Mike Cullity's March 23 Backspin piece on Mike Nicolette drew this letter from an old friend of Nicolete's, who recalls in detail Mike's lone win in ten full years on the tour, at the 1983 version of this week's Bay Hill Classic. In the piece, Nicolette talks about his putting in the one the Champions tour event he played last year, at the Greater Hickory Classic. "From tee to green I was pretty good that week," says Nicolette, who tied for 44th, "but I just forgot how to putt."
Dear Editor,
The story about Mike Nicollete brought back many fond memories of my days at Rollins College. I was a teamate of his on the 1977-78 Rollins golf team. Mike was a special player with extraordinary talent, but I had to laugh about his commment about not being able to make a putt, because, man, in college he made everything. His victory at Bay Hill was special for many reasons, but as his lead was slipping away he made the best 6 on #16 that I've ever seen. Hole No. 16 in those days was a par 4. If my memory serves me, Mike drove into the left fairway bunker and hit his second shot O.B. off the leg of the TV tower. He then had to drop in the bunker, the drop plugged, so now he had to lay up short of the water and then get it up and down for the double bogey 6. I bet if you asked Mike, he might agree that it was the shot that won the tournament. Mike was a good teammate who tought me a lot on and off the course. Congratulations on the success with your family and at Ping, Mike.
Steve Magargal
Rollins 79
Ed. Note: As near as we can tell, Magargal now runs a bar in Western Mass that caters to snowmobilers, writes for the Western Mass Golf Magazine and still plays some pretty strong golf. Thanks, Steve.
--Bob Carney
(Photo of Nicolette courtesy of espn.com)
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