Updated March 1, 2019

Rich Guertin has been named winner of the Laughing Pirates 2019 Invitational.  His score was challenged by his partner player who ultimately admitted after his own internal review “At this time, I can confirm that I am apparently not the level of golfer I thought.  As such, the … Invitational Winner can be confirmed.”

Even during this challenge from a returning invitational player, Rich, showing the true champion he is commented “New Blood, even if it is older, is needed to allow the tournament to continue to grow.”  We look forward to his participation next year as he is sure to not only improve the level of play, but the spirit of competition and sportsmanship as well.

Congratulations to Rich in his inaugural appearance at the invitational.  As winner he will automatically receive an invitation to the 2020 event.

Kissimmee, Florida (original story as published February 28)

The third annual Laughing Pirates Invitational Golf Tournament ended in controversy as a contestant disputed the scoring,  forcing a protracted review of the scorecards supplemented by review of camera and video footage.

Tournament sponsor and host Walt Delevich explained “I guess as we continually expand the field and purse for this tournament it is natural there might eventually be an issue.  We had great weather, getting in our final round at the Orange Lake Legends course before afternoon rain clouds moved in.   I didn’t expect we would already have the dark clouds of controversy over what has been a gentlemen’s game up to this point.”  He declined to name the contestant disputing the results, cryptically saying only “it’s all water under the swim trunks.”

He was able to state undisputedly that the winner of last month’s “caption the photo” contest went to Nancy H. with the winning response of “Let the deflating commence.”  She will win a Laughing Pirate deodorizer/air freshener, in her choice of colors/fragrances/designs that she will undoubtedly employ in her recently doubled-sized RV upgrade.  Read more about how she manages being a Patriot’s fan and  life on the road with her mate Svend here.