CARMEL, Calif., October 5, 2009 -- At the awards banquet following the playing of the 32nd SFCGC Carmel Invitational, there was one particular table overflowing with joy and beaming with pride. As one banquet guest at a table nearby remarked, "Wow, look at all those trophies on the Dragons' table!"

The Dragons Golf Club's contingent of 9 members dominated the Carmel Invitational, winning the Shaw Pang Team Challenge, Field Overall Low Gross, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Low Net in the championship flight.

But we didn't win the banquet raffle's grand prize, a SkyCaddie GPS.

Oh well.

Paul Loui fired rounds of 72 and 76 at Laguna Seca and Rancho Canada's West Course, respectively, to win the Field Overall Low Gross honor. The veteran got off to a 3-under start on the front nine of Laguna Seca on a cold and windy Saturday morning, and was threatening to run and away and hide, before coming back to the field a little. Paul's 72 after Round 1 was five ahead of Wes Chong (77) and seven clear of Bobby Chang (79). A steady 76 at Rancho Canada on Sunday secured a 4-shot victory over SFCGC's Jim McGilley for the tournament low gross.

Paul Loui tees off on No. 1 at Laguna Seca, on his way to a 72.

Arriving at Rancho Canada, where to the left is the golf course and to the right is a church, one is confronted with an existential choice, on a Sunday morning.

Going into the final round, Wes and Bobby, as well as George Hsu (92/net 74) were well-positioned for low net honors with net 74s in the championship flight. Lawrence Ma, despite two triple bogeys in his opening round of 83 (net 73) at Laguna Seca, was tied for 1st low net lead with two other competitors.

Paul Loui (field Low Gross), Lawrence Ma (1st Low Net Flight A), Bobby Chang (2nd Low Net Flight A), Martin standing in for Wes Chong (3rd Low Net Flight A).

It was Lawrence who tried to run away and hide, after shooting a 1-over 37 on the front nine at Rancho Canada. Lawrence plinked his way through the treacherously tree-lined back-nine to an uneventful 40 and a 77 gross (67 net) -- the 140 net total turned out to be a 6-shot low net victory, and Lawrence's first individual win at a Federation invitational. Bobby, who is decidedly not a "plinker," bombed and slashed his way to a 76 gross (72 net) and finished at net 146 for 2nd low net. Despite a bulky putter, Wes shot 77 gross (74 net) to take 3rd low net at 148 and completed the Dragons' sweep of the championship flight.

Martin Chang (left) and George Hsu (right).

Lawrence's cart buddy on Sunday, George, got off to a bad start on a brutally cold morning, and struggled to a 102 to finish at 194/net 159. George, however, made sure his young friend didn't make any silly mistakes down the stretch. Alex Chong hung in there in the championship flight as well, going 95-93 for a 188/net 155 finish. Martin Chang was the Club's lone representative in the second flight, and was only 4 back after an opening 109/net 74. But a second day 109 wasn't good enough to place. However, don't cry for Martin's 35 pops, ever -- in the tournament net skins game, Martin took home three skins worth $145, and he won a golf bag travel cover from the awards banquet raffle. Carol Lee represented the Dragons in the lady's division, going 107-112 (net 80-85). She too snagged a nice raffle prize at the banquet -- a Callaway stand bag, in the Dragons' colors of red and black.

The tournament got off to an auspicious start for the Dragons on Friday, when the Shaw Pang Team Challenge was held at Rancho Canada. The Dragons were represented by Carol, Bobby, Lawrence and Avachai "A.T." Tayjasanant, who was making his Federation tournament debut. Carol, a battle-hardened team matches veteran from both our NCGA and Federation Team Match squads, shot a net 73, and Bobby shot net 76 on first sight of Rancho Canada.

Dragons take home the Shaw Pang trophy.

AT enjoys a cold one at the 19th hole after his net 64 in the Shaw Pang Challenge.

But it was AT who led the Tiger Woods charge for the Dragons. After shooting a mediocre 51 front nine, AT fired an 8-under net 45 back nine with Lawrence on his bag and reading the putts. AT's net 64 secured a comfortable victory in the Shaw Pang Challenge for the Dragons. Three best out of four net scores were counted for the team total -- it was somehow determined by Carol that Lawrence's net 76 wasn't as good as Bobby's net 76, and that Lawrence, AT's caddy, putting guru and cheerleader, is the team deadweight this time.

Oh well.

This is how we roll: Bobby (left) and Martin arriving at Rancho Canada on Sunday.

The Dragons as usual traveled in style on this road trip, and that's not a reference to the 911s, the Escalades, and the Mercedes in the parking lot. On Friday night following the Club's victory in the Shaw Pang Challenge, Carol led George, Lawrence, Bobby and Martin to Passion Fish in charming Pacific Grove for a well-crafted seafood dinner. On Saturday afternoon, Lawrence, Bobby and Wes received the rare privilege of playing at Monterey Peninsula Country Club as guests of Federation legend Mr. Gaynor Chinn.

Martin wins 3 net skins.

Seven members of the traveling group gathered at Domenico's on the Wharf for a Club dinner on Saturday night, an Italian seafood restaurant that most of us found comforting as it was the type of fare we would find at home in our own San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf.

The Dragons will be finishing the inaugural season in style at Lake Merced Golf Club on Wednesday, October 14. On the strength of his Shaw Pang team win and his 2nd low net Invitational finsh, Bobby is now the leader of the Dragon Cup race going into the final tournament of the year.