Instead of blood sweat and tears the final round of season 10 was more like rain delays, bogies and beers.

• First round of champ weekend was played at Bandit Golf Club. Unfortunately, Joey had to withdraw due to a hurt back. Dane began to strike his irons well and went low to catch the leaders going into the final day.  

• Final round was held at Driftwood country club, an all inclusive resort level country club. Despite early morning thunderstorms, everyone was in the club house by 8am. The drinks started early, and with the rain delays throughout the day, we didn't leave till around 8pm. In the morning, while the rain was subsiding and the greens crew was working on the course, the boys hit shots out of indoor bays and chipped around on the short range practice area. Drinks in hand. 

• Everyone Played great on the front. Everyone fell a part on the back.

• Levi tried to give it away but nobody would take it. Below is the play-by-play of the last few holes of how the final round ended. 

Sunset station, home of the ice shot, also meant there were only 6 holes left. Levi was up 6 strokes over Dane with 6 to play. 

Hole 13, a par 3, Levi bogies, Dane damn near hits a hole in one, clanks it off the flag stick, he proceeds to birdie. Things get uncomfortable fast. Now just up 4 strokes with 5 to play.

Next few holes were shaky by both players. A couple of bogies on hole 14. A triple by Dane and a double by Levi on 15. That meant that Levi was up 5 strokes with 3 to play. Should have been comfortable, but no. 

Hole 16. Due to a calamity of errors, Levi found himself with a triple. Dane capitalized and parred. The comfortable lead now not so comfortable, it suddenly shrunk down to 2 strokes with 2 to play. An outside observer could only come to the conclusion that Levi was spiraling. He had completely lost his swing and his nerves. 

Next hole, par 3, over water. Dane steps up, feeling a sense that if he hits the green, the pressure will be too much for Levi. Dane calmly hits his shot, struck well, it lands in the center of the green. He silently gives himself a mental fist pump.

Levi is last to hit, he stands at the back of the tee box trying not to think, not to get caught up in what others are doing, instead, he worries about his breath and turns his focus on himself.

It's no lie when I say there isn't anyone in that group that felt that Levi was going to do anything but shank the ball straight right. You could feel the lack of confidence, a sort of energy that seemed to swirl like a vortex around Levi as he went through his pre-shot routine. Choosing to retreat into himself and finding a focus centered around his breath, Levi addressed the ball. When the silent anticipation from the on looking players was at its peak, Levi finally began his swing. He took his club back, reached the top, and swung through the ball. First immediate observation, it was airborne, not a shank. Second, it was headed towards the green. The ball glided through the sky with a graceful 10 yard fade and plopped down in the center of the green, not too far from Dane's ball. Taking a sigh, Levi headed straight to the cart.  

What happened next shocked the world, well the group maybe. The consensus of sorts was that Levi and Dane would both two putt for pars and then it would come down to hole 18. On 18, if Levi's miscues kept up, Dane could sneak a win.

Back now to the 17th green, while Dane was getting a read on his putt, Levi went ahead and addressed his ball. With a rock of the shoulders, the ball tumbled down the sloped green and gradually started curling closer and closer towards the hole. Everyone was only half paying attention when the 30ft downhill birdie putt went in. The disbelief of what happened seemed to fuel the eruption of energy as Levi danced around flapping his arms, gobbling. With such a moment, no one could blame Dane for 3 putting. With that swing of momentum, Levi had secured the tournament. 

Other Highlights

• Limited participation to 8 players this season to help with the effort of administration. 

• No payouts. Instead, the reward was getting to the final day and having your green fees paid for at Driftwood CC. Final day players, Levi, Dane, Dan, Brandon K. (Peter tagged along)

• Dane & Peter flew in for the week to participate. 

• Levi becomes the first 3X Gobbler Open Champion.