With hope and cautious optimism
Dear POGI golfers,
Welcome back to the opening of the 2020 Golf Season! Continue reading
Here to stay and play
My POGI comrades,
My term as POGI president have reached the 18th hole and it's time to pass the baton. Continue reading
Tales from the Short Grass
2020 POGI Ryder Cup
Bleeding red
What’s so special about the Ryder Cup? This highly anticipated event is very popular to players and is considered to be the ultimate pressure cooker in golf. Who wouldn’t want to be part of it? In an individual sport like golf, it’s rare to play team format and the concept of playing for a team adds to the fun and excitement of the game. The eventual winner will be the team that is best able to handle the pressure of the competition.
The POGI event this year was participated by 24 golfers, combination of members and their guests. It was held at Charleston Springs North in Millstone, NJ on Sept 19, 2020. The blue team wore white pants and blue shirts and the red team wore blue pants and red shirts. We were blessed with a great weather, sunny and mid 60s. The wind was blowing strong and the well maintained greens were rolling fast which made the 6,374 yards course challenging but fair. To give you an idea on how strong the wind was, at hole #8, 140 yds Par 3 with strong headwind, we all had to hit our 170yds club to make it to the green.
The format this year was modified to mimic the PGA and R&A Ryder Cup competitions, Fourball (front 9) and Foursome (back 9). Foursome or alternate shot is new to POGI. This is where the duo team only use 1 ball alternating shots from tee to the hole. This proved to be tougher pressure as you would want to give a good succeeding shot to your teammate
Rules were published ahead of time by Joey and the POGI Live Tournament scoring was prepped by Nestor to reflect the rules, the matches and the handicap adjustments. The live scoring worked like a charm and it was the first time in the POGI Ryder cup history where all players can see the status of every match at any point during the competition.
The competitions were tough, players were exchanging great shots with clutch shots, 2 out of 6 matches ended up in draw while 3 teams won by at least 4up. As for my match with my teammate Cesar Z against Bong and Ed Amisola. We tied them at 17th. Playing the 18th all squared, Ed A hit his tee shot to the fairway bunker right, I hit mine over the fairway bunker left but it rolled to the edge of the trees. Bong hit their 2nd shot to green side bunker and with not much backswing the only thing Cesar can do for our 2nd shot was to bump the ball from the edge to the closest fairway. I was left with 115yds shot to the flag for our 3rd shot and flushed my wedge to the green 20ft to the flag. Ed bunker shot was fat and the ball stayed in. Cesar lag putt was good for a gimme bogie. Now it’s Bong’s turn to hit out of bunker and he made great shot, ball ended up 8ft to the hole. Now it’s Ed‘s turn to tie us or lose the match. 8 footer for bogie. He made the putt! Clutch! We ended up draw. Great match! At the end of the day one team has to win and another has to lose. For this year, the winner was the Blue team led by Bong Mapa. A big congratulations to them!
Food was served at the picnic area at Charleston Springs after the game while stories of great pars and heroic saves were exchanges by the competitors.
The Official Results
Made them bleed until they were blue
Great day of golf in one the best weather of September 2020 and a great golf course in Charleston Spring. The pandemic did not deter us from forgoing the last event of POGI.
Skipper Bong Mapa of Team BLUE led the rest of the team with their dazzling golf attire (Blue shirt and white pants) and brilliant performances to capture the 2020 POGI Ryder Cup victory.
First match, the battle of the single handicapper, Team Blue Alden-Danny vs Red Jess-EJ. Team Blue was leading on the front nine but was outlasted by Team Red at the back nine, alternate shot, with the brilliant performance of the Red team putting the first point on the board. Red 2up over BLue.Leaderboard - Blue 0 vs Red 1
2nd match was very exciting as the match was all-square going into 18 hole.
Red team composed of Joey & Cesar was always praying for every shot.
Blue Ed Amisola was terrific, always putting his skills for every hole.
Going into 18 hole par 4 alternate shot match all-square, Joey’s drive went into the trees.
When found, the alternate shot by Cesar had a difficult stance.
He calmy put the ball in play into the fairway.
Joey then hit a brilliant 3rd shot into the green, 20 feet away from the hole, 3 on.
Meanwhile, Red Amisola drove his ball into the fairway bunker. Bong's alternate second shot, 145 yards from the bunker found the greenside bunker.
Amisola third shot from the green side bunker missed the ball and the ball moved only few inches in the sand.
Strokes played between the teams are even at 3 strokes because of Amisola missed shot.
Team Red has the advantage since the Team Blue ball was in the bunker while Team Red was on the green, 20 footer from the hole.
Bong hit a phenomenal 4th shot from the bunker into the green giving his partner Ed Amisola an 10 footer, in which he calmly sinked into the hole for bogey.
Team Red has the opportunity to win the hole but instead 2 putted for bogey and ended the match as all-square.
Leaderboard - Blue 0.5 vs Red 1.5
3rd match - Blue team led by Ralp & Ed outperformed their opponent Red Manny &T im to get the point. Blue 5 up.
