Whistles is a playoff. (Pine Needles 4-hole “The Loop” had been selected as the venue for a knockout style Sudden-death tiebreaker.) Two tight matches would decide the tournament. Garnett vs. Coulborn and Palmore vs. Battle. Coulbourn and Palmore both had 2 hole leads as they came to the 16th tee. Though Garnett would win 16 & 17, Coulbourn won 18 to win the match 1 up. Now, Palmore was one hole away from the playoff. But the Ponce’s first playoff would have to wait for another year. After halving the 16th hole to put Palmore dormie 2, Battle won 17 & 18 to earn a controversial half. (Palmore incorrectly assessed a 2-stroke penalty on Battle on the 9th hole for teeing off outside the teeing ground, which gave Palmore the half.)
The half would be Battle’s only point of the weekend and earn him the Wooden Spoon.
Patrick McManamy won the Ted Oakey Sprit Award for his “love of the game” on and off the course.
Thanks to Chairman Wainscott for making this a memorable Ponce in the North Carolina pines. One Poncer quipped that this was “the Logo Ponce” as the PDL logo was everywhere: t-shirts, koozies, balls, stickers, signs and scoreboards were new additions to the traditional trophies, shirts, hats, windbreakers and sweaters. Chairman Emeritus Thomson also deserves our gratitude for a heavy logistics lift this year. The squad looks forward to taking the Ponce across the pond to Sunningdale and Royal St. George’s in May/June of 2018.
Golf Schedule
Wednesday Practice Round: Pinehurst #8 (1:24-1:51PM)
ROUND 1 – Thursday: Pinehurst #2 FOUR BALL (8:20-8:50AM)
ROUND 2 – Thursday: Mid Pines CAPTAIN’s CHOICE (9 Holes 5:05-5:45PM)
ROUND 3 – Friday: Mid Pines Pinehurst Alternate Shot (9:25-9:55AM)
ROUND 4– Friday: Pine Needles FOUR BALL (2:40-3:10PM)
ROUND 5 – Saturday Singles: Pine Needles (12:10-12:40PM)
Detailed Itinerary
Wednesday May 3
1:24PM – 1:51PM: PRACTICE ROUND: Pinehurst #8 (tee off earlier if available)
***CHECK-IN TO HOLLY INN
6:45PM: Meet in Lobby of Holly Inn (Coat & Tie) (group shuttle)
7:15PM: OPENING CEREMONY: Payne Stewart Statue at Pinehurst #2
8:00PM: Group Shuttle to Carolina Hotel
8:15PM – DINNER: Carolina Hotel
Thursday May 4
6:00AM – BREAKFAST – Complimentary – 1895 Grille at Holly Inn (or Carolina Hotel if preferred)
***CHECK-OUT OF HOLLY INN (luggage in own car)
8:20AM – 8:50AM: ROUND 1 – Pinehurst #2 FOUR BALL (Walking w/ Caddies)
POST-ROUND / LUNCH: Deuce’s (Clubhouse just off of 18th Green of No. 2)
***SELF-DRIVE / CHECK-IN to INN AT MID PINES (1010 Midland Rd, Southern Pines, NC 28387)
5:05PM – 5:45PM: ROUND 2 – Mid Pines CAPTAIN’S CHOICE
7:30PM DINNER: BBQ / Cookout on the Veranda at MidPines (with closest to pin contest)
Friday May 5 (Cinco de Mayo)
BREAKFAST – Complimentary – MidPines Dining Room
9:25AM – 9:55AM: ROUND 3 – Mid Pines PINEHURST ALTERNATE SHOT
POST-ROUND / LUNCH (either MidPines or Pine Needles – your choice)
2:40PM – 3:10PM: ROUND 4 Pine Needles FOUR BALL
POST-ROUND: Singles / Captain’s Draft at Pine Needles Bar (In the Rough)
8:30PM DINNER: Location TBD (Pinehurst Village or Southern Pines)
Saturday May 6
BREAKFAST – Complimentary – MidPines Dining Room
12:10PM – 12:40PM: ROUND 5 Pine Needles SINGLES
POST-ROUND: All Groups on 18 as Last Group Finishes then Shuttle Over to MidPines to shower and change
6:15PM – Group seating at Pop’s Lounge at MidPines for Derby Betting Pool
6:46PM Kentucky Derby Post Time – group seating at Pop’s Lounge at MidPines
7:30PM: CHAMPIONS’ DINNER – The Julius Boros Room at MidPines. (Jacket Required)
Sunday May 7
BREAKFAST – Complimentary – MidPines Dining Room
CHECK-OUT OF INN AT MID PINES
The Teams of Ponce XV
SPF 70 (14.5)
Scott Winn, Muscoe Garnett*, Jamie Rankin & Bill Wainscott
#Winning #Tin Whistles (13.5)
Patrick McManamy, John Klim, Michael Palmore* & Clark Coulbourn
Canteen Express (11)
John McAllister, Isaac Morton, Neil Thomson & Henry Oakey*
Sorry, Not Sorry (7 points)
Jeremy Bird*, Wes Battle, Michael Aide & Dan Gilbane ^
^ Defending Champions
* Captain
Charity
The Education Trust for the Children of Richard M. Massie
This year’s tournament was dedicated to the memory of Richard Massie, loving father of three children and twin brother of Henry. Richard played in eight PDL invitationals, winning the Fountain of Youth cup three times. Richard triumphed in 2004 in Orlando with “The Dawgs. ” He won the 2005 MVP in Palm Beach when he Captained Black Sunday to a dominant Championship, going undefeated for the week, defeating Neil Thomson in singles at PGA National Resort. Richard chaired the 2010 tournament at Sea Island when he won his third title with The Red Numbers.
More than those accomplishments though, the Ponce lost one if its own this February. We miss Richard’s laughter. We miss our drinking buddy. We miss our friend.
Richard had reached out in January about playing in this year’s Ponce. Richard will not be the last one of us to go, but he will always be the first. Richard’s death provides us all a stark reminder how fragile…how special this life is.
Every drained clutch putt, each sunset through these North Carolina pines, every beer, laugh or memory with an old friend, we remember Richard who we know was with us all this week.