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B-Train meets up with Team TK members

B-Train knows the importance of the MGI, and the Team TK record.  Tonight, he met up with fellow Team TK members Lynch and Guolla to talk about team strategy, have a few drinks, and discuss how they will beat down Allen Grant! Below are the excerpts: 

“Grant, I love that guy, but …. I tell you what, he is talking a MASSIVE game!” said B-Train at this round table discussion.

Guolla added , “I know, didn’t he go 0-3 last year?  I know it was my first year, but I just thought that is what he does every year.  Hey buddy, I like your enthusiasm, it hopefully rallies your team, but it may back fire?”

Even Lynch chimed in, “Grant, Grant, Grant …. senor tees … beating me in Ohio … old age … c’mon now, the Senator from the white is a short course, and I pretty sure at 10 years older than YOU …. I still hit it past you !”

 

Team TK Members

Team TK Members

IMG950591

WORLD’S BEST CONVERGE IN CENTRAL OHIO

WORLD’S BEST CONVERGE IN CENTRAL OHIO

(AP SPORTS) –Columbus,Ohio

The best golfers in the world gathered in Central Ohio near Columbus last week.

Not only was Jack Nicklaus’ the Memorial Tournament featuring the PGA Tour’s best players including Tiger, Luke, and Phil in town, but the spotlight was also on the Miami Golf Invitational – Ohio Tour.

The Miami Golf Invitational which is now a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the Internet and YouTube videos, ventured outside of Miami for just the second time in an exhibition match for Midwest spectators.

Several members of Team TK and Team Mez made the trip to Grove City for a day of golf at the private country club Hickory Hills. Thanks to Mike Lynch – a member at every course in the 30-square-mile radius of Columbus,  Ohio– the five-some managed a great deal last Thursday afternoon.

Thanks to paid-appearance fees Allen “Vegas” Grant made a trip from Las Vegas to compete, and to promote Golf Talk Lounge. Players from both northern and southern Ohio also met near the state’s capitol including Jeff Harris, Bret Smiley and Burt Keiper also know as BK.

“Two grand appearance fee (paid by his mother and Taylor Made) to play here,  and take money from these guys, I couldn’t turn that down,” said Grant.

The first to arrive was BK who spent some time on the range but apparently did not hit a ball.

BK added, “I just need to stretch on the range, because the ‘Rocketballz’ go long and far!”

Lynch covered a MGI Luncheon for the boys, which included a few adult beverages.

“Lynch was a world class host…. this MGI group is always great to be around!” added Jeff Harris via his twitter account.

With five players, a number of betting games were in place. The results:

  • Lynch, who struggled on the first two holes out of the gate, won STROKE PLAY by two shots over Grant, who suffered an 8 and a pair of 7s during the round. “I just couldn’t get Goleno’s swing out of my head for a couple of holes, terrible!” said Grant.
  • Smiley won SKINS GAME with 6 – just ahead of BK’s 5 Skins. Brad (or Brett) closed it out with a par at No. 17 to earn two skins on a carryover.
  • The WOLF game recorded two-man splits throughout the 18 holes.
  • Grant won the OVERALL POINTS GAME, thanks to a burying a 30-footer at No. 18 to save par out of the bunker. Putting his Pinnacle Gold in play at No. 12 carried him the rest of the way home.
  • Grant beat Lynch 2 and 1 in a side action game. 2UP early, Lynch won holes 5-6-7 to take the lead before AG closed with stellar up-and-down at the 9th to half the front. Lynch went 2UP with wins at 10 and 11 before Grant bounced back at Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to assume the lead. Grant closed it out at No. 17 with a three-putt bogey. “It is hard to believe I won the match with a 3 putt.  He scored better than me, but I really have become focused over the years on match play, as that is the preferred format used in the annual MGI!” added AG.
  • The team of Lynch-Grant beat the Tri-Pod of BK-Smiley-Harris 2 and 1 in a nine-hole SCRAMBLE after the first 18 holes concluded. Lynch-Grant managed to log 4-under through eight holes. Grant closed it out burying putts at Nos. 5-6-8.
  • Phil Mickelson, who withdrew from the neighboring Memorial due to mental fatigue, was spotted in the gallery watching the outstanding short game skills of Mike Lynch and Allen Grant.  ”Those two can get up and down from anywhere….very inspiring!”

Photos below were provided by Allen Grant. Click on Photo for expanded view of image.

Miami Golf Invitational 2012 Official Recap

The 2012 Miami Golf Invitational was officially completed the first week of March with Team TK winning the MGI CUP over Team Mez for the second consecutive year.  The 8-4 point margin was one of the largest in MGI CUP history.

The venue was once again held at the famous Senator Course in the Miami Lakes area, and everyone from MGI event would like to send out a ‘Thank you” to Kenny Fill and all the staff at the course.

