By Mike VanZandt
Golf course head pro and cat breeder Mike Mitchell pulled a rusty Wilson made clone of the famous Titleist Bullseye putter he used as a high school golfer from the trash heap 10 days ago. Mitchell needed only one week of play with the ugly flat stick to notch his first win from the turquoise tees in the Par 3 contest Thursday at the Ranch. Mitchell had scattered five bogies and three pars on his scorecard when he teed off on Number 2, his last hole of the day. The aging pro missed the putting surface, landing some 20 feet right and behind the green, 75 feet from the flag. Most golfers would have selected a pitching wedge to attempt the shot, but the unconventional Mitchell chose to putt the ball with the Wilson clone. Sweet swinging Charlie Brannan, who had hit the green in regulation, and Mike VanZandt watched in amazement as Mitchell’s long range putt hopped and bounced its way toward the pin, falling into the cup for an unlikely birdie and a two shot win over a fading field. Shannon O’Brien and Michael Comeaux tied for second at 33 while VanZandt was solo fourth at 34. David Buchanan had a 35 and Brannan, arguably the best putter at the Ranch, struggled to a 36.
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