Berk-Sure Things in 2006

I am no weatherman.

Local on the 8’s might as well be a band from Richmond. I think Barometric Pressure rises after you three-putt from 12-feet. And “due” point can be measured when you collect from your friend after you thump him in yet another $2 Nassau.

But I can forecast the future.

Take this year’s Berkshire County golf season, for example.

I may only be 23, and I do lack the historical perspective of a Herbert Warren Wind, but I can say, with modest certainty, what will occur this year.

Let’s begin with the reigning men’s player of the year, 20-year-old Donnie Troy, who will finish his sophomore season at Eckerd College on May 16. Only two years removed from the SAT’s, Troy makes up for his relative lack of experience with a Christopher Columbus-ian traveling ambition. On his schedule in 2006, Massachusetts Amateur and Open qualifying, Porter Cup qualifying in upstate New York and United States Amateur and Public Links qualifying. Just to name a few. There isn’t a tournament he won’t go to, or a hotel charge he won’t pay with his father’s credit card.

Oh, to be young and in college.

Regardless of how he performs, you can be certain that the total number of miles he travels to each event will exceed his total entrance fees. That may sound unimpressive until you consider that 99% of his Berkshire County foes could travel to every event they play in by Horse & Carriage.

Speaking of antiquated, Ellie Carver continues to defy the hands of time. In the past two city championships, she squared off against competitors nearly 20 years her junior. Both times, she walked away victorious. I’d mention how old she is, but I’ve learned from my mom that it’s not polite to publicize any ages that exceed a substantial single season home run total (during the steroids era, of course). With 25 club championships and eight Women’s Allied titles to her name, the Carver name has become synonymous with winning.

Unless she’s teaming up with Kiyoko Mills to ham-and-egg their way to countless four-ball and scramble wins.

With 2006 marking the inaugural women’s player of the year race, look for this venerable, two-headed monster to spend more time on opposite sides of the tee box.

Sticking with the Social Security theme, Jim Peace also continues to collect…wins. Namely, in the North Adams Match Play, an event he has won nine times from 1974-2004.

Death, taxes and Jim Peace making an appearance at NACC in late July: Three things you can count on.

But don’t count on him merely settling on giving it the ole’ college try. Last time I checked the GHIN, he’s still giving me shots on each side.

Ditto for Davis Mullany, the +1 handicap from Wyantenuck who has quickly replaced Donnie Troy as Berkshire County’s resident junior touring professional.

Following two All-Berkshire seasons and a runner-up finish at last year’s Massachusetts Junior, Mullany, a junior at Monument Mountain, has set even loftier goals in 2006. I haven’t seen goals this ambitious since President Bush’s proposed overhaul of Iraq. But don’t take my word for it. Check out his player spotlight.

Mullany’s past success suggests he’ll once again be a man among boys at the junior level, but don’t be surprised to see his name creep up the men’s player of the year standings.

Did you hear that, Ed Budz?

Budz and Troy clawed tooth and nail for top billing in 2005, with Troy prevailing after a 2-under 68 in the Wyantenuck Singles, an event that noticeably didn’t include Budz, who couldn’t back out of a prior engagement: his job.

I’m sure you can relate.

Had he played, Budz more than likely would have kept two hands on the trophy that now resides in Troy’s dorm room, right next to a dusty Chemistry book and an empty beer can.

Perhaps this year will be different. Among the revisions to this year’s Men’s POY schedule, points will now be awarded at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, an event Budz qualified for but did not receive any points for in 2005.

If Troy qualifies for even just a handful of the many state, regional and national events that do not reward POY points—such as the Canadian Amateur, Northeast Amateur and Porter Cup—look for Budz to even the score with Troy in 2006.

As for The Scribe, the forecast for my golf game, and the odds that I’ll play more rounds of golf than Calvin Peete, remains partly cloudy.

Then again, I am no weatherman.