Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Brett Abbotts wins 2012 Bill Franey Open!


2012 champion Brett Abbotts, Shirley Franey & Mike Franey

He found the memorial tournament listed on the Iowa Golf Association website so he decided to sign up and make the forty minute drive from Ames to Jefferson on Sunday. With drives in excess of 300 yards Abbotts carved his way around the fairways and greens of the Raccoon Valley Golf Course just south of Jefferson to win the 2012 Bill Franey Open. The twenty five year old 6th grade special education teacher at Southeast Polk took a five shot lead into the championship nine and never looked back. He finished with a seven under par 101 total for twenty seven holes which was good enough to beat two time champion Craig Mertz by four. His individual nine hole scores were 32 - 31- 38. The 101 total was the lowest winning score since the tournament's name was changed seven years ago.
Golf is in the family for Abbotts as his dad is in the Ontario Golf Association Hall of Fame. He played his college golf for Dakota Wesleyan in White Lakes, South Dakota where he received a four year golf scholarship. When he is not in the classroom he works at Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill. Just a week before coming to Jefferson he finished a strong fourth in the Ames City Tournament. He labeled himself a "recreational golfer." With his long drives, soft touch around the greens and solid putting stroke he is now labeled a Bill Franey Open Champion. "These greens are so smooth and putt great" Abbotts said.

Two time champion Craig Mertz finished four shots back at 105 and one shot ahead of Todd Madson of Jefferson. DMACC freshman and Carroll High School graduate Tanner Ludwig finished fourth at 106. Former Jefferson resident Jeff Muench was fifth at 107, former Carroll Country Golf Professional Joe Ward was sixth at 108 followed by other championship flight qualifiers Kyler Ludwig 109 who is a member of the Grand View golf team. Eric Butenbach 110, Nico Costa 110, brothers Brad Christensen 111 and Kyle Christensen 114 and Carroll Country Golf Professional Paul Tigges with 118.

Other Carroll golfers in the tournament were first flight winner Corey Bluml who was looking to complete a grand slam on Sunday but instead missed the cut by one. Other first flight scores were Lonny Lehrkamp 74, Justin Yetmar 75, DMACC in Boone freshman Matt Gute 75. Troy Auen who was celebrating his birthday Sunday 75, Brad Hempstead 76, Collin Hackett 76, Carroll High School senior Sam Wilkie 77, former Carroll resident Nate Ward 77, Chad Kanne 77, Mike Franey 77, Steve Sinnard 77 and Pete Collison 77.

Second flight scores were Tim Gute 78, Terry "Wong" Olson 79, Steve "Cuda" Quandt 79, Tom Burns 79, Tom Duff 79, Andy Bernholtz 80, Benet Snyder 80, Matt Lujano 80, Dave Blum 80, Mark Tigges 82 and Wyatt Haukap 82.

Third flight scores were Kevin Forke 83, Carroll city councilman Tom Tait 83, Steve Auen who also was celebrating his birthday 83, John Dukes 83, Johnny Beiter 84, Kevin Milligan 84, Dave Nelson 84, Pat Macke 86, Mike McDermott 87, Brad Stork 87.

Mike Schulz won first in the fourth flight with a 87. Other fourth flight scores were Sean O'Leary 89, Frank Comito 92, Scott Tjaden 97, and Nick Bowdish 110. Defending champion Scott Quandt was not in this year’s field.

The tournament named after Bill Franey, father of Mike Franey of Carroll who passed away in May of 2006 attracted 39 of the 72 players in the field. The tournament was formerly known as the Al Hoy Memorial, where Franey served as the tournament director for 25 years. In 2006 the board of directors of the golf course renamed the tournament the Bill Franey Open.

Proceeds from the tournament support a scholarship given annually to a student training to be an electric lineman at Northwest Community College in Sheldon. Franey was a lineman for the Midland Power Coop in Jefferson for 31 years and served as line superintendent for another 10 years.

All golfers played 18 holes with the low 12 players qualifying for a final championship nine holes. Eighty golfers were in this year’s field which produced the lowest eighteen hole qualifying score in recent memory. To qualify into the championship nine players had to shoot two over par 73 or lower. Tanner Ludwig won medalist honors in the final round with a four under par 34.

