Co-champions Clay Hightower/Ramsey McCreary and Don and Zach Miller

For the first time at our Two Man Links Championships, we divided the field into three divisions based on a qualifier, then played two matches to determine three division champions, plus consolation winners.

After settling first round ties in sudden-death (one match going 23 holes), it became clear that we would have to declare co-champions for any ties on the final round. Too many travel requirements needed to be coordinated, given Nova Scotia's somewhat (!) isolated location.

In the Championship Division, the father and son team of Don and Zach Miller of Atlanta battled it out with Clay Hightower of Houston and Ramsey McCreary of Park City. The turning point in the match came at the par-3 17th hole, where Hightower had five feet for birdie after a crips iron shot to the tight hole location in the back of the green, heavily guarded by a pot bunker just left. When the Millers found the bunker, things looked grim for their team. But McCreary -- given the choice to play first since his partner was off the green -- left his putt just short, and a small glimmer of light appeared for the Millers, despite being off the green and twenty feet away after extricating themselves from a the aforementioned bunker.

Don tried to chip in, and missed, but his sone came through -- crashing his twenty foot putt into the back of the cup and hearing the distinct ring that most of us were unfamiliar with before this week. (The cups have a bottom layer that sounds like a cow bell for auditory feedback -- evidently a Japanese custom.)

After a bogey tie on the very difficult 18th, the championship was declared a tie and both teams will receive trophies, and make their long flights home.

In the Championship Division consolation match, Jeff Eiserman (Springfield, Missouri) and Kirk Viehl (Edwardson, Ill.) held off a comeback from the always tough father-son team of Joseph Mark (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Joseph Michael Kowalski (Las Vegas), winning the cup by a margin of 2&1.

FIRST FLIGHT

Brian Blaushild and Alex Fuller of Ohio enjoyed a tough battle with Ron Johnson and Jay Hoag of California -- especially since they came out on top despite a big California rally -- winning on the 18th hole, 1-up. The consolation title was declared a tie when Californians Mark Flynn and Jesse Rogers went to the 18th hole with Mark Williamson and Kevin Fix of Ohio, a father and son-in-law team. Fix, a Jet Blue pilot playing in his first tournament ever, got up-and-down from a precarious position up a slope on No. 18 to tie the match.

SECOND FLIGHT

George and Joshua Hogan of Portland, Maine, indeed played like maniacs, posting a best-ball 67 net (with only half the low 12-month index being used) against Vince Sakowski and Trygve Mikkelsen of California, winning 7&6. The consolation match in the second flight was a little closer, with yet another California team -- Terry Demmon and Ken Diekroeger, bringing home hardware after defeating Michael Fosheim (Dallas) and Jim Nalepa of Scottsdale, 3&2.

Next year's event will see 32 players and an expanded format of two flights, playing three matches each to determine a champion. It is bound to fill up quickly, so if you want to get on the early interest list please email brandie (at sign) amateurgolf.com.

As for Cabot Cape Breton, the resort provides everything we love about "Dream Golf" destinations, starting with amazing links golf, through great food, lodging, and amazing service. Sure -- it's a bit remote. But that's half of the charm. Nova Scotia is on everyone's golf radar (and bucket lists.) See you in 2024.