Orlando shoots 37 for the third straight week
Orlando Flores shot 37 again. Third consecutive week at 37 gross — best ball of the night each time. He held off Jeff Kardas 5.5–4.5 in the tightest match of the night, keeping his net edge just tight enough to stay in front on the back nine. He's at 99.5 points with two weeks left, a 5-point lead over Kardas. Meanwhile, Thomas Jaramillo went 8–2 over Kevin Nicholson for the best margin of the week, Todd Sewell ran Tom Pehr 6.5–3.5, and Brian Shields knocked off Andy Dean in a net upset. Jimmie Rains played the card match, earning 3.0 against Orlando's 37. The field is set: 15 showed up, 15 played, and the table is clear for a two-week sprint to the finish.
Orlando shoots 37 for the third straight week
Three consecutive Tuesdays, three rounds of 37 gross — and he's won the low-round bonus each time. Against Kardas on Monday night, it wasn't comfortable: net 36 (hcp 1) to Kardas's net 38 (hcp 6). Orlando squeaked it out 5.5–4.5 to add 5.5 points and push to 99.5 — his highest total of the season and well above any prior peak. He's in control, but Kardas is right behind him at 94.5 with 20 points still available.
Thomas Jaramillo goes 8–2 over Kevin Nicholson
Jaramillo shot 49 gross, netted 37 on a 12 handicap. Kevin shot 53 and netted 46 on a 7. One of the cleanest margins all season — Thomas absolutely dominated the net battle. He picks up 8.0 points and jumps to 85.5, 6th place. That's his biggest points haul in a single match this year and it comes at exactly the right time, with two weeks left.
Todd Sewell beats Tom Pehr 6.5–3.5
Sewell shot 42 gross and netted 38 (hcp 4). Pehr shot 45 and netted 41 (hcp 4). On the same handicap, Todd took six of the nine holes and won the low net. He moves to 93.5 — now 3rd place, 6 back of Orlando. Pehr slips to 4th at 91.0. The gap between 2nd and 4th is 3.5 points heading into the final two weeks.
Jeff Hunt runs Paul Rael 7.5–2.5
Hunt shot 41 (netted 39, hcp 2), Rael shot 52 (netted 44, hcp 8). First time these two have played each other all season — and it was all Jeff. Hunt moves to 62.0 and has quietly put together one of the better pts/round numbers in the league (5.64) despite playing in only 11 rounds. Rael drops to 88.0 and 5th place, 11.5 behind Orlando.
Brian Shields upsets Andy Dean 7.5–2.5
Shields shot 45 gross, netted 37 on an 8 handicap. Dean shot 43 but netted 41 on a 2. The net gap was decisive — Brian won five holes and also took the low net bonus. Shields climbs to 74.5 and passes Dean in the standings. Another example of why handicap golf produces surprises. First time Brian and Andy have played each other, and Brian dominated from start to finish.
Brit Harvey beats Dennis Candelaria 7–3
Both shot 46 gross, but Harvey (hcp 11) netted 35 while Candelaria (hcp 7) netted 39. Brit won the net battle by 4 strokes and swept enough holes to go 7–3. Both players are in the 70-point range fighting for position on the second-half leaderboard. Harvey moves to 71.5, Dennis to 72.0 — separated by 0.5 points.
Jason Maxwell edges Joe Olson 5.5–4.5
Maxwell shot 43 (netted 38, hcp 5). Olson shot 55 (netted 41, hcp 14). Jason took a 3-stroke net advantage and held on through a handful of close holes. He's now at 77.5 including the Wk 17 card match. Olson is at 59.5 with two rounds left to make up ground.
Around the league
Points earned since Jun 30 — who's running hot in the back half of the season.
Paul Rael leads the second half by 3.5 pts despite sitting 5th overall. Brit Harvey (6 rds) and Jeff Hunt (4 rds) have the best P/Rd rates in the second half among part-timers.
Two weeks left. 20 points still available to every full-timer. Orlando leads by 5 over Kardas — a big cushion, but not a lock. Kardas, Sewell, and Pehr are all within 9 points of each other and playing for 2nd. On the back end, Jaramillo's 8-pointer this week has him at 85.5, well clear of the middle of the pack. See you next Tuesday.
— Jason