Tournament organizers would like to thank all of the golfers who participated, Todd and Bret Madson for their great work on the course and in the clubhouse, tournament scorer Jan Whitver, Deanna McPherson, Marcia Ostlund, Vicki Copeland, Kris Carrick, Nancy Scheffers, Connie Semke, Sheryl Peterson, Connie Hamilton, Annie Johnston, Betty Kious and all of the women who provided the salads for making the tournament a success.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Now there is four.....Bud Light's quest ends....Van Diest upset....Franey resigns as Bud Light Captain!

Your Bud Light team ended its 2012 season last night with a 40 to 32 loss to Champion Ford in the quarterfinals. The difference in the match was a 6-0 loss by Captain Mike Franey to Two time Papa Joe Champion Dave Nelson. Mike Schulz beat Monument Man Loren Boyce, Bud Three Steve Auen beat head Ford man Ken Payer and Steve Sinnard tied with Wade Wilkie.

After the match Franey said "Looking back I should have recruited a sub to play for me." It is time for a new vision and new leadership for your Bud Light team. With that in mind I am officially resigning as Bud Light team Captain. I will continue to deliver Meals on Wheels though! All things must come to an end and I realize that this team can achieve great things with a fresh start. Over the next few months Bud Light team officials will discuss the future of the team.

Champion Ford advances on to the semifinals with a tough match with the farmer and dog's Templeton Rye team. The whiskeys pounded Graddy's Salsa's 45 to 27. Steve "Cuda" Quandt, Papa Joe Pick and Kyle Christensen all won 12 to 9 over Tomato John Gradoville, Nick Fangman and Mike Loehr. Produce Tom Duff and Rick Grote tied their match.  

Macke Motors beat Budweiser in the closest match of the night 37 to 35. Flying Bob Raue led the motors with a 12 to 6 win over Counter top Pat Malloy. Raue was the only winner for the motors. Car Wash Todd Pettitt lost to retired Randy Hockom 8 to 10. Jeff Minnich lost to Bud man John Greteman 10 to 8 and Randy Bierl tied with GPS Bob Pudenz. Next up for the motors is Chico Kanne and the oil jobbers of Community Oil.

Community Oil shocked Van Diest Supply Company 38 to 34. The difference was Todd Kanne's 15 to 3 beating of Pete Collison. Ryan Milligan beat the head oil jobber Chico Kanne 12 to 6. Captain Dirk Glynn beat Jerry Janson 12 to 6 and Dick Muhlbauer beat Aaron Pick 11 to 7. Community Oil will face off with Supper League power house Macke Motors next week.

Next week in the Semifinals:

Templeton Rye vs. Champion Ford

Macke Motors vs. Community Oil

That is a wrap! Look for upcoming coverage of the Bill Franey Open and next weeks semifinal action.

As always this Bud's for you and ON IOWA!

Retired championship captain

Mike Franey

Monday, August 20, 2012

Corey Bluml wins Club Championship!

Corey Bluml joined a short list of Carroll golfers to win the Carroll City Tournament, the Carroll Muny Tournament and the Carroll Country Club Tournament on Sunday. Bluml joins names like John Peterson and Tom Reiman. Bluml took a five shot lead into the final nine and never looked back firing an one under par 36 to win both the gross and net divisions of the Carroll Country Club Tournament. The net division win also included a very lucrative prize fund in the calcutta. Bluml will be in the field next weekend in Jefferson at the Bill Franey Open.

Congratulations to Zoe Ruchti for winning the Ladies Club Championship!
The final foursome was Corey Bluml, Mike Eckerman, Matt Fleshner and Craig Mertz




John Gradoville, Mike Schulz, Brad Hempstead and Kyle Christiansen were part of the Championship nine.
Happy Birthday to Jenna Lujano!


Happy Birthday Karen! Congratulations Karen and Denny on your wedding last weekend as well.

Tee times still remain for the Bill Franey Open on Sunday in Jefferson.

As always this Bud's for you and ON IOWA!

Mike Franey

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Bud Three chips Bud Light to victory......King of Beers survive.....Bill Franey Open registration begins!

The gasp that you heard last night around 8 was the Bud Light nation exhaling after Bud Three Steve "Hans"Auen flopped a sand wedge to six feet propelling your Bud Light team past defending Supper League champions Stiff Sticks.  After nine holes of competition on a beautiful Carroll Country Club night the two were tied 36 to 36. To decide who would earn the right to play #1 seed Champion Ford the two were taken behind #9 green for a chip off where your Bud Light team seized the moment thanks to a Bud Three Hans Auen chip.


