Sundowners golfers wrap up regular season
By Lenny Roberts

Led by Jerry Simoni's nine-hole round of 37, good for a near-record -ying 26 points, Ralphie's Ropers hustled into third place in the second half of the Sundowners Golf League's 13th season, and into Saturday's playoff for the Callender Cup.

Simoni got help from teammates Ralph Campitelli and Marshall Lopez, who contributed 22 and 19 points, respectively.

Even though they trail Bopper's Thumpers by 12 points overall, Campitelli's high-handicapped squad could be considered the dark horse to win it all in Saturday's 18-hole, eight-team playoff.

Teams that qualified in the first half - Above Par, Bopper's Thumpers and Rhino's FFFF - will meet the second-half's top three teams including Meiners Oaks Sash & Door, Ralphie's and the Scramblers. Rounding out the field by virtue of scoring the most points without finishing in the top three positions in either half are qualifiers Forrest Gumps and Village Idiots.

Coming up big for the Thumpers in the final week were Jacob Lusk, who led all players with a 32 good for 22 points, and Danny Cole, whose three-over-par earned him 21 points. Others kicking in at just the right time were M.O. Sash & Door's Barkley Martin and Terry Gustafson, with three-under 33s, and Doug Ragan, who fired a 34.

Since only three scores are used for total points, former Ojai City Champion and Ojai Valley Inn & Spa golf course superintendent Sam Williamson's 35 was discarded as the team matched its low-gross round for the year at 100.

Others posting under-par rounds were Mike Urbanek, Robin Williams, Scotty Davis and Dave Tucker with 34s. Behind Simoni's 26 points were Urbanek, Steve Streich and Mark Sauer, with 24 points, and Andy Strben and Ron Rood, each of whom tallied 23 in losing causes.

With 303, Tyson York scored the most points for the year, edging out Gustafson and Lonnie Gibson who posted 299. And, unofficially, Brian Ramsey averaged 19.54 points per night for those players who played in more than 11 but less than 16 weeks during the season.

Following Saturday's Callender Cup playoff round, the Sundowners 2003 season will conclude with the annual Scramble Sunday, Aug. 17. Players are advised to contact the Soule Park Pro Shop at 646-5633 after Monday for tee-off times.

Callender Cup standings:
Bopper's Thumpers, 937
Rhino's FFFF, 946
Ralphie's Ropers, 925
Above Par, 921
Scramblers, 916
Forrest Gumps, 915
Village Idiots, 911
M.O. Sash & Door, 909

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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