THE LEGEND CHALLENGE
SCRATCH PRO-AM
EVENT PARTNERS
(Dustin Schwab and Erik Stenseth)
After about a three-month delay due to a weather postponement, the 18th Legend Challenge – Scratch Pro-Am was finally completed on Tuesday.
The sold-out 56-team field took on The Legend at Bristlecone layout for the second straight season. The wait turned out to be well worth it, as sunshine and mild temperatures gave the players a great day for golf.
With the ideal weather and course conditions, the event produced a tight battle for this year’s title. The battle was so tight that it resulted in the biggest playoff in the event’s history by far.
Six twosomes would card the low round of the day in the four-ball stroke play format. Several of those teams had a chance to secure the victory in regulation on their final few holes, but none of them were able to do so. Each of the twosomes stalled out at 6-under-par 65.
Putting up the low mark of the day were Erik Stenseth/Dustin Schwab, Matt Sabol/Joe DuChateau, Kurt Mantyla/Brett Tautges, Tim Pridemore/Ben Landvatter, Cody Strang/Matt Gerlach and Jeb Vachuska/Joey Ploch.
With the field looking on from the newly constructed patio, the players headed to no. 18 for a six-team playoff.
The first playoff hole took out two of the groups, as they were unable to make par to continue play. The remaining four twosomes then returned to no. 18 for the second playoff hole.
After birdie attempts from the other groups, Schwab ended the playoff by knocking in a short birdie putt to secure the win.
During their round the winning team put up five birdies and an eagle on the way to their 65.
The win was Stenseth’s third straight at the event, as he was victorious with Garrett Jones the prior two years.
In addition to team contests, the day also featured two unlikely feats, an Albatross and a Hole-In-One.
Drew Ringelstetter produced the hole-in-one, it came on his final hole of the day, the 200 yard par-3 12th.
As for DuChateau, he made his two on the 511-yard par 5 7th.
A big thank you goes out to Premier Golf & Utility Vehicles, Donald Ross Sportswear, Elijah Craig Bourbon and the PGA Tour for their sponsorship of Tuesday’s tournament. The enhancements they brought to the table certainly elevated the event.
A great deal of gratitude also goes out to The Legend Clubs. Their hospitality and willingness to dedicate a second day to hosting this annual event was very much appreciated.