2024 Oceana Best Ball “Joe Foster” Open
Published June 9, 2024
Congratulations to the team of Mike DeRuiter and Chris Griffin for winning the 2024 Oceana Best Ball “Joe Foster” Open with a two-day total of 135 (65 and 70). This is the duos fourth time earning the title (2018, 2020, 2021, 2024).
CHAMP FLIGHT Mike DeRuiter / Chris Griffin 135
FIRST FLIGHT Matt Dawson / Scott Sikkenga 143
SECOND FLIGHT Raul Morales / Dave Vernier 150
THIRD FLIGHT Corey Solomon / Josh Farrell 160
FOURTH FLIGHT Zac McCamant / Cody Liverance 166
FINAL RESULTS:
Click below to view.
SUMMARY:
The 51st Annual Oceana Best Ball “Joe Foster” Open had a little bit of everything this year. Fog, sun, clouds, rain, darkness, cool temps and warm temps, low scores and some not so low, and of course wind.
Day one, first round leaders had the advantage as the course was being very receptive to good golf shots, but as the rain began late morning and into the late afternoon the scores were on the way up and the air temperature went down. With the average score nearly at 82, (that was the leading score of the Third Flight). That shows that the 65, 66, and 69 scores that were holding down the top of the leaderboard were well below the average. With 215 birdies and only 6 eagles the course was not giving up too much on Saturday.
Day two, with no rain in sight, the golf course itself didn’t disappoint as the fairways and greens played as fast as any while allowing the golfers to fire at the flagstick if they so dared. When the leaders posted a 70 early for a total of 135, the door was ajar for a team or two to jump up ahead. As the sun continued and the wind increased, the green speed got to where a play from the wrong side of the hole could go from birdie to bogey easily. The scores in general were higher with no other team able to muster up enough RED numbers to catch the now 4x champions Chris Griffin and Mike DeRuiter.
Thank you all to those involved with the event from volunteers to staff, and of course this is for the participants, 226 strong this year supporting Joe Foster Junior Golf Fund.
ON-COURSE GAMES (TaylorMade TP5 balls):
Saturday
- PROXY #5 John Dorman
- PROXY #7 Andrew Taylor
- PROXY #12 Matt Dawson
- PROXY #17 Jacob Polanyi
Sunday
- PROXY #5 Dave Buck
- PROXY #7 Keaton Inglis
- PROXY #12 Joe Hanichen
- PROXY #17 Matt McClain
CASH SKINS:
Saturday ($1,130 cash pot)
- Hole #1 (3) 7:30 AM Lamie/Gosselin
- Hole #4 (2) 8:20 AM DeRuiter/Griffin
- Hole #14 (3) 10:00 AM Peets/Peets
- Hole #9 (3) 4:00 PM Bode/Lattin
Sunday ($1,130 cash pot)
- Hole #10 (3) 9:50 AM Buterakos/Hendrian
- Hole #1 (3) 1:10 PM Norris/McAvoy
- Hole #14 (3) 1:10 PM Norris/McAvoy
RAFFLE WINNERS:
Congrats to AJ Balulis who was drawn to win the golf trip to Morehead City! And Fred Inglis who won golf at Colonial. Proceeds from the raffle support the Joe’s Juniors Golf Fund.
DAY ONE:
After the first round of our 51st Annual Oceana Best Ball “Joe Foster” Open, the field of 113 teams have been placed into the following flights.
- CHAMP 65 – 71 (10 teams)
- FIRST 72 – 77 (26 teams)
- SECOND 78 – 81 (24 teams)
- THIRD 82 – 85 (22 teams)
- FOURTH 86+ (31 teams)
Tee times will remain the same for both days.
Per the rules sheet, "In case of a first-place tie in any flight, a playoff will take place if all tied teams are available. Otherwise, all places will be decided by handicap holes from Saturday’s scorecards."
All winners within flights are paid in golf shop prize merchandise credit to golfers’ club accounts on file, balances accessible by email. On-course game winners receive a dozen TaylorMade TP5 balls Skins are paid in cash, redeemable in the pro shop. Please contact the pro shop to inquire about your winnings.