December 8, 2008

GREEN VALLEY, AZ — Member Tom Henkel, a.k.a. Tink, shot a 12-over 84 and 77 points on November 11 at San Ignacio Golf Club in Arizona. The round was his first of three rounds since moving back to Arizona for the winter and including an eagle.

Henkel, who birdied twice, managed to eagle the 15th hole. The two birdies and eagle all occured in a 6-hole period starting at the 11th hole.

He might be the first man break 40 for nine holes with every score possible in golf," says Jason Ridgeway. "Tink went bogey, birdie, triple, eagle, bogey, par, birdie, bogey, bogey."

Tom shot 45-39=84, which included three pars and two round-killing triple-bogeys.

"He even bogeyed the last 2 holes to shoot 39!" says Ridgeway. "An amazing display of a roller coaster ride for 9 holes. He made a great eagle on 13 because the tee shot and the second shot are not easy on that hole. I am going to get the play by play on this 9 holes from Tink himself during Christmas. This could be a great Spackler 2009 story in the making."

Henkel's first birdie was on a short par 4. He hit driver and a very short iron to 10 feet. The other birdie was a 500-yard par 5. He teed with a 3-metal, then 4-iron, and then a pitching wedge to 15-foot.

The eagle came on another par 5, which is a 495-yard dogleg left with lake on the inside. "The green is tucket in behind the lake," says Henkel. "I hit driver over first lake and short of second lake to a very small landing area. I got really lucky. I went for the green from there. I need to carry 170 yards to carry the water. I hit a 5-iron to 30 feet and sunk the putt."

Tink continues his Virtual Tournament play in Arizona this winter. The eagle and a couple of other strong rounds has pushed Tom into 6th position with 69.3 points per round. There are 3 weeks left in the season-long tournament.