The Bay Golf Club Claims First Win, Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

The Bay Golf Club finally got into the win column on Monday night, defeating Los Angeles Golf Club 11-5 in a match that kept the team's playoff hopes alive. The victory came at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and featured a historic moment for the tech-infused golf league in its second season.

The Bay had been searching for its first win after starting the season with two losses. The team came into the match knowing a loss would make the playoff push significantly harder. Instead, The Bay controlled much of the match and pulled away down the stretch to secure the decisive victory.

Background

TGL is a new professional golf league that combines traditional golf with technology and innovation. The league plays matches at the SoFi Center, a purpose-built venue designed specifically for TGL competition. Each team consists of four players who compete in a format that includes both team and individual play across 15 holes.

The Bay Golf Club represents the Bay Area of California and is owned by Avenue Sports Fund and Stephen Curry. The team features players including Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, and Shane Lowry. Going into Monday's match, The Bay was 0-2 in the season and desperately needed a win to keep pace in the standings.

Los Angeles Golf Club, owned by Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams, came into the match with a 1-1 record. The match was the only competition on the slate for Week 7 of the TGL season.

Key Details

The Opening Moments

The match started slowly, with the first two holes producing no points for either team. Momentum shifted in The Bay's favor on Hole 3 when Min Woo Lee hit an impressive opening shot that nearly resulted in a hole-in-one. Lee's shot traveled 211 yards and left The Bay just under nine feet from the pin.

TGL rookie Clanton capitalized on Lee's strong play by sinking a putt from eight feet and 11 inches to give The Bay a 1-0 lead. The Bay extended its advantage to 3-0 on Hole 4 before the historic moment came on Hole 5.

Making History

Neal Shipley, also making his TGL debut with The Bay, stepped up to the No. 5 hole, a 110-yard par-3 that played as the shortest hole in TGL history. Shipley's wedge shot flew deep into the green and drew back into the hole, marking the first hole-in-one in TGL league history.

"This is different than any hole-in-one I've had before. This is amazing. So cool." – Neal Shipley

Shipley's reaction was immediate and emotional. He threw his club high into the air, jumped multiple times, and was swarmed by his teammates Luke Clanton and Min Woo Lee as the crowd erupted. Clanton, watching from the side, had apparently called the hole-in-one before Shipley stepped up to the tee.

Shipley is a 25-year-old former Ohio State star who made the cut as an amateur at both the 2024 Masters and U.S. Open. He is in his first season on the PGA Tour after turning professional and had just made his first cut as a full-time PGA Tour member at the WM Phoenix Open.

Building the Lead

With a 5-3 lead entering the singles portion of the match, Clanton extended The Bay's advantage on Hole 5 by sinking a putt from six feet to push the lead to 7-3. The Bay continued to control the match as it moved toward the final holes.

Los Angeles had opportunities to cut into the lead. On Hole 13, LA's Tony Finau nearly brought his team back into the match with a second shot from 122 yards away that appeared destined for the hole. The shot missed just to the left, and the hole ended in a tie, keeping The Bay's lead intact.

Shipley sealed the victory on Hole 14, sinking a 16-foot putt to add two more points and put the match out of reach for Los Angeles. The final score of 11-5 gave The Bay the decisive win it needed.

What This Means

The victory marks a turning point for The Bay, which had been struggling early in the season. With the win, The Bay improved its record and kept its playoff hopes alive. In TGL's format, teams that do not make the playoffs are eliminated from competition, so early-season wins are important for staying in contention.

The match also provided a significant moment for the league itself. The first hole-in-one in TGL history will likely be remembered as a defining moment in the young league's history. Shipley's ace came at a key moment in the match and helped energize The Bay's comeback bid.

For Shipley personally, the hole-in-one represents a memorable start to his TGL career. As a young player still establishing himself on the PGA Tour, the moment on a national broadcast could help raise his profile in professional golf. The combination of making his first PGA Tour cut and hitting the first hole-in-one in TGL history in the same week represents a remarkable stretch for the Ohio State product.

The Bay will look to build on this victory as the season continues. The team still has work to do to climb the standings and secure a playoff spot, but Monday night showed that when the team plays well and gets hot, it can compete with anyone in the league.