Sundowners golf playoff teams set
by Lenny Roberts

The field is set for tomorrow's Sundowners Golf League playoff round as the Scramblers staved off a late-season spurt by Bopper's Thumpers to finish in second place after 16 weeks of play. Under pressure, the Thumpers could muster just 55 final-night points, and finished in fourth place, tied with the Village Idiots, two points out of a playoff spot.
Mike Urbanek's #&?*@&% earned the first-place spot in the second half of play with 473 team points. They also are the front-runners for the coveted Callender Cup with 926 season points. The Callender Cup is awarded to the team with the most combined season and playoff points.
Paul Forchione's Chief's "i.e.," despite a dismal 43 points, hung on to a playoff berth by finishing third, tied with the Scramblers with 462 second-half points, but in fifth place overall with 910 points.
Already in the playoff by virtue of finishing in the top three after eight weeks of play are Parker's Putters, Above Par and That's Good, Pick It Up. Rounding out the playoff schedule are wildcard teams Sammy's Ropers and the Sambaggers, which each posted the most total points without finishing in the top three positions in either half of the split season.
Longshot Sammy's Ropers exploded into the playoff scene with a league-high 66 points Tuesday night on the strength of Marshall Lopez's 41, for 24 points, and 21 points each from George Ortiz and Ben Barraza. Other teammates Ralph Campitelli and Jerry Simone each posted 20 points that were not used as only the top three scores count.
The Sambaggers, the league's perpetual low-gross leaders, squeaked into the playoff with 458 second-half points. For the season, both Sammy's Ropers and the Sambaggers compiled 911 points. Winning the Callender Cup may be a stretch, however, as they ended regular play 15 points behind the #&?*@&%.
#&?*@&% finished strong with 59 points on the Soule Park front nine, which management made difficult with tough pin placements and blue tee markers well behind the monuments in most cases.
Individual performances worthy of mention include Robin Williams' two-under par and rounds of 35 by the league's premier player, Bopper's Thumpers' Jacob Lusk, and Terry Gustafson, of the Sambaggers. At even-par were Gustafson's teammates Barkley Martin and Sam Williamson. High points for the round behind Lopez's 24 were posted by Tim Leal, with 22, and Leslie LaBraque, Jim Gamble, Ortiz and Barraza, each of whom posted 21.
Tomorrow's tee times for the eight playoff teams begin at 6:45 a.m.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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