(DP) - Jacksonville
After watching
these intrepid players over the many years, this reporter thought he'd seen
everything. From various twisted schemes
to do in our hero Puma, to outrageous lies trying to get him to react, our
gallant champion always managed to survive and overcome. However, this past weekend was a sight to
behold. It was a warm and beautiful day
in Jacksonville, as Puma walked onto the Springfield disc golf course. There was a crowd gathering but mostly to do
some needed community cleanup around the park area. Rick "I hope I finally win" Pike,
Randy "Fantasy Football Champ" Knagge, Ethan "4 points from a Fantasy
Champ" Knagge and Simon "Boom Boom" Bouma were there to provide
the needed disc golf fodder. Surprise
entries included Eric "Birdie" Taylor, Jason "Arduino"
McCallister, Jump'n Judy (Puma's better half).
Although many had
been warming up before the event, the first hole followed the usual
script. Many discs were well off the
fairway, all except for Puma's, whose drive was long and straight. After a nice approach and a short putt, Puma
made his first par of the day. Birdie
was again taking it easy as he warmed up.
As the others struggled to make par and sometimes settling for bogey or
*gasp* worse, Puma continued his relentless quest for perfection.
By the 7th hole,
Bushie Pike was ready to concede. At 5
over, with Puma still at even par, he knew in his heart, TWAC was Puma's. By the start of the 9th hole, Bushie knew
that Puma was his master. However,
others were beginning to take notice and were not ready to concede. Birdie in particular was at 3 over and had
decided to take up the challenge.
Birdie unleashed a huge throw and made a brilliant putt to make the first
birdie of the day, while Puma remained even with his 9th par. On #10, Birdie unleashed yet another
tremendous drive to set up his 2nd straight birdie. At only 1 over now, as Puma made his 10th
straight par, Birdie was within one.
Puma decided he needed to regain control.
Sadly on #11, Puma
over-torqued his next throw causing it to curve dangerously close to the
canal. As Birdie made par, Puma carded
his first bogey of the day. They were
now tied. Others were sensing the
growing excitement and wanted to get into the action. On #12, Simon "Boom Boom" Bouma,
launched a beautiful drive through the narrow opening and made his first birdie
of the day, while Birdie and Puma made pars.
On #13, as Bushie, Boom Boom and others peppered the small maintenance
building, Puma knew he had to really step up and unleashed a tremendous drive
down the left side. With 45 feet to go,
Puma went for the birdie and clank, into the basket the approach went for
Puma's first birdie of the day. Birdie
having attempted a roller to avoid the building settled for a bogey. Puma was now ahead by two. Sensing that Birdie was not going to quit,
Puma realized that he needed to continue the birdie hunt. Boom Boom (who had been surprisingly putting quite well
all day), Puma, Birdie, and Arduino all made pars on #14. On #15, Boom Boom threw a drive that skipped
down the sidewalk and settled past all of the trees, putting him in great
position. Puma realizing the situation,
threw a similar drive, skipping off the sidewalk and curving towards
the basket, stopping about 20 feet away.
While Boom Boom clanked his birdie attempt off the top of the basket
(seriously was anyone expecting anything different), Puma glided his second
birdie in the basket. Birdie made par,
giving Puma a 3 shot lead with 3 holes to play.
On #16, Birdie was a bit off the mark with his drive but made a
remarkable approach that glided about a foot too high over the top of the
basket, and settled for par. Puma also
made par. On #17, Birdie again just missed his birdie throw by
mere inches. Puma was still over 85 feet
away and needed to at least make it a drop in par launched a high arcing
approach that hit the basket and fell in for his 3rd birdie of the day. With 3 birdies and 2 bogies and 12 pars, Puma
walked to the long #18 with visions of playing under par for the first time in
his career dancing in his head.
Puma stepped up to
#18 and uncorked a drive but again over torqued it. Instead of gliding, his
throw keeled over and his the ground but miraculously, turned into a roller
which headed a long way towards the basket.
Birdie, being 3 down, knew an ace was out of the question, but a birdie
by him and a double bogey by Puma would do the trick. Birdie sent forth a mighty drive. Puma wanted to be under par and decided to
settle for a close approach shot to set up his par. However, as fate would have it, Puma
misjudged the distance and left his approach over 50 feet short on this long
hole. Birdie was well over 100 feet away
but gunning for his 3rd birdie let fly his approach which sailed a bit right of
the basket. As Birdie settled for his
par, he watched as Puma still desperately wanting his par let go a long putt
which hit the basket and fell... out.
Puma settled for only his 3rd bogey of the day, and finished at even par
(a career best 54) for the course.
Birdie had 57, while most of the other players were in the 60's. Puma walked off the course, having set a career best score and knowing that once
again, he kept TWAC safe.
