Pete Christensen crowned champion

ROYAL CITY — Sean Vetterick won the Thursday Night Men’s League showdown with Peter Christensen at the Royal Golf Course, 83-84, but Christensen played more to his handicap and claimed the first title of the league.

Christensen collected $100 and a trophy. And his was the first name to go on the league’s plaque of winners.

“It was a lot of fun,” Christensen said. “It was exciting to be paired up Sean at the end.”

Vetterick noted that a new two-man scramble league was born at a season-ending barbecue at his home. The fall men’s league is set to launch on August 3, he said. There is a registration form in the Sun Tribune. There will be a one-time league entry fee of $25.

The spring league was organized in March as one of the ways to improve the amount of play at the RGC. It served its purpose, according to office manager Athena Vetterick, and the golf operation has improved overall from last year.

Sean Vetterick, too, said the first run of the league was fun and exciting. He said all of the players at the barbecue raved about it.

“We really had a good time,” he said.

The only downer for Vetterick was a balky putter in the showdown pairing with Christensen on the final day. Makable putts would just not go down.

Christensen, a 14-handicap, won the net scoring, 70-73, and scored enough player points to post a final PP margin of five, or 92-87.

Over the course of 13 weeks, Christensen demonstrated consistency. After he shot to the top of the standings in week 3, he stayed there, playing right around his handicap on the average week.

The lone consistent challenger was Vetterick a 10-handicap. He cut the PP margin to 00.50 in week 12 with a hot 38 (9 holes that week). But his game cooled for the showdown.

The finale saw a slow start by Vetterick. He fell back two strokes with bogey’s on hole Nos. 1 and 2. Both players struggled on No. 3 with triple for Christensen and double for Vetterick.

Vetterick took a one-shot lead with par at No. 6 while Christensen was scoring double. The front nine ended 42-43 Vetterick.

Both players were steady on the back 9. Christensen tied the score with a birdie on 17, but he doubled on 18, and Vetterick bogeyed to win low gross.

Vetterick took a consolation prize of $100. Third place and $50 went to Jeremy Russell. Ray Valle won $25 for third place.

Valle made the biggest leap on the final day, jumping up from 10th. His opponent forfeited. So he scored all 19 player points available in the match.

— Final Player Points —

• Pete Christensen - 92.00
• Shawn Vetterick - 87.00
• Jeremy Russell - 80.00
• Ray Valle - 78.00
• Bob Murphy - 76.50
• Kyle Scroggins - 74.50
• Josh Scroggins - 74.50
• Patrick Dorsing - 64.50
• Andrew Perkins - 63.50
• Kyle Haugen - 61.00
• Chad Smith - 56.00
• Matt Andersen - 42.50