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MGI 2013 Vegas pre round recap

AP – January 27, 2013 MGI Vegas golf outing.

The MGI Vegas golf outing has turned into an annual tradition, as a warm up for the Miami Golf Invitational.  A few of the alumni of the MGI meet up around this time every year to discuss the upcoming event, and to play a round of golf.

On the tee this year were MGI veterans Allen Grant, Todd Keiper, and Craig Goleno.  The fourth member joining was MGI 2013 rookie Jeremy Bellflower.

It was nice to finally get the golf channel to come out and help with the official scoring and the television coverage.

Golf channel and Gol

 

On the range before the round, it was discussed what was at stake for the round.  As you can see from this video provided by Gol films and Golf Channel, it was for the other players driver!

The round got started and Allen Grant was hot!  He birdied 2 of the first 3 holes and never blinked the rest of the way.  He finished with 4 birdies, and finished with a 74.

He beat TK 6&5, and had TK saying to Gol, “I am making the turn shooting 39 and I am 5 down?”

He also handled the rookie as well with a 5&4 thrashing!

“I had to teach the kid a lesson about match play, for years I’ve been in Tk’s head.  After all,  I’ve been there so much I’ve got a timeshare. That timeshare cost me a few bucks back when the market was up, and it took me a few years to get it, but I got it!  Sunday I bought a new timeshare outright in Jeremy Bellflower’s head, and with real estate prices in the toilet it didn’t cost me much.  In fact after I dropped a bomb on him on 2, and followed it up with another birdie on 3.  I had my timeshare!”

The only person in the group that the rookie didn’t pay money too was Goleno, but he also didn’t collect any either.

Goleno added, “I hit some good shots, and I got my first birdie of 2013 already in the books with a 20 foot putt on the 155 yard par 3 8th hole.  It is always good to get that first birdie out of the way, and I am looking forward to some revenge on number 5 at the Senator!”

Oh we almost forgot, who won the driver? Todd shot a net 71, and Jeremy had a net 80.  

Rookie Jeremy Bellflower gets ready for MGI with a SNGA Tournament

AP – January 22, 2013, Jeremy Bellflower is competing in a SNGA golf event looking to sharpen his skills for the MGI 2013.

 

The Tournament round started out well for the MGI rookie with a par on 1 & 2, but then when caddie Craig Goleno left him on three tee box, he proceeded to put up a 9 on a par 4 when he snapped it into the desert, and couldn’t get it out!

Jeremy did bounce back on 4 with a birdie, but his snap it to the left attitude continued through the round.

He ended up finishing with a 25th place gross finish, and as you can see by some of the  score card that there were holes that he struggled on!

“I only hit it left off the tee, and that cost me.  I shot an 85.  I am not proud of it, but I will figure it out.  My tournament experience is shaky, but the more I have a chance to learn, the better I will become.  I would like to add that I did have bascically four blow up holes that if this would have been a match play event, I would have held strong!” exclaimed Jeremy

Round 1 – TPC Las Vegas – 1/22/2013 10:50 am

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 350 190 461 538 366 597 209 453 352 3516 420 437 145 416 347 601 198 437 449 3450 6966
Par 4 3 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 36 4 4 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 35 71
Round 1 4 3 9 4 4 7 3 4 4 42 5 5 3 7 4 5 5 5 4 43 85
Status E E +5 +4 +4 +6 +6 +6 +6 +7 +8 +8 +11 +11 +11 +13 +14 +14 +14
Eagle Birdie Par Bogey Double Bogey or +
“I was out there playing with a new jersey state amateur in Michael Hyland (4 over par), and Matt Snyder (T1), so the competition was solid, and we played from TPC BLACK, but I beat myself.  If I had control over my driver I would have been fine! I should have used the TK R9, but I opted to put this Tour Exotics driver in my bag, which was not smart!”  continued Bellflower.
“I am again certainly frustrated with my play, but we had a solid group of payers including a guy that says he won the Jersey state AM, Michael Hyland!, he was a plus 5!” said a frustrating Jeremy. (MGI staff found this footage)

It was a good opening tournament round, and young Jeremy Bellflower looks forward to the future with the Miami Golf Invitational 2013 coming soon!

“I will work out the driver, I know going left from my mental coach ‘Goleno’ will not work on certain holes in Miami.” explained Jeremy, “He tells me that a big hook on 1 might play well, but that will have to be the last time it appears. I will work it out.  I am getting an extra stiff shaft installed into the ‘TK9′  Driver !”

