Engstrom Seals the Deal in Evergreen Golf League Playoffs

After watching his partner Mike Gaddis and opponent Bill Kaiser card birdies on No. 18, John Engstrom had no choice but to follow with a birdie of his own to secure the Division II victory and advance his team into the second round of the Evergreen Golf League playoffs Tuesday at Evergreen Golf Course.

League historian Tom Trinco reports that the birdie trifecta was a first in the storied annals of the EGC Tuesday league.

"I seem to recall Arnie and Jack finding the bottom of the cup back in '78," Trinco said. "But Gary Player choked and left his birdie putt short."

In Division I, defending champions Aaron and Cory Heier defeated Brian Kelso and Phil Cooper 4 and 3, while Adam "King" Kahn and Bill Luftig defeated Josh Lorenz and Kevin Desalvo 4 and 2.  Monty Porter and Noah Kowalewski beat Greg Dorsey (playing without partner Alden Bock) 3 and 2 and Heath Olson and Tom Trinco defeated Mike Hesser and Floyd Jones 2 and 1.

In other Division II play, Rick Gongorek and John Magdalenski defeated Andy Wann and Greg Handley 1 up on the first extra hole, Bob Henry and Wayne Bernardo beat Eric Robinson and Nate Wills 1 up on the third extra hole, and Brant Andrews and Jesse Haubert ousted Glen Vitale and Steve Carberry 2 and 1.

Low rounds of the week were posted by Heath Olson, Bill Luftig, and Nate Wills, who took advantage of excellent scoring conditions to shoot 37.  Rounds of 39 were posted by Bill Kaiser, Mike Gaddis, and Ricky Gongorek.