Skins Game has Big Pots, Ties and Long Putts
The 2018 Skins Game was played over the slopes and valleys of Mt. Brighton on a fine fall day. In the West Game, David Martin made par on the par 5 16th to reach $44 on the day and out distance a closing burst from Charlie Roy who took the last 2 holes and $28. In the Central Game, Corey McCue picked off 4 of only 6 skins won by the group including a $24 7 hole push with par on #10 and an $18 win with birdie on #17 for a total of $50 and a big margin over Greg Kline’s $16 skin with par on #14 and Helen Puffenberger’s $14 on the final hole. In the East, World #1 Gregg Nothdurft fought to a $34 tie with former World #1 Christopher Cooley. Cooley won with par on #12 and birdie on #15 to gather his total, but Gregg grabbed a $26 final hole birdie for the tie. This is the first tie in a Skins Game since 2011 when Thom Bales tied Phil Abele in the West Game. In the new All Star Division Game, Chuck Withey took the money like he has all year. Chuck cashed 6 skins across the round to total $40. Bill Gordon collected $20 with a eagle on #16 and an epic putt off win for the final skin of the day. Chuck set up a 60 foot downhill, uphill, downhill 6 foot breaker for the first hole with the words “I’ll give us an easy 15 footer for the 2nd hole.” Mike Nicholas then lipped out the first put to 8 inches for a sure 2. Eric Birkle slid by the edge to 2 feet. Then Bill Gordon drained the third put to stun the crowd. Chuck Withey, now needing to make for a push, then banged his off the back of the cup and it popped out to 18 inches. See here for Paula Creamer re-enacting Gordon’s Putt.