Leaderboard - Blue 1.5 vs Red 1.5
Match #4 - Team blue Swaggers Dante & Ramil vs Team Red POGI's Dino & Mario are all-squared.
Leaderboard - Blue 2 vs Red 2
Match # 5 won by Team Blue composed of Jerson & Swagger Rolly for their spectacular performance, scored 6 up against Team Red Nestor&Tatt giving the Blue team another point on the board.
Leaderboard - Blue 3 vs Red 2
And finally, the last match #6 which Blue team duly completed a 4 & 3 victory over Team Red to ensure the final scoreline finished 4 - 2. Blue team Ron & Barry vs Team Red Musto & Alex
Leaderboard - Blue 4 vs Red 2.
Thanks everyone for the great day of GOLF.
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
From the President's Desk
Dear POGI golfers,
As we close another regular season of golf, I couldn’t help but reflect on the last several months of play. The 2020 season had been surreal. For the better part of early spring, I was genuinely afraid the we would not be able to enjoy our beloved game, when most of us felt it precarious to even go out to Costco. It was very gratifying that, through our shared enthusiasm and vigilance, we were able to successfully hold all 4 majors and several mini’s despite the challenges this year had rendered us.
We wouldn’t know for certain how it would look like when we make it to the other side of this. But if yesterday’s game was any measure of foretelling, I am extremely hopeful as I witnessed 3 minor miracles: Musto winning a trophy in a major, Jess chipping in for a birdie from 30 yards on 6th hole of the Lake, and Bong draining a 35-footer on the 9th of the Ridge!
Thank you again to the tireless dedication of our officers and tour directors, without whom our already-erratic golf games would’ve languished even more so. To all POGI members and their guests who supported this year’s tours, thank you and more power to you! Be safe all and enjoy the rest of the extended season!
Manny D
Musto's Corner
2020 Invitational
The 2020 Pogi Invitational was held in Neshanic Valley at the gorgeous Neshanic golf club. This public course is well kept and has a good degree of difficulty. It suits golfers who hit it long and straight. Accuracy and length is a premium for a golfer to be successful.
Pogi players and our honored guests from Swag showed up ready to have a good time. I like the event coordinator custom shirt sporting the logo Pogi and Bong Mapa. Appearance is half the battle.
Congratulations to the Pogi administration for putting on a well run tournament while strictly following the CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe.
Pogi has become more of a brotherhood given all the situations we have been through together. I was happy to be on the podium after so many years of struggling. I was honored to see how many players were happy for me. I appreciate it very much guys
Swag played well and won the low gross. Pogi played well. Both leagues have good players.
Thanks to all our guests for supporting us. This is our last major for 2020. The year went by quickly with covid19 impacting our lives. Hitting close to home.
We still have the mini tour, the ryder cup and the year end getaway. Not to mention the year end party.
The Official Results
Low Gross Champion - Danny Abogado, Gross 78
Low Net Champion - Ramil Aquino, Gross 87, Net 71
Low Net 1st Runner Up - Musto Khan, Gross 101, Net 72
Low Net 2nd Runner Up - Joey Alfonso, Gross 86, Net 74 (over Dante on hardest hole)
Low Net 3nd Runner Up - Dante Estrada, Gross 88, Net 74
Closest to the Pin - Ed Amisola and Ralph Ferrer
Best Dressed - Bong Mapa
For complete scores see the Logbook
You can see our winners at the Podium
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
PPC My Way
2020 Pogi Players Invitational
The Official Results
Low Gross Champion - Jess Bautista, Gross 86
Low Net Champion - Barry Reyes, Gross 97, Net 75
Low Net 1st Runner Up - Mario Balmater, Gross 91, Net 76
Low Net 2nd Runner Up - Joey Alfonso, Gross 91, Net 78
Low Net 3nd Runner Up - Alden Nacionales, Gross 88, Net 81
For complete scores see the Logbook
You can see our winners at the Podium
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
The Big One, Finally
2020 Pogi Open
The Official Results
Low Gross Champion - Ed Amisola, Gross 89
Low Net Champion - Dino Del Rosario, Gross 89, Net 79
Low Net 1st Runner Up - Jess Bautista, Gross 90, Net 81
Low Net 2nd Runner Up - Tim Caro, Gross 95, Net 81
Low Net 3nd Runner Up - Joey Alfonso, Gross 97, Net 84
For complete scores see the Logbook
You can see our winners at the Podium
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
Musto's Corner
2020 Mini Tour #1
Pogi mini tour is in full swing. Congratulations to the club for continuing golfing activities after being locked down for several weeks. This is our second tournament and we are following all CDC guide lines to stay safe. Social distancing, face mask, sanitizing and so on.
The mini tour at Bunker Hill made us realize how much we miss golf and how precious our long standing relationship is. We were so happy when we saw each other in the parking lot and it only got better from there on.
This is the same group of guys who not too long ago were on the Pogi chat discussing wide ranging topics from quantum mechanics schrodinger cat to discount membership on PH. It was good to see them on the course, in the fresh air again.
I was surprised how sharp the guys games are even though it is only our second tournament and we were locked down for so long.
