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RUSSELL, Pa. -- The Wednesday Travel League played Cable Hollow Golf Course in near-perfect playing conditions, possibly the best ever for a November event. As golfers enjoyed the beautiful day, the match of the year was taking place in the second foursome.
Robert Calph and Josh Hilliker battled from start to finish, each making five birdies, with only three bogies apiece, to both finish at 2-under par 70. It is the first time in 26 years of league records being kept that two golfers finished under par in the same event.
Hilliker led the front nine with a 2-under par 34 with Calph one stroke back. Calph took the lead after No. 11 and kept that lead through No. 16. Hilliker then stuck his tee shot to 2-and-a-half feet on the par-3 17th hole and made birdie to tie things up heading into the final hole. In clutch fashion, both golfers made birdie on No. 18 to finish tied at 70. Since the league isn’t able to send golfers out for a playoff, the league determines tiebreakers based on scores on the hardest handicap holes. Calph’s birdie on the fifth hardest hole made him the overall winner.
Calph was low on the back nine with 35 and his 70 was a personal best in league play. Jeff Nelson finished third with 83. The B Flight winner was Jeff Marsowicz. In the C Flight, Joe Bifaro won on a tiebreaker with Bill Emery. The low round by a senior was recorded by Dennis Gawronski Sr. The winner of the Bruce "Java" Chrabasz Commissioner's Award was Rick Morgan.
Untied birdies were recorded by: A Flight -- Calph (Nos. 1, 4 and 10), Ed Tofil (No. 5) and Josh Hilliker (Nos. 6, 8 and 17); B Flight -- John Waterman (No. 2), Gary Haase (No. 5), Tom Sacilowski (Nos. 7 and 16), Gawronski (No. 12), Marsowicz (No. 13) and Phil Maslak (No. 14); C Flight -- Emery (Nos. 8 and 16), Morgan (No. 14), Jim Ellman Sr. (No. 15) and Pat Weaver (No. 17).
Closest to the pin were: Nelson (No. 2), Dave Franklin (No. 5), Brady Hilliker (No. 13) and Josh Hilliker (No. 17). Winners of the Steeplechase were: Josh Hilliker (A Flight), Tim Walawender (B) and Brady Hilliker (C).
Top point winners were: Josh Hilliker (60), Calph and Marsowicz (28 apiece), and Tofil, Waterman and Weaver (24 apiece). Season points leaders (after 27 events): 1. Josh Hilliker (898), 2. Calph (488), 3. Nelson (405), 4. Franklin (376), 5. Dave Wallace (308), 6. Waterman (302), 7. Sacilowski (300), 8. Tofil (270), 9. Mike Willoughby (247), 10. Phil Hopkins (236).
For the rest of the year, golfers will be alerted via email as to any potential events.