Bob Menges | Democrat Da winners… Richard Schmidt, left, and Frank Barrett, right, were the winners of the Swan Lake Wednesday Night Golf League after an 18-hole victory over Fred Stabbert and Terry Krantz, center.

Schmidt, Barrett win in dramatic fashion

Staff Report
SWAN LAKE — September 20, 2013 — With nearly two dozen league members surrounding the 18th green, the Swan Lake Golf Club’s Wednesday Night Golf League championship match finished in dramatic fashion, going down to the final putt.
In a hotly-contested match against sixth-seeded Terry Krantz and Fred Stabbert, the second-seeded team of Rich Schmidt and Frank Barrett sank crucial putts, especially on the on the final hole.
As all four players surrounded the hole on the 18th green, Krantz was first to go, draining a 25-foot downhill putt to earn a par and move the match one step closer to sudden death.
“All we need is a half point to win the match,” Schmidt said before he teed off on No. 18. To that end he made an incredible up and down from a greenside bunker, draining a nine-foot par putt.
With Schmidt’s par, Stabbert was the last to play and had a three-footer to win the hole and force sudden death. But the ball hit the left inside edge, spun right and stopped four inches from the cup.
It was a fitting victory for Schmidt and Barrett.
Schmidt led the league in gross scoring average, low round of the year (34), and most improved golfer, improving from a four handicap to a scratch (zero handicap).
Barrett also had a super year, helping his team to a second-place regular season finish and the playoff championship.
“It was a great match against a really competitive team,” Stabbert said. “We had fun, I just wish it would have gone a little longer. That last putt didn’t go in for me.”