[Wheldcobchoto]

Yesterday I played in a scramble with some college friends for a Jimmy Fund Fundraiser. The organization that hosted it is called 1 Ball 2 Strikes. The organization was started by a local baseball player who was drafted by the Red Sox, made it up to Double A (might have got to AAA, not sure), then developed testicular cancer. His name was Greg Montalbano. During this time, his contract expired with the Sox, but they continued to pay for his cancer treatments. After beating cancer, Greg fought his way back into professional baseball and was picked up by a local independent team named the Worcester Tornadoes. Greg pitched for them for just under two seasons. During the second season with Worcester, he developed cancer again and had to leave the team.

Upon learning that he had cancer the second time, Greg and his friends and family started this non-profit named with his own little sense of humor about his situation. Sadly, Greg passed away after this second battle with cancer just over two years ago. 1 Ball 2 Strikes donates 100% of their proceeds to providing children and their families who are battling cancer in Boston area hospitals their life long dreams. If a child has wanted to attend a Red Sox game and has never done so, 1 Ball 2 Strikes would provide for example - tickets for the entire family, along with concession stand money, souvenir money as well as a chance to meet their favorite player and possibly get on the field at Fenway or into the locker room.

I met Greg a few times as he played for Worcester with several guys I played with in college and he was a great guy and a ton of fun. He also loved to golf. The tournament in his name and organization was played at Highfields Country Club in Grafton MA. The course is great and the people are even better. Anyways, Greg's favorite golf movie was 'Tin Cup', and we all know about Roy McAvoy having parred the back 9 with only his 7 iron. On the 330 yard par 4 8th hole at yesterdays tournament, participants were only allowed to use their 7 iron from the tee through the green, recognizing both the movie and Greg's love of golf. I crushed my tee shot close to 200 yards (elevated tee box and a perfect move on the ball - doesn't happen like that often) leaving us with about 130 or so in. The green was protected by three greenside bunkers with only a 5 or 6 foot wide alley approach between them. I played a combination shot of a knockdown/ punch off the approach and rolled the ball to 15 feet. We were left with a tough right to left uphill putt for birdie, which I just barely lipped out. Tap in pars are nice, especially with only a 7 iron hahha. So sorry for the long story and thanks to all of you who read this far. What is the best gimmick or gimmick hole you have seen during a scramble?