Frank Elizondo records a hole-in-one; team play continues | Calaveras County Sports

By Anna E. Armstrong Last updated Aug 30, 2022

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Guy Dossi/Calaveras Company

The excitement of playing a senior bogey points contest on July 25 was overwhelmed by the first hole-in-one of Frank Elizondo’s career. Groupies can be finicky and hadn’t noticed how handsome Frank was until he got that heartbreaking event on the 8th hole at La Contenta Golf Club in Valley Springs. Now they can’t get enough of him. Were they idolizing him or just happy to get a free drink? Only they know.

In the Red Tees Flight, George Dillon’s total score was so high for him that his golfing friends wondered if he had played a few extra holes to add to his point total (37) when he had taken the first. Red tee champion Rodger La Fleur had an unusually faulty putter on a hole that put him down to second place. Jon Foucault, who thrives on miracle shots, is tied for third with Ken Phillips, who seems to thrive in warm weather.

In the Gold Tees Flight, the incredible Orv Pense tied for first. His buddies claim he doesn’t like windy days because the sand gets in his eyes. He was joined by gold tee champion Gary Stockeland, who was warned the state tax office was watching his winnings. Cliff Howard and Frank Elizondo, two devious characters, placed third. Norm Miley’s fifth place finish allowed him to put a haberdashery deposit on a new hat as he secured fifth place. Ray Delarosa showed why he was the best left-handed player in the peloton with his sixth-place finish.

In the White Tees Flight, Ron Bassett was on the warpath for the second week in a row because he found it enjoyable to outplay his buddies. If he continues like this, they will be known as his old buddies. Louis Luna and Matt Theodore worked together as great equipment operators. Now their game is to level the golf course as they are tied for second place. The former club champion Al Liberato, who will celebrate his birthday next month, finished fourth. Tied for fifth were Jim Turrentine, who failed to realize his opponents preferred his absences, and George White III.

In the contest closest to the hole on Red’s No. 4, Harry Kious won first and second place silvers as he was the only one to hit the green. From the gold medals, AD Hawkins quietly took the top spot over Elizondo, who was waiting to unleash his talent on the No. 8. None of the whites touched the green, so the No. 13 winners doubled their silver.

From the contest on the Reds’ No. 13, Phillips, playing in the last group, beat Dillon first. Among the golds, Pense added to a profitable day by taking first- and second-place silver with the shot of the day (7-foot-9). Among whites, this Russell Hart character won first over Dave Mullins.

On August 2, the senior men engaged in a team game of adding the best ball from the A&B players with that of the C&D players as they navigated the fairways of La Contenta. A fairway is short mowed grass that runs directly from the tee to the green. Most senior golfers are immediately to the left or right of this. The other competitors had to support the winning team who strutted around singing Queen’s: “We are the champions, no time for the losers.” Damn, they only won by one shot.

These culprits buzzed around the course and were led by Mike Mendoza, who was joined in the victory circle by Rodger La Fleur, the great Jim Powell and AD Hawkins. In a thrilling second, Roger Ladd, rookie Russell Hart, regular Dave Moyles and Bill Gylling. Ladd showed a lack of respect for his elders, as he harassed George Dillon all day. Roger’s wife now has a full time job, as he is a retired husband. Dave Mullen was truly humbled, as his friends Robert Bradley, George Dillon and Crown Prince Lourenço found themselves third. Bradley impressed his partners with the distance he hits the ball and he helped cement their finish by making a clean eagle on the final hole.

There was a two-way tie for fourth place between the teams of that rascal Ron Bassett, Frank Elizondo, Jon Puckett and George White III, with that of Louis Luna, Steve Weyrauch, Ken Polk and Earl Watkins. What a difference a week makes, because Elizondo has learned how temperamental our groupies are. He was their sweetheart last week but earned so little this time around that they sought wealthier prospects. A member of Luna’s team likes to talk about religion. He asked a teammate if he prayed before meals. He replied that it was not necessary, because his wife is a good cook.

In the closet contest at the reds’ hole on No. 8, tee champion Rodger La Fleur ended a fruitful day, as his shot landed eight inches from the cup. Saint-Jon Foucrault finished second. Of the whites, David Dean racked up a profitable day, as he was the only one to hit the green and thus pick up the treasure of first and second place. He also took second place at No. 13. Among the golds, handsome Frank Elizondo narrowly beat Gary Stokeland for the top spot.

In the contest closest to the hole on white’s No. 13, Bassett gobbled up the first-place treasure. Among the gold medals, Mendoza took first and second place silver. This, added to his money from team play, was like winning the lottery. Among the reds, Steve Weyrauch beat his father figure for first place.

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