The Ed Shearon Raven’s Claw Golf course design is visually intimidating but with ample scoring opportunities for both short and long hitters providing a great venue for a tight competition.

In Division 1, AB Behura was poised to add to his player of the year point total in a tight race that will come down to the last event, but a young newcomer named Ben Ortwein had other plans. On the front nine, Behura posted par after par until he struck gold with an Eagle on hole 7. Ortwein would bogey early but erased that with two birdies on the side leaving him one stroke back at the turn with both players in red numbers. Behura (34-41-75) would go on to post a 41 on the back, leaving the door open for the talented Ortwein (35-37-72) to use his golfing class to grind him down with a solid 37 to take the win with a score of one over par.

Brad Garrett (37-40-77) continued his excellent 2021 season with another win. He raced out to an early three shot lead after posting a one over 37 and was able to keep all the competition at arm’s length to secure a three-shot victory.

Division 3 was its’ usual bumper car free for all as four different players held the lead down the stretch. Ed Kelly (41-44-85) held the lead after nine but would choke that up with a couple of double bogeys on the back. Kurt Bonewitz and Ed Gilbert both held the lead for several holes as Christopher Mains (48-37-85) shook off a shaky front nine to come charging hard o the back nine with 37 including a birdie on the 18th hole. But when the dust settled, it would be Alex Kluka (44-40-84) taking down his first the victory of the season.

Larry Barber (38-47-85) jumped out on hole one and threw down the gauntlet to his fellow competitors with an opening Eagle. He would go on to post a solid 38 on the front nine opening a commanding seven shot lead at the turn. His two closest competitors were teeing it up in the same foursome and had their sights set on running him down. As lunch hour hit, they were hungry for Barber to slip up and he obliged them with a triple bogey on the difficult tenth hole. Unfortunately, hole number ten did all the eating as it swallowed their foursome whole and spit them out at combined eight over par for the group. Barber shook it off and did enough on the back to secure the victory with a solid final score.

David Garrett (44-45-89) continued his dominance of Division 5 with his third victory of the year. It wasn’t a cakewalk as Sean Matthews posted a fine score of 90 to put the pressure on but came up one stroke short. With consistently excellent play from several players, Division 5 is starting to shape up as a solid Metro Cup team for our year ending tussle with Metro New York.

Congratulations to all our winners! We look forward to compelling player of the year contests as we wind down and gear up for the National Championship at Pinehurst Resort.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS