FRIDAY

SHAMBLE @ MOUNTAIN VIEW

Top 4 groups will earn a point for their side in best ball “Shamble:” Team chooses best tee shot, then each player plays their own ball from that spot. Lowest gross score counts for team score on that hole.

TEAM DUFFER GROUPS

Frazier/C. Thuman/Burke/Pieper

Duffer stalwart Steve Frazier captains this foursome of fellow veterans. He’s known to have a clutch putter and is widely considered to be at his best on day 1 before fatigue takes its toll on one of team Duffer’s most senior members. Meanwhile young Cam Thuman, making his 5th appearance, has the firepower to put this group in position A off the tee and set up some birdie looks. Neither Burke nor Pieper should have any problem contributing the minimum 2 tee shots, but they may need to find some magic on the greens to truly contribute to the team effort.

Odds to earn a point: +150

Janicke/Howell/Aponte/Mariani

Janicke caught fire in 2023 and anchored a similar foursome that earned a point for team Duffer last year. Howell joins this foursome as chief strategist and will need to be steady off the tee to free up Janicke to unleash his dangerous, yet erratic, driver. Aponte has a well earned reputation for finding fairways, but can often leave teammates with mid-iron approach shots. Mariani is considered the x-factor here, as he is capable of contributing with his irons and putter but a balky back and questionable mental stamina in the heat can often be his downfall.

Odds to earn a point: -120

Ouderkerken/Kalma/Cady/Pearson

Ouderkerken and Pearson were part of a point-earning foursome in last year’s shamble, and this year they team up with a pair of Villa Park socialites in Kalma and Cady. Ouderkerken’s steady all around game should keep this group in the hunt to the end. Kalma is your typical D&B wildcard, capable of making birdies or doubles on any given hole but has displayed a knack for the clutch moments in his long Duffer career. Cady makes his return after a long hiatus and will need to quickly get comfortable with the shamble format and his new teammates. Pearson has been working on his patented stinger draw off the tee, but will need to avoid the duck hook and contribute with the flat stick if he wants to be more than a passenger in this Duffer foursome.

Odds to earn a point: +150

J. Sailhamer/Hobbs/Miller/Tarka

It’s no secret that the Duffer captain plays a lot of golf, but he will need to overcome the tournament chairman duty distractions that often keep him from finding peak form out of the gates in the Friday shamble. Brett Hobbs may be the key to this group’s success, as his ball striking can be prodigious on a good day and could give this group lots of wedges into greens. Pundits who follow the SOSA tour note that while Miller isn’t great at anything, but he doesn’t suck at anything either so he’s considered a steady hand in the 3 hole. Rounding out the group is veteran Duffer Tarka, who shocked the world with his announcement to come out of retirement for the 20th anniversary tournament and has never played a shamble format.

Odds to earn a point: +120

TEAM BLUFFER GROUPS

Ollivier/Cervera/Cid/Swigart

Ollivier and Cid were part of last year’s runaway Shamble winner, posting a 63 that lapped the field. If Ollivier is on his game he can be a ball striking menace and put some birdies on the card. Cervera is the perfect 2-hole player in shamble format and should keep this team from having to sweat out too many bogeys. Cid has been rising to the occasion at D&B since 2006, and will most certainly split some fairways with his patented drop-kick drives. Swigart, making his 2nd appearance, found himself switching sides after the summer transfer window but is said to be much improved from his 2023 rookie campaign and will surely be looking to prove that team Duffer made a mistake in letting him get away to the rival side.

Odds to earn a point: -200

Burns/Girod/Young/White

D&B legend Phil Girod is the only one in this foursome who earned a Friday point last year, but Captain Bluffer expects this group of veterans to be in the hunt come the back nine Friday evening. BDR makes his 6th straight start and will look to overpower the Mountain View layout with his much ballyhooed length. Girod has played much more golf in 2024 than previous years, so he shouldn’t need several holes to find his footing this year. Young has a complete game tee to green and should be extra dangerous when set up with big drives from his teammates. White rounds out the group and will rely on his experience and athleticism to be more than a spectator from the 4-hole.

Odds to earn a point: +110

Luke Sailhamer/R. Thuman/Brookman/Rosenthal

Making his 6th straight appearance, Luke is tasked with anchoring this veteran Bluffer foursome. If he can avoid the big miss that has plagued him on occasion this summer then this team should be set up to take dead aim at pins with wedges in hand. Thuman should be a reliable 2nd man in this group and is said to be extra motivated after being slandered in previous preview articles. Brookman endured back surgery since last year’s tournament, but a 10 day golf binge to Bandon and Tahoe this summer quieted any whispers that a medical retirement may be on the table. Rosenthal may be the most dangerous cleanup hitter D&B shamble history and is coming off a summer that saw him join a fancy country club in Nashville where he’s finally making progress on conquering his demons around the greens.

Odds to earn a point: -180

Mike Sailhamer/Duffy/Cawdrey/D. Dailey

Captain Bluffer and his fellow LAFD colleagues finished in the money last year as a threesome, so they should be considered a favorite to repeat as they add newly minted Bluffer Devin Dailey to their formidable team. Dailey has become a certified golf sicko in 2024 and while a big number always lurks he expects to break 100 any time he pegs it. Captain Bluffer has prioritized global travel over golf in 2024, but should be dangerous in this comfortable pairing as he embraces the captain’s role. If Bluffer veterans Duffy and Cawdrey can find their usual D&B magic that results in the sum being greater than the parts then this group could comfortably earn a point for their side. Cawdrey has joined multiple golf leagues in retirement, and Duffy has a well earned reputation for playing above his pay grade when the lights come on.

Odds to earn a point: -150

HYBRID FOURSOME

G. Dailey/B. Sailhamer/Lincoln Sailhamer/Michael Sailhamer II

With an extra 4some in this year’s field, the committee had to get creative and came up with the Hybrid foursome featuring this year’s rookies and a pair of 2nd year participants. Rather than subjecting the young bucks to practice round status, they get a chance to factor into the final result and put up a half point for each side. Grayson Dailey made history by being part of the first father/son trade in the offseason and while he still takes a mighty lash he actually has an idea of where the ball is going more often than not compared to last year. Bryce Sailhamer makes his tournament debut in his first year of eligibility and has made it known that he isn’t intimidated by the D&B cauldron. Lincoln Sailhamer wasn’t pleased with his offseason trade but with only 1 year service time he didn’t have much say in the matter and will need to set that aside and bomb some drives for this foursome. Finally, D&B welcomes Michael Sailhamer II who promises to put up a rookie campaign that will never be forgotten. Michael is ready for D&B, but is D&B ready for Michael? This is surely one of the biggest storylines of the 2024 tournament.

Odds to earn a half point for both teams: +400