Kooman Boycheff Memorial Tournament at Paradise Valley
5th Event and 1st Major of 2000 Season 
Saturday, April 1, 2000

On a very dry and windy day, these brave men sallied forth to battle for the first major of the season. From left to right are: Greg Thornton, Paul Higaki, Joe Orr, and Allen Kent.

This fearless foursome also braved the high gusts. Left to right are: Doris White, Geraldine Lauro, and Glenda and Ted Goode.

Mark Boguski hitting a remarkable opening drive into a stiff headwind on #1.

Andrew Kang unleashes his drive on the first hole.

With a strong tailwind Andrew attempted to carry the lake on #6. His valiant effort fell only a few feet short.

Mike Henry takes advantage of the tailwind on hole 7. At 322 yards it was almost reachable. That's how strong the winds were.

Play was excruciatingly slow. The 6-hour round included 5 minute waits at every shot.

Steve Desimone taking his approach shot after a huge drive over the lake on 18. He went on to par 18 and lost the Kooman Boycheff Low Gross to Ken Lloyd only after a 2-hole playoff. (Read all about it at the bottom of this page)

Ken Lloyd hitting his approach shot to #18. His drive on 18, like Steve's (slightly better actually, for the record) was incredible. Ken went on to par 18 and force a playoff with Steve. Ken won the Low Gross on the 2nd playoff hole (hole #2), when he sunk a 15 foot birdie putt. Steve, missed his birdie putt from 8 feet, which would have kept the playoff alive.

Starting Sheet:

9:00      Steve Desimone 3(1), Ken Lloyd 5(1), Mike Armstrong 8(1), Jim Peretti 7(1)

9:08      Jeff Hazel 8(1), Van Hall 8(1), Ralph Hill 11(1), Ram Sharma 28(5)

9:16      Eddie Reed 13(2), Ron Irving 21(4), John Robertson 6(1), Charlie Flowers 14(2)

9:24      Ed Johnson 15(3), Barry Woods 15(3), John Carlson 9(1), Todd Podoll BB

9:32      Rick Guevara 12(2), Steve Obana 11(2), Mark Holman 13(2), Ross Sakamoto 15(3)

9:40      Ed Biglin 6(1), Randy Ballew 11(1), Elliott Friedman 19(4), Chris Maters BB

9:48      Paul Witkay 10(1), Chris Baker 39(5), Clay Wallace 28(5), Russell Greenwood 19(4)

9:56      Ryan Lai 16(3), Dennis Smith 19(4), Alison McGill 23(4), Mike O’Neill 11(2)

10:04    Dave Chia 14(2), Sam Scalise 18(3), Errol Mauchlan 30(5), Eric Broque BB

10:12    Jack King 23(5), Don Wade 18(3), Lloyd Crenna 21(4), Yun Akinaga 20(4)

10:20  Mike Gainza 18(3), Bill Hoover 27(5), Todd Adair 13(2), Todd Fitchen 34(5)

10:28    Randy Hooper 12(2), Bob Tulk 18(4), Ken Alton 13(2), Mark Dallow BB

10:36    Ted Goode 19(4), Glenda Goode 44(5), Doris White 36(5), Geraldine Lauro 20(4)

10:44    Kelly Alvarez 18(3), Bob Sternbach 23(5), Brian Koref BB, Mark Kadrich BB

10:52    Aaron Walburg 14(2), Mike Henry 18(3), Mark Boguski BB, Andrew Kang 16(3)

11:00    Gregg Thornton 14(3), Paul Higaki 20(4), Allen Kent 13(2), Joe Orr BB

Results:

1st Flight

2nd Flight

3rd Flight

4th Flight

5th Flight

Blind Bogey

Summary of the Incredible Golf Played by Ken Lloyd and Steve Desimone as they competed for Low Gross

The rivalry between Ken and Steve has been going on for years. In most club events it boils down to these two for low gross.

The 2000 Kooman Boycheff Memorial tournament at Paradise Valley was no different. However, it one of the tightest finishes ever for a UCGC tournament. The fact that it was a major tournament only makes it more epic.

Although Ken Lloyd won the event on the second playoff hole with a 15 foot birdie putt, a full description of their rounds is necessary to fully comprehend the intensity of this tournament. Both golfers played extraordinarily down the stretch.

Playing in the same foursome (as they usually do) they were able to watch one another closely. Steve started things on this very windy day with a 50-foot birdie putt on the first hole. Even with in these windy conditions through the first six holes Steve still mustered 1-under par. Ken, through the first six holes was 3 over par, so after 6 holes Steve was out in front of Ken by 4 strokes.

The middle holes, 7-13, were Steve’s undoing. Steve got into a funk and played seven strokes over par during this stretch. He had several bogies culminating in a double bogey on the 13^th hole. Through this same stretch of holes Ken play more consistently and went 3-over par. Standing on the 14^th tee they were tied.

On the short par-4 14^th hole Steve managed to remain even with Ken by making a par-saving 20-foot putt. On the par-3 15^th hole Ken took the lead for the first time by draining a 15-footer for birdie. Steve returned things to even on next hole, the par-5 16^th, by two-putting from far for birdie (after reaching the green in two, of course). At the 17^th both men teed off with long irons. Steve hit his down the middle to within 140 yards of the green, while Ken skittered one down the right side of the fairway, where it came to rest about 20 feet from the hazard and about 180 yards from the green. It was then, as Steve recollects, that Ken hit the defining shot of the tournament. Until this time Ken hadn’t been connecting with his long irons. "Nothing except duck hooks" as Steve puts it. Here, under the gun, Ken hit a four iron that “Split the pin” and landed about 15 feet past the hole. Steve hit his shot to the green and both men two-putted for par.

On the 18^th and final hole of regulation play both Ken and Steve had spectacular drives that carried the lake and ended up within about 130 yards of the green. Steve, a little further out hit first. His approach shot landed near the hole, but bounce to the back of the green, far from the hole. Ken played a low bump-and-run that ended much nearer the hole. Both men two-putted, and, having tied through 18 holes, (after waiting a few groups to see if anyone else would need to join them) decided to hold a playoff.

The playoff began on the par-5 1^st hole. Both Ken and Steve managed to land in the thick grass in front of the green in 3 shots.  Ken hit his fourth shot to within 1 foot of the hole while Steve hit his to within 4 foot. Steve had to make the four footer over the aerated green to stay alive. He made the putt.

On the next hole, hole number two and the 20^th hole of the day for Ken and Steve, both had good drives. Both hit good approach shots onto the green. Ken was about 15 feet from the hole while Steve was 8 feet out. Ken went first and drained his 15-foot putt for birdie. Steve, again with his back to the wall, had to nail the 8-footer to stay alive. This time he missed the putt. Ken won the low gross with a final score of 77( and 1-under for the 2-hole playoff). Steve also shot a 77 but was even through the playoff.

This tournament saw some of the best golf in a UCGC tournament. Even though 77 doesn’t sound like a good score, the wind was really howling that day. Coming down the stretch both men played exceptionally. Steve was 1-under through the last 7 holes(including the 2 playoff holes) and Ken was 2-under. Both Steve and Ken agree that it was a good time. They both played solidly and neither flinched under the mounting pressure. Both were pleased that it was determined not by a missed shot or mistake, but by a birdie. Although Steve, as always, expressed good sportsmanship by not being a sore loser, he did state during this interview that he was writing Ken out of his will. At least the 2000 Kooman Boycheff Memorial Golf Tournament Trophy is one item that Steve will not have to worry about in his will.