Steve Sinnard and Mike Schulz provided much needed wins for the team. Neal Cross led the way for the Stiff Sticks with a blistering one over par 38 on the front nine.

Next up for your Bud Light team is British Open flight winner Champion Ford who had a bye last night.

Action in the Masters Flight also ended in a dead heat requiring a chip off where the King of Beers out chipped Utilicomm. Budweiser earns an August 21st meeting with Supper league powerhouse Macke Motors and their star handicap wizard Jeff Minnich.

Graddy's Salsas toppled Active Performance to advance into the second round. Graddy's will play the farmer and dog's Templeton Rye team. This will be a very interesting match up as Graddy's have seemed to find their step in the 16th week.

Head oil jobber Chico Kanne paddled his team to a victory over the Carroll Cycle Center earning a trip to the second round. Community Oil will play Dirk Glynn's Van Diest Supply Company. Glynn has entered into a consulting agreement with Bud Light team captain Mike Franey for advice on getting his team to the championship match. The consulting agreement is good through August 28th and the terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Bud Light and Van Diest Supply are on a crash course for a September 4th Supper League championship match.

Don't forget to get your tee time for the 2012 CCC club tournament this weekend. The gross and net champions will receive a set of Taylor Made Rocket Balls Irons. The calcutta auction will follow couples league on Friday night. All eyes will be on Muny club champion and city champion Corey Bluml as he attempts to sweep all three local tournaments for 2012.


Tee times are being taken for the 7th annual Bill Franey Open on the fairways and greens of the Raccoon Valley Golf Course just south of Jefferson. Defending Champion Scott Quandt is in the strong field along with 2012 Carroll City Champion and 2012 Carroll Muny Champion Corey Bluml.

That is a wrap for week 16 action from the Carroll Country Club. Look for reports from the quarter final action and the wrap up from the club championship.

As always this Bud's for you and ON IOWA!

Bud Light Championship Captain

Mike Franey

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Playoffs set.....Club Championship coming up.....Stiff Sticks look to repeat!

When the last putt fell to the bottom of the cup around 8 o'clock on Tuesday the field of 12 were set to compete for the 2012 Men's Supper League Championship. The defending league champions made there stake through trusty Mike Nelson who approached this publisher with a napkin with one word on it....gauntlet....as he dropped it to the floor. If their gauntlet is going to drop YOUR Bud Light team certainly will have something to say about it. Stiff Sticks face Bud Light in the first round of the playoffs. Good luck to Fairway Frank and the defending champions.

Four team received byes: Templeton Savings Bank, Champion Ford, Macke Motors and Van Diest Supply.

How did we get to twelve? In the Masters Flight of the  Zach Johnson Division there were no changes in the top three as Macke Motors, Carroll Cycle Center and Utilicomm all gain spots in the championship. Utilicomm beat Macke Motors and looks to be a contender in the upcoming weeks.

Van Diest Supply took back the spot that they held most of the year as they jumped Budweiser in the PGA Flight. Van Diest used a beating of Brown Shoe Fit Company 53-19 to earn the first round bye. It was not a bad night for Budweiser as they beat Carroll Glass 45 to 27. Community Oil remained in third to advance.

Pete Collison was low gross with a 36 and also shared low net with Bill Schwabe. Van Diest Supply was low net team. Ryan Milligan was closest to the pin and Pete Collison nailed the longest putt.

In the Phil Mickelson Division Templeton Rye beat defending Stiff Sticks 40 to 32 to earn their bye. Stiff Sticks settled in the second spot. The big mover was Active Performance by scoring 46 against par to nudge out Juergen's Lawn Care by 1 to earn the spot.

The British Open Flight remained the same with Champion Ford the #1 seed and Graddy's Salsas and Your Bud Light team keeping their dreams alive by advancing into the playoffs.

Steve "Cuda' Quandt, Joe Pick, Adam Schweers, Larry Sporrer and Dave Nelson were all low gross with even par 34 rounds. Mayor Adam Schweers was low net with 37. Active Performance was low net team.  Long time subscriber, top local amateur, highly successful and more veteran golfer Craig Mertz was closest to the pin on #17 and John Horbach drained the longest putt.

