Some sad news, long time Valero Golf Club player Mike Pajarillo passed away in Minneapolis, Minn. on August 19th, 2021 at the age of 97. Mike was a great guy, I first met him when I was paired with him in my first tournament for the Exxon Golf Club at Blue Rock Springs in August, 1973. He was very calm and kept me that way as we watched all the good players tee off first. We being in the third flight went off last, I would of hated going off first in front of all the others. As it turned out we tied for first place, my first tournament win, not sure if it was Mike’s or not, the early records are lost. When ever I was up in the Admin Bldg. I would stop by to see Mike and Don Dean who shared an office in Business Services. The talk of course was about golf, what else. Mike loved to play Tilden GC with 3 wins there in a 4 year period.
Mike Pajarillo, 1973 – 1988
1973 – won 1st at Blue Rock Springs
1978 – 2nd at Kennedy GC, also won a CP, 2nd at Green Tree GC
1979 – 1st at the old Chimney Rock GC
1980 – 2nd at the old Chimney Rock GC, 3rd in the Best-Ball at Blue Rock Springs, 2nd at Green Tree GC, 3rd at Diablo Creek, 3rd at Franklin Canyon and 3rd at Blue Rock Springs, set the runner-up record for the most consecutive top 3’s in one year which still stands. He finished the year in 5th for Tour. Points and 7th in the Scoring Average for the year.
1981 – 2nd in the Best-Ball at Green Tree GC with partner Don Dean
1982 – 1st at Boundary Oak, 1st at Tilden, played in the second Exxon Cup tournament at Rancho Murieta CC.
1983 – 2nd at Chimney Rock GC
1984 – Was on the winning Scramble team at Chimney Rock GC, 3rd at Diablo Creek, tied for 1st with Tom Stead at Tilden GC, 2nd at Kennedy GC.
1985 – 1st again at Tilden, 3rd at Kennedy
1987 – 3rd at Kennedy and won a CP.
Played in the Pyramid Tournament in 1981, 82, 83 & 84. In a memorable match in 1981 he defeated Denzil Storbeck by one stroke on the 18th hole. In 1982 he had wins over the tough Howard Nitzkowski and Darwin Richey.
6 Tournament Wins, 20 Top 3’s, 90.0 Tournament Points, a 76.03 Scoring Average, 3 CP’s, 3 Birdies, 3 Pyramid match wins.
