Despite several inches of rain and at times, less than ideal playing conditions, the Senior League playoffs concluded on the cool and breezy Friday afternoon, with John Wuebker and Jim Eaton crowned league champions. Hats off to the course superintendent, Dan Miner and his assistant Carl Spackler, for getting the course in great playing condition.
Playoffs began the previous week with 10 teams competing for the annual distinction as the top team. The first round of competition saw Dar Hoskinson and Pat Rhoades win by 3 strokes over Bob Gilroy and Don Stracke. The team of Wuebker and Eaton snuck by the Miner brothers, Dan and Jeff, by one stroke. Lyle Christensen and Jerry Gieseke defeated Joe Blaker and Hans Haffner by shooting a blistering net 65. Rounding out the first round saw Dean Haaland and Jon Jamison eliminate Randy McCaulley and Steve McPherson by 5 strokes.
The second round of action included Haaland and Jamison over Hoskinson and Rhodes by 6 strokes, while Eaton and Wubker escaped over Christensen and Gieseke by 2 strokes in a high scoring affair.
The championship round featured the marquee matchup of Eaton and Wuebker competing with Haaland and Jamison, with an identical 16 team handicap. Eaton and Wuebker squandered a 4 stroke lead going into hole #9, ending in a net 71 tie. A three hole playoff to determine the winner moved the match back to the number 1 tee. The teams tied net strokes on the first hole, but Haaland and Jamison took a one stroke lead after the second hole. Hole number 3 saw Eaton and Wuebker turn the tables and gain 2 strokes on their challengers to earn a 1 stroke victory.