Best of luck to all of the teams in the upcoming playoffs!

Don't forget to sign up for the club championship!


Congratulations to Corey Bluml for winning the Carroll Municipal Golf Course Championship. We will all be watching to see if he will win all three championships this year in the City of Carroll.

Tom Duff edged out Steve "Cuda" Quandt and Papa Joe Pick with a 66 to win the City Senior Championship.

That is a wrap for now!

As Always this Bud's for you and ON IOWA!

Championship captain and publisher

Mike Franey

Friday, August 3, 2012

One week remains......Here comes Bud Light....short teams make mark on week 14!

Five teams are fighting for three spots in the British Open Flight where first and fifth are only seperated by 25 points.

Champion Ford has led for most of the fourteen weeks and have a August 7 match up with two time supper league champions YOUR Bud Light team. 
The cars  scored 37 points against par in week 14 and have a 20 point lead over Graddy's Salsa and Your Bud Light team. Dave Nelson was the MVP for the Fords. Clothier Wade Wilkie and Monument Man Loren Boyce were also winners. 

Your Bud Light team took care of business against Templeton Savings Bank. Mike Franey led the team with a victory over Fire Alarm John Feld. Franey shot a one under par 36 on the front nine. Bud Three Steve Auen beat Scott Greteman 10 to 8. A subbing Chad Kanne came in hot from the East and beat Security Mike Schulz 12 to 6 and Eastside Tony Pietig beat Craig Mertz. 

Graddy's Salsa topped Badding Construction 37 to 35. Councilman Jeff Scharfenkamp and Tomato John Gradoville the big winners for the salsas with 12 to 6 victories over  Tiger Tom Simons and head hammer Ron Badding. The salsas play par next week to attempt to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Templeton Savings Bank and Badding Construction square off next week to secure a playoff spot.

Over in the US Open Flight Templeton Rye continued their winning ways with a 47 to 25 beating of Juergen's Lawn Care. Team rookie Denny Kasperbauer and Produce Tom Duff led the team with 13 to 5 wins. Cuda Quandt beat Kyle Atkinson and Papa Joe Pick tied. Templeton's lead is 21 over defending champion Stiff Sticks.

The sticks collected 43 points off par. Fairway Frank Comito was the MVP. The whiskeys, sticks and lawn boys all look to been firmly in the playoffs..

Phil Mickelson division prizes: Low Gross - Kyle Atkinson, Dr. Dave Nystrom and Craig Mertz with 35, Low net Jeff Sharfenkamp, low net team to Active Performance.  Denny Kasperbauer was closest to the pin on #8 and Cuda Quandt nailed the longest putt on #9.

Masters flight leaders Macke Motors were beaten by Greteman Chiropratic 39 to 33. Car wash Todd Pettitt the only winner for the motors.

The Carroll Cycle Center beat WCI to pull within 7 of Macke. Jamming Joe Hinners and Head Hog Terry Ruchti were big winners.

This is a four horse race for three spots between Macke Motors who look to avoid a devastating collapse, Carroll Cycle Center, Greteman Chiropractic and Chad Kanne's Utilicomm. Macke and Utilcomm will face each other in week 14 as will Greteman Chiro and Carroll Cycle Center.

Budweiser took advantage of a short team to score 55 points and over take Van Diest Supply Company atop the PGA Flight. Counter top Pat Malloy was the MVP. The King of Beers had all winners.  Budweiser plays Carroll Glass in week 14.

Van Diest Supply beat Carroll Glass 40 to 32. Andy Reiman the MVP. Van Diest plays Brown Shoe Fit in week 14.

Chico Kanne's Community Oil is in third after a 46 to 26 win over Brown Shoe Fit. Todd Kanne the MVP with a big win!

Four teams battling for three spots. Carroll Glass was hugely affected by two teams not having full sqauds in week 14 which may just cost them a spot in the playoffs.

Zach Johnson Division prizes: Pat Malloy low gross, Dirk Glynn low net, Budweiser low net team, Bill Schawbe closest to the in on #8 and Car wash Todd Pettitt longest putt on #18.

Look for more coverage next week on the playoffs as YOUR Bud Light team strives for their third championship.

Defending Northwest Iowa Amateur Champion Kirby Pettitt shot a 68 in the first round yesterday. Good luck Kirby!

As always this Bud's for you and ON IOWA!

Mike Franey