Caddie Goleno added, “Besides the driver, he played some solid golf. We all know he struggles with the mental fabric of his game, but he is young and will get stronger!  If he is under my guidance at the MGI, he will perform well, and Team TK will win again.  I would love to see Bellflower vs McMullin in a singles match on Saturday at MGI’13.”

2012 Gold Cup at Rainier Golf Club

The Gold Cup Member-Guest Invitational – July 12th-14th, 2012 – written by Craig Goleno

 La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) of playing Rainier Golf and Country Club in the Annual Gold Cup was an opportunity presented to Craig Goleno that he could not refuse.

“My game was in shambles, but when Todd Keiper called and said get to Seattle for a golf party known as the Gold Cup, I was in!”

The weather was a welcome break from the 110 degree Vegas heat, as the temperatures in Seattle were in the upper 70’s.

Once I landed, we headed immediately to the course for an 18 hole practice round (walking) followed by a few TK’s in the clubhouse.  You do lose track of time in Seattle in the summer, as it seems as if it is daylight forever.

The tournament began Thursday.  There were eleven different six team flights, and we were in the colonial flight.  We had to play every team in our flight in a nine hole best ball match.  The scoring system was unique, and may be something we can use at the MGI to spice it up.

If your team won the hole you were received 2 points, lose it 0 points, and tie the hole each team receives one point.  Your team gets a 2 point bonus if you win the match, 1 point each if you tie, and 0 bonus points if you lose.  You played off the low cap guy in your group.

The Keiper/Goleno group played solid and finished second in our flight which did pay back some cash.  The final day drama was there with our final match being against the leaders in our flight – the Kane brothers.

“I rolled in a miracle putt on our first hole in the match to halve the hole, and the match was on…..but our work horse Todd ran out of fuel, but that was expected after carrying me for 36 holes”

If we had won our flight, we would have gone into the championship match with the other flight winners, but it wasn’t meant to be (see pictures below of all the golfers in carts watching the finals).

Other Highlights:

  •  The Keiper/Goleno group did come in second overall in the 66 team horse race event which was so much fun, and the first time I have ever been involved in something like this on the golf course.  I learned a new term when there where 10 teams on a tee box, and they said when you get to your ball just hit.  It is rambo golf.   Todd added  “To come in second overall, and beat some of the low cap guys straight up, yeah, that surprised me! Good win!”  See the presentation video below.
  • The Swag (see photos)
  • Great to see Jay D, Brooksy, Ashley, and everyone else that I have met up in Seattle.
  • The Rainier course was in beautiful shape, and is an incredible challenge.  Note: Pine trees on a course play a lot different than palm trees on a course.
  • TODD KEIPER WAS AN EXCELLENT HOST!

 

 

I hope to be able to do it again, as it was a fantastic golf event with a lot of great people and it was a blast.

Click on each photo for a larger image view. Thank you.

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 Update – Days away

MGI news update:
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Golf Talk Lounge and Golf Observer.com are reporting TK has had an injection to alleviate back pain. Keiper is said to be in good condition, and is resting in his Seattle area penthouse.  He has declared himself ready for Miami and the first tee Thursday.
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He will reportedly avoid the Wednesday AM practice round (as will Goleno) and hit balls and work on his putting stroke instead to prepare for the 1pm official Wednesday practice round ($20 a man skins buy in) — The opening practice round is second only in prestige to the Masters Wednesday Par-3 contest.
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In Other News:
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– Experts are concerned with Team Mez as two players have switched clubs in the off-season including Slammin Sammy and newcomer Jeff Harris. As World No. 1 Luke Donald can attest after getting thumped by Ernie Els in Match Play on Wednesday, there is a period of adjustment.
– Reports are also surfacing that two members of Team Mez have hardly touched their clubs since the MGI 2011 debacle.
– Weather for the week ahead should rival some of the best the MGI has ever seen!

MGI 2012 News – Rookie changes clubs!

