Howdy everyone, Jeff Tracy here. I just finished editing the video for this year’s Cooper’s Lake Championship and thought, ‘Why not throw in a blog about it?’ So here it is:
Over Labor Day weekend, we held the 2012 Cooper’s Lake Championship at our campground (Cooper’s Lake) in Slippery Rock, PA. This was my second year hosting the Championship, and second Crossgolf tournament of the year at the campground. The “Cooper’s Lake Major Championships” as many have started calling them, are crossgolf tournaments played exclusively with the almostGOLF ball on an 18-hole course built on the rolling fields and woods on our property.
After receiving some harsh criticism from players at the Cooper’s Lake Open in May, I wanted to make sure I built a course that was fair, forgiving and provided scoring opportunities on the closing holes. I chose to build a links course with low rough, shorter holes and hidden fairways that rewarded the player who did his homework. The Churchfield Links – Black Course (located in the field below the local church) has a par of 71 and measures 6,430 feet from the championship tees.
On the day of the tournament, we were a little short on players, and those who were there, pressured me into playing in my own event. I managed to put together my best round ever at the campground and it just so happened to be the same day as the Cooper’s Lake Championship. Josh, who had won back-to-back Cooper’s Lake Opens was the favorite to win and managed to post a one-over 72 which was good enough to give him second place. For awhile, it was a pretty tight race between us. He birdied the par-5 8th hole to tie me, and I took back the lead with a birdie of my own at 8. I had a one stroke lead going into the back nine, but put my foot on the gas with birdies on 10, 12, 16 and 17 and an eagle on 14.
My stepdad, Tom, couldn’t stop hitting into the ditches and jagger bushes (thorn bushes for those of you born outside of Western Pennsylvania) which resulted in a couple of big numbers on his scorecard. Despite his round of 87, he still took third place. After the front nine, I thought Dusty might finish in third, but three straight triple bogeys on the back nine ended his chances. He did, however, provide us with the shot of the day, when he holed his birdie chip on 17 from 70 feet away. Unfortunately, we were unable to get that shot on video.
In the Intermediate division, Rich Reitmeyer, who lost in a playoff to Ellsy Johnston at the Open last May, got his revenge over Ellsy, and now takes home bragging rights.
Overall, we had a good event. The weather was nice, the scores were much lower than they were at the Open, and we got some great footage for our video.
I’ve already started on plans for next year’s Cooper’s Lake Open. When I get everything finished, I’ll put up a blog about that too. The updated ‘Official Cooper’s Lake Golf Rankings’ still have Josh Short as the #1 ranked player at Cooper’s Lake Campground. After winning back-to-back Cooper’s Lake Open titles in 2011 and 2012 and finishing runner-up at the 2012 Championship, Short will certainly be the favorite to win when he tees it up at the 2013 Cooper’s Lake Open, which promises to once again show why it is the toughest test in all of crossgolf.
Churchfield Links (Black Course) Scorecard:
2012 Cooper’s Lake Championship Video:
Here are the 2012 Cooper’s Lake Championship Results:
Advanced Division
1 Jeff Tracy (Slippery Rock, PA) 64 (-7)
2 Josh Short (Green Tree, PA) 72 (+1)
3 Tom Metcalf (Bridgewater, PA) 87 (+16)
4 Matt Kaminski (Bethel Park, PA) 90 (+19)
5 Dustin Hribal (Slippery Rock, PA) 91 (+20)
6 Rob Varner (Bethel Park, PA) 101 (+30)
7 Ron Baselj (Bridgeville, PA) 104 (+33)
Intermediate Division
1 Rich Reitmeyer (Cecil, PA) 74 (+3)
2 Ellsy Johnston (Sewickly, PA) 76 (+5)
3 Ed Auth (Carnegie, PA) 85 (+14)
4 Jim Friel (Cecil, PA) 89 (+18)
5 Dan Short (Green Tree, PA) 104 (+33)
Beginner Division
1 Phil Springirth (Slippery Rock, PA) 39 (+4)
2 Robin Springirth (Slippery Rock, PA 50 (+15)
3 Kyle Auth (Carnegie, PA) 57 (+22)
4 Tony Eggert (Bridgeville, PA) 68 (+33)
