Eric Williams & Mike Birmelin teamed up to win their second straight Memorial title last weekend at the Honesdale Golf Club.

The tournament, which enters its second decade of existence, is held each summer in honor of HGC members who have passed away.

“It’s a nice tradition,” Bob Simons told TWI Sports. “We always observe a moment of silence at the end of the tournament to remember our late members. There’s a board posted side-by-side with the results where everyone can see it. That’s always a big part of what we do at the awards ceremony each year.”

This year’s event drew 38 teams on the men’s side and 11 more in the women’s bracket. Rita O’Neill & Joyce Southerton combined to bring home the ladies’ crown, cruising to a seven-shot win over their closest competitors.

Next up on the HGC scene is the Senior Member/Guest. This tourney is slated for Saturday & Sunday and has already attracted 30 teams to the field. Carlyle Robinson & Gary Fulkerson are defending champions for the event. All players must be at least 50-years-old to compete.

Stay tuned to TWI Sports for continuing coverage of the summer golf season at HGC.

Dominant Performance
This has already been quite a successful golf season for Eric Williams...and we’re only in mid-July.

Back in June, Eric paired up with Eddie Markowski to win the 33rd Annual HGC Member/Guest. This weekend, he continued his torrid play with partner-in-crime Mike Birmelin and rolled to the Memorial title.

The victory was the second straight for Williams & Birmelin. Last summer, the local lads won by four shots over the team of Bob Simons & Scott Gavin. Eric and Mike duplicated that feat this time around, once again winning the tournament by four strokes.

Williams & Birmelin opened the event with a white hot round on Saturday. The duo combined to shoot a sizzling 62, good for a three-shot cushion over Irv Williams & Jim Fulkerson. That pair eventually faded to third, but the Tamblyn Brothers made their move on Sunday afternoon.

Zach and Jeff Tamblyn, both graduates of Honesdale High School, followed up their opening round 66 with an electrifying 65. This performance allowed them to leapfrog Williams & Fulkerson into second place.

However, the defending champs simply wouldn’t be denied on this day. Williams & Birmelin matched the Tamblyns with a 65 of their own and cruised to a four-shot win. Eric & Mike’s two-day total was 127, which is 11 shots under par.

Tamblyn & Tamblyn were runners-up with a score of 131 (-7), while Williams & Fulkerson finished third at 133 (-5).

In First Flight action, Len Tasselmyer & Kyle Tasselmyer teamed up to bring home the hardware. The two veteran golfers followed up and opening round 71 with a 72 on Sunday, giving them a 36-hole total of 143 (5-over par).

Bob Rogers & Doug Rickard were First Flight runners-up with a two day total of 149 (+11). Dr. Newton Mullins and Bryan Mullins came in third with a score of 150 (+12).

Ron Collins & Steve Carmody copped Second Flight honors. The duo rallied from two shots back on Saturday to win the flight by five shots. Charlie Case & Dave Phillips finished second at 158, while Sam Chapman & Ron Pennell ended up third with a 159.

Some of the weekend’s best action came in the Third Flight where just two strokes separated the top three teams.

Gary Fritz & Lynn Simons opened with an 82, then fire a 77 on Sunday to take the gold. Ralph & Steven Langendoerfer were awarded second place on a match of cards with the duo of Dick Ballou & Jack Southerton. Both teams shot 160 and finished a stroke off the pace.

In Fourth Flight competition, John Davis & Dan Corcoran paired up to shoot a 169. That score was good for a three shot win over Mike Miller & Bill Barber (172). The team of Gary Mesko & Mike Haronich finished third at 181.

Ladies Bracket
Rita O’Neill & Joyce Southerton looked like they had a real battle on their hands.

On Saturday, the ladies found themselves tied for first place at the HGC Memorial after shooting a first round 89. Janette Krause & Sue Rickard also fired an opening round 89, while Shirley Gill & Kathy Haser were right in the hunt with a 91.

O’Neill & Southerton took command of things on Sunday, shooting an 86 to finish the 36-hole event with a score of 175. Krause & Rickard finished second with a two-round total of 182. Gill & Haser ended the weekend third at 190.

In Second Flight women’s competition, Linda Soden & Maureen Rickard cruised to a four-shot win. These ladies shot 99 on both days for a first place total of 198.
Priscilla “Pip” Tagel & Mary Hessling ended as runners-up with a cumulative score of 202. Joanne Kroph & Kathy Legg claimed third place honors with a total of 205.