Dalhousie Golf Club members Ian Souter and Brevin Giebler capitalized on their home course knowledge to claim the St. Louis District Golf Association’s (STLDGA) Jim Benson Memorial 2-Man Open Division at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The duo survived a challenge from Quincy Country Club’s Andrew Boudreau and Ryan Schuenke by a single stroke to walk away with the trophy.
“Knowing the course helps, but we played well,” said Giebler, who recorded his first STLDGA title. “We played conservatively and kept the ball in play. If we made a mistake, we just forgot about it and went on to the next hole.”
Amazingly consistent, Souter/Giebler shot 1-under in both Monday’s Four-ball round and Tuesday’s Ryder Cup style alternate shot Foursomes round to finish at 142. Boudreau/Schuenke, and Old Hickory Golf Club’s Dan Emrick/Samuel Emrick shot blistering 67s on Monday, but couldn’t match that effort in the alternate shot round. Nevertheless, it went down to the wire as Boudreau/Schuenke finished their second round with a par on the 18th to finish at 76 for the day and a total of 143. After recording eight birdies on Monday, Boudreau/Schuenke could only register a birdie and an eagle on Tuesday against three bogeys and two double-bogeys.The Emricks finished in tie for third with Winghaven Country Club’s Didier Villard/Dustin Ashby at 148.
Giebler acknowledged that the course was in superb condition, but challenging nevertheless. “You gotta hit in the fairway and keep it out of the high grass. Then if you can find it, you should be able to play it pretty well. The rough is pretty bad – it’s either lost ball or unplayable lie,” he said.
As scores across the field faltered in alternate stroke play, Giebler called it a hard format, but their key was patience. “We stayed patient, played conservatively and made a lot of putts today,” he noted. “Ian putted like Jack Nicklaus!”
Quincy Country Club’s James Millman and The Legends Country Club’s Gary Agne posted a 4-under 140 to edge Westborough Country Club’s Jeff Wolfe/John Hoffstetter by a stroke to chalk up the Net Division title. Sitting in third another stroke back were Westborough’s Keith Hanson/AJ AngaJala, who opened as the leaders on Monday with a 64 but slipped to a 78 on Tuesday.
Hot starts matching the weather highlighted Monday’s round in the Net Division. Following Hanson/AngaJala’s 64, Jason Quillman (Old Hickory Golf Club) and Timothy Schulte (Norwood Hills Country Club) followed at 65, while Millman/Agne, Steve Dioneda/Kennedy Hudson (Westborough Country Club) John Cairo/Larry Howe (Algonquin Golf Club) and Chris George/Nathan George (Persimmon Woods Golf Club) all registered 66s. Wolfe/Hoffstetter and Mike Sandy/Joseph Bean (Old Hickory Golf Club) recorded the top scores on Tuesday with 73s, but Millman/Agne played consistently enough to hold off the field.
Souter, Giebler, Boudreau and Schuenke all qualify for the Jim Jackson Invitational at Algonquin Country Club in October.