The Greater Cleveland Skins Game opened the 2012 season at Fowlers Mill Golf Course in Chesterland today, and while it was a beautiful, sunny April day for all 23 players, for one player in particular it was a spectacular evening.
Mark Borlin of Solon wasted no time in getting his name onto the Skins Game Leaderboard by making a birdie on the 350-yard par-four 1st hole of the Maple nine. And that seemingly innocuous birdie, which everyone in the group assumed was for a tie, paid off big.
Borlin sunk the curling 15-foot putt from off the right fringe to take home the only skin on the night — and a whopping $529! Borlin birdied the second hole as well and made par on the remainder to shoot a smooth 33.
A few of the night’s dollars were left to other players: pin shot winners were Steve Blackburn Jr., who won $92 for the Mulligan’s pin shot on the 165-yard 9th hole, and Steve Blackburn Sr. with $69 for his pin shot on the 140-yard 5th hole.
All holes were birdied on the Maple nine except for the par-four fifth hole and the par-three ninth hole.
Borlin jumps off to a big lead on his quest for his first ever Greater Cleveland Skins Game Championship and with it, the Thompson Cup.
Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game travels to Aurora Country Club with a 4:45 p.m. starting time.
