AWA Golf Association

On Saturday, under glorious sunny skies, the AWAGA finished its 2025 season with "The Memorial", held at Pacific Grove Golf Course on the Monterey Peninsula.

The Memorial is a two-person scramble, and on Saturday 36 players battled it out while the Pacific Ocean crashed its waves against the rocks in the background.

In the end, the team of Sam Carnell and Bob Savoca won the Bongo Flight and the overall championship with a score of 7-under par 63. Finishing second in the Flight were Dave Yvanovich and Bob Scneider, who turned in a score of 65.

Over in the Bingo Flight, the team of Lorenzo Trujillo and Joe Albayalde scored a 64 to win the Flight, while Kevin Hager and Austin Nadeau's score of 65 was good enough for second.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who made the 2025 season so successful. See you all next year!

Last Saturday, 38 golfers gathered for the club's annual Dan Degnon Memorial Chub Championship, held this year at The Villages Golf and Country Club in San Jose. The weather was spot on with a nice breeze to keep things a bit cooler.

In the end it was Troy Trede (pictured) who pulled off the remarkable win, shooting a net 66 to win by three shots over Brian Tract. We would have celebrated Troy's victory if he just hadn't preformed that victory dance.

Troy was the Bango Flight with Monty Frank's score of 70 collecting the second place money. Tract's 69 won the Bango Flight, knocking off Lorenzo Trujillo, the scored a 70. Over in the Bingo Flight, Jeremy Brand won the flight with a 72, defeating Mark Chatfield's 72 by tie-breaker.

Everyone had a great time, and the event was a rousing success. Congratulations to all the winners. The AWAGA Championship Belt looks good on Troy, don't you think?

On Saturday the young hackers of the AWA Golf Club competed in the AWAGA Invitational at Dublin Creek Golf Course. With 11 par three greenies to aim for, and under bright, sunny skies, the boys competed in a two-man best ball team event featuring fourteen teams.

In the end, it was the team of Lorenzo Trujillo and Paul Formico who posted a 10-under par 53 to win the Bingo Flight and the overall championship. Finishing second in the Flight was Dennis Cole and Dave Freeman, who put up a score of 56.

Over in the Bongo Flight, the team of Monty Franks and Andrew Hamilton (pictured) scored a 58 to win the Flight, beating by tie-breaker the team of Jeff Acuna and Brian Tract who also turned in a card of 58.

Eleven greenies were also handed out for Closeest to the Pin, with Andrew Hamilton, Jeff Acuna, and Lorenzo Trujillo each winning a pair. Congratulations to all the winners! We'll see you next month for the Club Championship!

This past weekend the AWA crew of hackers took on Sunridge Golf Course in Carson City for the club's annual Scramble at the Lake, a four-man scramble event held at one of our favorite Lake Tahoe courses.

In the end, it was the team of Lorenzo Trujillo, Aaron Clawson, James Hill, and Troy Trede who won it all, posting a net score of 58, finishing comfortably in front of the team of Greg Brown, Kevin Hager, Mark Pim, and Austin Nadeau, who turned in a score of 61.

It rained some, and the sun showed up occasionally, but on the whole it was another good day for this popular tournament. Congratulations to the winners!

The AWAGA held its Caddyshack Invitational Tournament at The Villages over the weekend, a 2-man better ball event that pitted 15 teams of 30 golfers against the lightning fast greens of The Villages.

When the dust had cleared, it was the team of Joe Albayalde and Al Pena (allegedly pictured) who won the Bingo Flight and the overall tournament, carding an impressive 64. This was just enough to best Lupe Torres and Jeremy Brand, and Jon Welch and Brian Tract, who each finished one shot behind at 65.

Over in the Bongo Flight, Dave Yvanovich and Bob Schneider claimed the top spot with a 66, besting the team of Greg and Stacey Brown by a single shot.

The Caddyshack Towel went to the day's worst player, and Mike Applegate proudly claimed his cryer.

It was another great day on the fairways! Congrats to all the winners!

Last Saturday the Boys of AWA played under blustery skies at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club for the annual "Fast Times at Ridgemark Golf Course", a two-man scramble event.

The final results came down to the wire as the team of Aaron Clawson and James Hill tied the team of Joe Abayalda and and Al Pena, who each carded 65. The toe-breaker was the 18th hole, where a birdie gave Aaron and James the overall championship and the Bongo Flight.

The Bingo Flight was won by Armando Claudio and Ethan Aldrich, whose score of 66 was enough to edge Greg Brown and Kevin Hager by a single shot.

Congratulations to the winners!

On Saturday the Boys of AWA gathered for the annual Neil Christie Cup -- our Ryder-style event that features head to head 2v2 matches under Best Ball, Alternate Shot, and Scramble formats.

It was a beautiful, sunny day at Spring Valley Golf Course, complete with manicured fairways and mystery spot greens. As the sun set lat in the afternoon, Team Brian was declared victors over Team Bruce by a score of 26-23.