It was fun watching Barry painstakenly play each hole. His struggles, focus and rewards is what this game is all about. He is a straight hitter with a nice baby draw.
RESULTS
Jimbo DeLa Cruz is the champion sporting new glasses and looking like a professor. His net score was 69 and won the $35 prize. He is a phenomenal golfer when his game is on par.
First runner up was Joey Alfonso with a net of 70. ThIs marathon runner and tri athlete looks very fit.
Second runner up was the dynamic Jess Bautista with a net score of 71. Competing with one hand taped up.
Third runner up was our front line hero Ralph Ferrer with a net score of 72. We cannot thank you enough for the nursing work you do in these dangerous covid 19 times.
Thanks to the coordinators especially Ralph. We look forward to the next game. See you all soon. BE LONG...
For complete scores see the Logbook
You can see our winners at the Podium
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
For Pootsie
2020 POGI Memorial Tournament
A historic and unprecedented POGI event kicked off at 1pm last Saturday, 5/16, in Fox Hollow G.C. on a golf-perfect-weather day as 14 members braved the COVID-19 restricted playing conditions with face masks and solo-riding carts to, comply with social distancing guidelines. Flags, untouched, stayed in the holes. No rakes in and around the sand traps. No ball washers by the tee boxes. In as much as everyone was excited to play again, there was a pall over the event as we remembered Pootsie and Charlie who passed away, taken by the virus untimely. Before the first two-some teed off, the group gathered in a circle at the parking lot to remember both fine gentlemen and expressed gratitude that everyone (in POGI) was healthy and able to come out to enjoy the competitive day.
The tournament venue was in great shape - fast undulating greens, sloping fairways, and unmolested tee boxes. The tough lies on the fairways and fast greens resulted in predominantly higher-than-normal golf scores. There were a few flashes of brilliance, however, with 3 birdies recorded by Dino, Bong and Jess. Shot-of-the-day was unanimously awarded to Bong's birdie shot on the 4th hole, par 3, from 86 yards short of the green! Someone whispered that the ball was likely closer to the tee box than to the green!
Some of us hung around the 18th green to watch the rest of the group finished their 3-hour-something rounds. Despite some high scores, all participants enjoyed the day. But, alas, there was no awarding ceremony, no usual after-game food and drinks to be had. Awkwardly, we said our goodbyes to each other as we walked back to our cars in the parking lot. Hoping for the 'old days' when we can shake hands or give each other hugs but quietly knowing that we now live in very different world, we each drove off as the sun started to cast longer shadows of the trees along Fox Hollow's driveway.
The Official Results
Low Gross Champion - Jess Bautista, Gross 81
Low Net Champion - Manny Domantay, Gross 89, Net 74
Low Net 1st Runner Up - Mario Balmater, Gross 91, Net 77
Low Net 2nd Runner Up - Boyet Lengson, Gross 94, Net 80
Low Net 3rd Runner Up - Ralph Ferrer, Gross 97, Net 81
For complete scores see the Logbook
You can see our winners at the Podium
Scenes from the Tournament
Click thumbnails for viewer
From the President's Desk
Dear POGI golfers,
Welcome back to the opening of the 2020 Golf Season! I know that we all wish that the COVID-19 virus never arrived to not only interfere with our beloved game, but also to drastically change the world as we knew it. We've seen close up the devastation it caused when Pootsie and Charlie were taken from us untimely, and millions of people who lost their jobs.
Please join me in saying a short prayer for our fallen golf mates, and give a huge shout out for our members (and family) in the healthcare services who have shown extra ordinary courage in the midst of our fight against this viru
With hope and cautious optimism, let's unite and celebrate our love for the game by keeping in touch with one another, virtually or otherwise. Some of us will continue to fight on the front lines, some, fortunate enough, will work from home, and some may be unlucky to lose their jobs. Let's support each other during these challenging times. However long this tunnel we're currently in, we will come out at the end of it. I hope to see you all, one time or another, during this season.
By the time this letter comes to you, we would have completed our first tournament of the season - 2020 Memorial Championship at the Fox Hollow GC. Due to the existing restrictions and individual levels of risk aversion, the roster will relatively be short, but would certainly be grateful for the opportunity to compete, rib each other, and personally share our stories during the lock down.
Wishing you all an enjoyable, healthy season. Here's to fairways, greens, and a few hazards! It's great to be alive.
Manny D
Playing Through
My POGI Comrades,
My term as POGI president have reached the 18th hole and it's time to pass the baton. It's been an honor and my pleasure to serve you as POGI President for the past two years. I have to admit that the job was not hard at all because we have great people who always makes the effort to lead every tournament we played for the past two years. And I'd like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thank you to all the commissioners, the executive committee, and all the members who supported the league during my term.
As we move forward to a new beginning, I am so grateful that we will be led by an awesome guy who drives a porsche, a convertible, had a hole in one and very a generous friend. I can assure you that we will be in good hands under Manny's Presidency.
As for me, I'm not going anywhere so Jesse's here to stay and wants to play. Like what the hit song says - "You can check out anytime you want but you can never leave".
Mabuhay ang POGI!
Jess Bautista POGI President, 2018-2020