The 19th AmateurGolf.com Two Man Links Championship almost didn't happen. But it turned out to be one of the most fun events we've played at Bandon Dunes.

Maybe it was the pent up demand to play tournament golf, in what was the first travel event since the coronavirus pandemic for most of us.

But whatever the case, playing Bandon Dunes was here for us, and the 21 teams the competed at Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Sheep Ranch, and Bandon Trails ensured that the 20th annual event next year won't need to be marked with an asterisk.

The overall gross tournament turned into a battle between two senior teams, who found themselves paired together in the final group. One of them, Sherman Haggerty of El Dorado Hills, California has played 17 of the 19 events. He and partner Ben Whipple were one stroke behind the Trophy Club, Texas team of Randall Conn and Johan Andersson standing on the 17th tee at Bandon Trails.

No. 17 is easy on the eye, but not very generous to anything but a well-struck and properly flighted golf shot. Andersson, who just weeks before the tournament stepped up as a last minute partner for Conn, did the same on No. 17, sticking his 7-iron and converting the putt for just the second birdie of the day on the hole.

With Haggerty and Whipple taking bogey, the lead was three and that's where it finished, as both Conn and Whipple made solid ten foot birdie putts on No. 18. "COVID-bumps" ensued, as the good spirited competition came to an end with Conn and Andersson posting 6-under 65 -- the lowest best-ball gross score on any of the courses this week. They didn't make a single team bogey. (And indeed Conn posted a bogey-free 67 on his own ball - likely beating Ben Crenshaw, who played the course he designed in front of our group.

For the week, Conn and Andersson posted 4-under 282, while Haggerty and Whipple posted 1-under 285. The father/son team of Sam and Danny Licursi took third overall gross at 3-over 289.

NET DIVISION

The father/son team of Randall and Jordan Schwartz played more than steady golf this week -- and they covered each other's bad holes on cue. That kind of teamwork allowed them to keep moving in the right direction on the net side, especially in the second round at Bandon Dunes where they shot 11-under 61. Following those rounds with 65 and 63 added up to 25-under for the 72-hole event, good enough for a three shot victory over Bryan Jeziorski and Kevin McSorley of New Jersey. The Licursi duo, from Thousand Oaks, California finished third.

GEORGE AND MICHAEL STEVENS FATHER & SON DIVISION

One of our most loyal returning teams inspired us to add a new division to the Two Man Links Championship, and name the trophy in their honor.

The elder Stevens, son of legendary filmmaker George Stevens and a motion picture industry legend in his own right, was lured to Bandon Dunes by his son Michael to play the tournament in 2005. The team placed a very respectable fifth place that first year and were hooked. They found their stride several years later, picking up team titles in both 2008 (against our biggest net field ever of almost 20 teams) and 2010.

The duo last paired at Bandon in 2013, shortly after Michael was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He passed away in 2015.

Long time tournament players will no doubt remember the Stevens. They genuinely loved the resort. The Stevens really participated in the tournament and its surrounding events -- I can't remember them ever missing a tournament dinner. George, who is now 87 years old, was sure that Michael would be pleased with the trophy being named in their honor.

"We loved our time with you and the others at Bandon Dunes," said Stevens. "It provided some of our richest father/son moments."

Sam and Daniel Licursi won the inaugural gross title, on the strength of Sam's steady play and Daniel increasingly finding the explosiveness that helped him compete on the Nationwide tour a few years back. Today, after taking some ribbing from his dad at dinner last night, Daniel posted six birdies and the team finished at 1-under 70 -- their best round of the week. Their weekly total of 3-over was very good for third overall, as noted above.

Behind them in second place was Dave and Kevin Cannon (Oakland and Santa Barbara) who played steady golf all week in posting 6-over for 72 holes.

Randall and Jordan Schwartz took the Father and Son Net title, in addition to the overall net.

SKINS GAME

Everyone loves a good skins game, and the magic of Golf Genius and the wizardry of AmateurGolf.com's own Chris Brauner helped us keep track of things all week. The big winners? Bill Mastick and Scott Pritchett who turned a $200 investment into a $617 payout.

A NOTE OF THANKS

We are grateful to be able to do what we love, and introduce so many new faces to our favorite resort. Thank you to everyone who made the extra effort to get here during a pandemic we hope to not be dealing with this time in 2021. And the dates for next year are April 22-26, 2021, right back in our regular time slot. We will begin taking entries August 1st, to ensure that all past players have a chance to register for number 20, which will fill quickly.

And finally, to Bandon Dunes Resort - we appreciate the extra measures taken to ensure our safety and the respite this amazing place offers to all of us. The service we get from everyone is legendary.

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