“The course looked great, and we look forward to the improvements that are coming!” said team captain Todd Keiper.

The event had its typical practice round Wednesday, and friendly skins match.  That was followed by the ‘Welcome party at the pool area’ sponsored by Corona (and TK) with the tournament dinner that night at Shula’s Steak House.

Thursday the event began with Two Man Team Best Ball.

Day 1 Highlights:

Match 1 – JB/Steve defeat Sam/Grant 4-3.  Steve, a rookie on Team TK, later added, “I was glad to be able to beat the guy with two first names that Grant Allen guy, and I think it bothers him when I hit it past him off the tee.”

Match 2 – TK/Gol defeat Mez/Harris 3-1.  Post round reaction from Craig Goleno, “It was good to get a W with Todd, as last year we paired up and I let him down!”

Match 3 – BK/Lynch halved Smiley/Lance.  Lynch added, “Somehow we halved, despite Lance’s net ace, two net eagles precipitated by 370 yard drives, and Smiley shooting two over on the back.”

Team TK 2.5 points. Team Mez .5 point

Day 2 Highlights:

Match 1 – TK/Lynch defeats Grant/Harris 1 up.   Lynch, “Tough battle out there after getting 4 down due to Harris’ clutch putting and Grant’s consistent solid play all day until the famous seventy yard pull hook collapse from 175 yards on 18–but he still almost made par hitting out of the rocks practically on his knees. It didn’t hurt that I finished the last seven holes two under.”

Match 2 – Sam/Lance defeat Gol/JB 4&3.  After the round Goleno had these comments, “Wow, Lance was out of his mind, if he had any short game he would be a sub 5 handicap.  He will need an officially sanctioned cap next year!”

Match 3 – BK/Steve defeat Mez/Smiley 1 up.

TeamTK 4.5 points, Team Mez 1.5 points.

Day 3 Highlights – Singles:

Match 1 – Lynch defeats Lance – 6&5 .  ”Yes, Good victory, I still watched Lance own the ninth for net eagle AGAIN and seeing him drive it to within 50 yards on eleven where he lied zero, then remarkably went on to make seven and it was pretty much over after that. Good kid though!”

Match 2 – Harris defeats Steve Guolla 2&1 in the 2012 MGI rookie matchup.

Match 3 – BK defeats Grant 3&1.  ”I owned him!” added Burt

Match 4 – Goleno and Smiley halved.  Goleno had this to add, “I played some bad golf out there today, but luckily so did Smiley.  I made a 40 footer on 16 to square the match, then hit a high floating shot on the par 3 17th with the 11-wood to 4 feet to win that hole to go 1 up.  I then played 18 was to aggressive, as I was a little charged up at that moment.”

Match 5 – JB and Mez halved.

Match 6 – TK and Sam halved.  Tk had this to say at the end, “I gave Sam a gift on 16, but at this point Team TK already had retained the MGI Cup!”

Team TK – 8 points , Team Mez – 4 Points.

 

 

MGI 2012 – Allen Grant par 3 Excellence

MGI 2012

Allen Grant has been hard at work in 2012 working his game into the 5 handicapper he says that he is.  He has been spotted in Vegas playing many practice rounds and tournament rounds.  Allen is already known in the southern Nevada area as “Mr. 1 Putt” , and the reason he earns that name is his ability to get up and down from anywhere like a tour pro, and need just one putt!

In the past, he has struggled on par 3′s , just like Tiger Woods for his career  has, but this is an area he has found new focus.  He expects to play well in Miami on all of the par 3′s, and he has actually called out Goleno about his famed hole 5 at the Senator Course.

 ”I am coming for you TK and Lynch, and Gol won’t win that skin on No. 5.”  declared Allen Grant.  

Allen is currently leading the Las Vegas Golf Channel AmTour in Par 3 scoring as you can see from this stats link.

- from Vegas wire reports.

Editors Note:  After further research into Allen’s stats claim, it was discovered that he also carries a 5.4 stroke average on par 4! 

Mez, who is undercover, has provided these NEW photos of Team TK

Akron, OH – TMZ – It appears that Team Mez has discovered photos of Team TK still managing to get their time in on the driving range in Ohio.  The weather there has been the worst since the blizzard of 1978, but these pictures will prove that the Team TK members still are trying to improve their game.

The pictures are grainy at best, as they were probably taken from a low end cell phone, but if you look close, the photos appear to be Lynch and B Train Keip.

TMZ is reporting that this is not their first time to the range this winter, nor will it be their last time at the range before the MGI.

Mike Lynch at the snow range?

Mike Lynch at the snow range?

 

 

 

 

 

B Keiper alson at the range?

B Keiper also at the range?