Breaking MGI news: Sky Golf, Gol films, Golf Talk Lounge and Golf Channel are reporting Miami Golf Invitational rookie Jeff Harris is feeling the pressure — one week before the tournament.
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Harris is reportedly ordering a new set of clubs, set to arrive this Thursday. The pressure and his poor play of late caused the decision to purchased new equipment and revamp his swing.
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“Big mistake,” said Butch Harmon. “Never change anything this close to a tournament.
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“Harris also reported a pinched nerve in his neck to go along with a 13-oz ulcer in his stomach. The rookie pressure of the MGI is well documented.  Burt Keiper vomited on the first tee in 2010 and went on to an 0-3 record.
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BK bounced back in 2011 with a 2-1 effort and stellar play. “The heart just beats so fast,” BK said. “It’s an honor to get invited, but then there’s the pressure to perform.”

Other Miami Golf Invitational News and Notes:
  • On Sunday, Todd Keiper sent a text to the MGI site, “I am lying on my back with a heating pad!’
  • Last week, Allen Grant had his clubs bent 2 degrees upright, and his set re-gripped.
  • Goleno loves his new hybrid, the Cleveland Mashie.
  • On the 18th, Mike Lynch decides to final start to book his flight to the MGI 2012
  • Also on Sunday, Allen Grant came from 4 down to beat Goleno 1 Up at the Angel Park Mountain course in awful windy and cool conditions. (see inset photo). “I got hot early, but had some mental lapses during the middle third of the round.” added Goleno, “My golf shots were pretty solid, the ball is going straight, and my putting has me ranked as one of the top putters in southern Nevada!”
  • See full preview of the WGC Match Play at Golf Talk Lounge click here.

Medical Alert – TK seeks answers to his back problems.

With just weeks to go to the MGI 2012, Todd Keiper has announced that his back is causing problems again. This is the statement that he released on his twitter account.

Breaking News……..TK’s back went down yesterday! Injection tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed and pray to our lord, Jesus Christ for me boys……… 

TK has had on and off back problems for years that are very similar to those of Fred Couples, famous golfer.  Fred Couples, a Seattle native, was recently in his hometown, and offered this advice to Todd.

“Todd, I know exactly how you feel.  I could barely stand in place because of my back pain. I had tried countless treatments and injections.  I was looking for answers anywhere I could. I recently traveled to Dusseldorf, Germany, to receive a blood-spinning treatment called Orthokine – not approved for use in the United States – from Dr. Peter Welling, which other athletes like Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Tiger Woods had used with great results.  It was a miracle Todd!”

Todd has had these problems before, and has used a successful quick fix in the past.

 

Todd is seen here in this 2008 file photo assures his team that he will be in the 2012 MGI, and he will play well!

“I will be good by tee time on the 29th boys!” exclaimed TK.

MGI 2011 and the quest for the MGI CUP draws close …..

The 2011 Miami Golf Invitational and Quest for the MGI CUP is less than two weeks away.

Team TK and Team Mez are tied at 2-2, and this years contest is expected to be a battle.

“We have added more players for more drama, and I love Team TK’s chances!  We had two guys go 0-3 last year, and that won’t happen in 2011!” exclaimed Todd Keiper, team captain.

Reports have surfaced that many of the Team Mez members are arriving earlier than usual for preparation of defending the MGI CUP.

Team captain Mez confirms, “Yes, a few of our team members know the value and honor of the MGI CUP and are arriving early.  I expect a Tuesday practice round with Slammin Sam, Doc Lance, Grant, and myself! After the round we will have a team meeting to discuss match ups.  Our team is on a  roll coming in and we don’t expect to slow down!”

Captain Keiper counters, “I have planned calls with Team TK members over the next week scheduled.  Actually, I have text messages planned.  The team has be preparing, and we will be ready to strike!”

2011 MGI CUP

2011 MGI CUP

Allen Grant says he is ready for the MGI’10 and he wants Todd Keiper!

Allen Grant says he is ready for the MGI’10 and he wants Todd Keiper!

Todd Keiper Superbowl weekend at Legacy Golf Course 2010

Video Highlights of TK trying to get his golf game ready for the 2010 Miami Golf Invitational.

A Srixon/Cleveland rep is on the launch monitor, and he does ask Grant and Gol in the very beginning, “Do you guys ever have a normal conversation?”, we respond, ‘This is normal, sir.”

Todd K at Legacy Golf Course

“Todd Warming up!”

Did this range practice help on the course? We fast forward to the 18th hole at Legacy! This is a hole were every match seems to come to some dramatic conclusion between TK and Grant. Let’s go to the video!