Individual highlights featured Monty Frank and Dave Freeman beating Steve Sammut and Mike Applegate 5-1/2 to 1-1/2, and Greg Brown and Steve Brown overwhelming Jeff Acuna and Brian Tract by the same 5-1/2 to 1-1/2 score, both teams representing Team Brian. The Brown Brothers also scored the best round of the day with a score of 65.

Kevin Hager was also presented his award for being last year's Golfer of the Year.

Congratulations to Team Brian and all those who won their individual matches. Thankfully, there were beers afterward.

The look of sheer joy says it all! On Saturday, the AWAGA opened the 2025 golf season with the 26th Annual Battle for the Ugly Trophy. Unlike previous season openers, there was no rain, no high winds, and no hail, but there was an Ugly Trophy to capture. Battling a field of 30 golfers, and playing under Peoria scoring rules, a stunned Ethan Aldrich came out on top with a net score of 63. So now, Ethan must keep the Trophy for the year, add something to commemorate his victory, and return to defend it in 2026.

Steve Gerard captured 2nd place money with a 65, followed by Jon Welch and Armando Claudio, who each turned in net scores of 67.

It was a great day for all who survived the near perfect weather and those testy Santa Teresa greens. Afterwards, beer flowed and lies were told. An auspicious start to the new season!

On Saturday the AWAGA gathered at Pacific Grove Golf Links under glorious skies for the final tournament of the AWAGA schedule. "The Memorial" honors the great memories of the past and those who are no longer with us, and celebrates the future of AWA Golf with our current members.

The field was divided into two-man teams for this scramble event. and in the end it was the enduring twosome of Mark Chatfield and Larry Lincoln who came out on top, winning the Bingo Flight and the Overall Event with a score of 65. Kevin Hager and Austin Nadeau finished just a stroke back at 66, finishing second in the flight.

Over in the Bongo Flight, the teams of Jeff Acuna and Brian Tract along with Aaron Clawson and James Hunt turned in identical 66 scores, with the Tract-Acuna duo taking the flight by Tie-breaker.

We also had a chance to officially recognize Patrick Cruz as the Club's 2024 Champion with the presentation of his trophy. Just a fantastic way to end the 2024 season. See you all next year!

On Saturday the AWA Golf Association descended on to The Villages in San Jose for its 2024 Club Championship. Under sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-80s, the surprise winner of the event was Patrick Cruz, who took advantage of his numerous handicap strokes to carve out a net score of 69, enough to cruise to s 3-shot overall victory, as well as top spot in the Bongo Flight. Patrick is shown here holding his championship belt and a picture of the trophy he will be receiving soon.

James Hill and Anthony Thorpe shared the victory of the Bingo Flight with net scores of 72, with James winning the first prize money by tie-breaker. Aaron Clawson claimed second place in the Bongo Flight, also carding a net 72.

Food was scarfed, drinks were quaffed, and a good time of AWA fellowship was celebrated by all.

Congratulations your new Club Champ -- Patrick Cruz!!

Over this past weekend, the AWA golfing gang travelled to Genoa, Nevada for its annual "Scramble at the Lake" tournament. Fighting off the effects of strong winds, powerful heat, and constant attacks by low-flying fighter planes the locals curiously refer to as "mosquitos", the boys of AWA split up into teams of four for this scramble event.

In the end, it was the team of Kevin Hager, Austin Nadeau, Aaron Clawson, and Troy Trade who won it all. Posting a net score of 59, the young sluggers won by three shots, and missed the tournament record by only one shot.

Second place went to the team of Mark Pim, Jon Welch, Greg Brown, and Steve Gerard, who turned in a score of 62. Pictured below is "Team Steve Applegate" -- Steve Sammut, Steve Barrett, Jeff Applegate, and Mike Applegate -- who didn't win anything, but at least got to play with those cool hats.

It was another great weekend near Lake Tahoe, in which everyone had a great time -- especially those mosquitos. FORE!

On Saturday the AWAGA held its annual Caddyshack Invitational, a two-person best ball event held at The Villages in San Jose. The weather was spectacular and the greens were treacherous, and in the end the team of Andrew Hamilton and Lupe Torres posted a net score of nine under par 63 to win the Bongo Flight and the overall championship. Second place in the Bongo Flight went to the father-daughter duo of Steve Sammut and Laura O'Reilly, who finished two strokes back with 65.

The Bingo Flight was captured by Corey Custodio and Mike Vitakes, who shot 65, while Jon Welch and Mark Pim took second place money with a score of 66. The Caddyshack crying towel went to Mike Simonds, whose net score of 89 was the worst score of the day. (I could mention Mike's hole in one, but that happened last week when it didn't matter.)

Congratulations to all the participants. We forgot to get a picture of the winning team, so instead we have this shot of these losers. (Steve Yoshioka, Greg Brown, Bob Schneider, and Tony Hazarian)