2008 SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF
JEFE VERSUS JIMBO
ARCADIA BLUFFS GOLF CLUB
9th Hole: Par 3, 176 yards
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8 holes down. 3 birdies. 2 triple bogeys. 3 lead changes. So far, only two holes where both contestants ended up with the same score. What a see-saw battle.
The 9th hole is a pretty benign par 3. Jefe and I both have had some near hole-in-ones on this hole when the pin is tucked behind the tree on the right. The only thing you need to do here is avoid coming up short, where there's a false front.
In a match that has been any other than routine, both players put their balls safely on the green, in near identical spots. And both players cozied their lag right to the hole for routine pars. The only thing non-routine is Jefe's putting stroke. Man, is that thing hard to look at.
Jefe makes the turn with a 40, one stroke ahead of Jimbo. It's going to be a dogfight. Championships are won on the back nine on Wednesday...or something like that.
Jefe: For some reason I forgot that this hole was playing longer as I came up well short during the speed round. I should have taken one more, didn't and came up 40 feet short. I hit a really good putt, and Jimbo did the same after being right in front of my ball. After 9 holes I was happy to get out of there with a 40, especially after my luck on 8 and awful ball striking.
Jimbo: I had every intention of lasering a hybrid at the hole and making a birdie to help blot out the events on 8. I caught it poorly and had a long birdie putt up the hill. Jefe expertly rolled his to kick in range for par and I followed suit. At the turn I was a bit deflated at having carded a 41. The front easily should have been 30 something.
After 9 Holes: Jefe +4; Jimbo +5
