Disney World magical for area golf teams
Walt Disney World, known as the Magic Kingdom, was truly magical for two Brainerd area golf teams.
The Vintage Golf Course and Izatys Golf and Yacht Club each won championships at the Buick Scramble at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Oct. 2-6.
The Vintage team of Bill Israelson, Kurt Muesing, Brad Anderson, Kyra Ladd and Steve Benson won the net division with a 68-under-par 220 for the four-day total.
"For you to be in the hunt and to win," Anderson said, "everything has to fall in line. We played well on the back nine when the pressure was building. It was an unbelievable experience."
Jason Tollette, Drew Darrow, David Koch, Chad Ogle and John LaFontaine of Izatys won the gross division with a four-round total of 65-under 223.
"We made every putt we looked at," said Tollette, the PGA professional at Izatys. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime round. The stars were aligned and there was a little bit of luck involved."
Also competing in the gross division was Team Legacy out of the Vintage Golf Course. Team members Tom Hice, Tim Day, Mike Tschider, Chris Ruis and PGA professional Peter Krause finished in 11th place with a 57-under-par 231.
The Vintage team, led by PGA professional Israelson, went into the final round tied for the lead. They shot a 17-under-par 55 in the final round to defeat Fairfield Greens South Trace of Fairfield, Ohio, by a stroke.
Muesing attributed their success to the team's camaraderie and Israelson's ability to keep everyone loose.
"No one got down on themselves," Muesing said. "We all struggled at times but Bill did a good job of keeping us loose and comfortable. Everyone stepped up when they needed to. It was truly a team win."
The Izatys team went into the final round down two strokes but shot a 19-under-par 53 on the final day that included three eagles. They defeated Stone Ridge Golf Club of West Lakeland Township, Minn.
Tollette was surprised by his teams' success, and at first, was just heading down to the sunshine state for a vacation.
"I didn't expect this at all," Tollette said. "I thought I was going down for a vacation but all the putts went in and that's what it takes to win this thing. It was a wild week."
Anderson said in addition to making their putts, his teammates also drove the ball well, using Ladd's drives many times.
"Any team that's going to be in the hunt they have to make putts," Anderson said. "Kyra was really hitting the ball long and straight. We were never in jeopardy of playing the ball from a bad spot."
Said Muesing: "Our driving was big. Having Kyra was a tremendous advantage. On our best day, the guys couldn't get the ball where she was."
The icing on the cake for the teams and their members was having Tiger Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer and Buick Scramble honorary chairman, hand them their trophies.
"Tiger came in and let us keep the spotlight," Muesing said. "He was gracious and genuine. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him before this. Now meeting him and watching his demeanor, he's not only a great golfer but a great person."