Another year at Old Drovers Run is drawing to a close, and the time has come to crown a pair of new men’s league champions.
For the second year in a row, the league has first-time winners. After a competitive final round of golf on Thursday, August 26, the trophy and title went to Steve Fast and Collin Funk.
The playoffs started out earlier in August with 32 teams. In an upset, three-time champions Ray Dowse and Bryan Trottier were eliminated in the first round, falling to the team of Vince Ceccarelli and Jay Meyer in a match that went to an extra playoff hole.
They weren’t the only past winners to go down in the first round. Defending champions Kurtis and Cory Funk lost their first and only playoff match to Rene Abgrall and Ryan Dyck.
“Steve and Collin started off their impressive playoff run with a win against Wes Dowse and Jayare Charron in the first round,” says Brad Poleschuk, ODR’s resident golf pro. “In round two, they knocked off John Schmitke and Cam Dueck. The pair then had one of their tightest matches in round three, notching a victory against Keith Bueckert and Paul Dufour, winning on the ninth hole.”
For the semifinals, the tournament came down to four teams: Steve Fast and Collin Funk, Steve Baete and Sean Dieno, Richard Muntain and Bryan Clark, and Ryan Loreth and Ryan Billey.
“The Fast/Funk duo came out on top against Billey and Loreth, moving on to the final round against Baete and Dieno,” says Poleschuk. “Fast and Funk continued their strong play and sealed the win on the eighth hole, with a timely birdie from Steve Fast.”
The 2020 champions, Kurt and Cory Funk, were on hand after the round to present Steve and Collin with their 2021 Men’s League Championship trophy.
“Congratulations to Steve and Collin on an excellent playoff run of well-played matches,” he adds. “A special thanks to all 80 men’s league players for their participation in a season that was very far from normal.”
In the consolation bracket, Rhett Schramm and Josh Koop emerged victorious in a tight match that went down to the last hole. In second place were Jarrod Firlotte and Shawn Williamson.
