SALEM, Massachusetts – Selling out in just a matter of minutes after opening registration, the historical Salem Country Club was on everyone’s radar for the 2023 Sheeran Modified Scotch Tournament. A total of 55 teams came out to compete in this year’s event under the spell of cooler fall conditions.
Defending their title, Jill and Michael Mertes (Wyckoff Country Club) have captured another win. The duo is over a year into their marriage and their golf game is just as in sync as last year when they were as newlyweds.
“The formula is easy. She’s hitting drivers well, I’ll hit a wedge in all day. So it’s drive, wedge, watch her make the putt. Makes for a really easy day” said Michael.
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In the Gross Division, the Mertes’ shot a total score of 73(+1). Carding an even par on the front-nine, the duo was almost edged out of their first place win by Amy and Scott Krypel. With 3-bogeys and a birdie on the card, a solid 18th hole-birdie brought them back to the sole lead.
“A lot of clutch putting. We had a lot of par putts, 6 to 7 footers to save pars. So putting was a big part of it.” said Jill.
To Michael, those bogey’s were a fluke. “We had a couple shots out of the rough, and the rough was very thick and juicy, so we didn’t get it quite as close as we needed to, but we bounced back with a birdie” he said.
The greens were not easy the couple agreed. “We did a good job of staying below the hole. The couple times we got in trouble, one three putt caught us on the back side” said Jill.
In the Net Division, Amy and Scott Krypel (Tedesco Country Club) shot a net score of 67 (-5) on Tuesday. The Krypel’s made seven net birdies, including actual birdies on the 2nd and 5th. With three consecutive birdies on holes 7-9, plus a net eagle on the 5th, they clinched the top spot for them in the division. Jocelyn and Scott Brown (Salem Country Club) are representing the host club and finished with six net birdies, a net eagle and four actual birdies just falling two-strokes behind the net division winners.
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