From The Pro
Head Golf Professional
Josh Gardner
July - A Truly Exciting Month at Canebrake Club
The month of July ushered in a heat wave that has made the frigid days of January seem like a distant memory. Unlike the poor weather of the early months, one can at least get out and enjoy a round of golf in the heat, and there has been plenty of golf played!
One of the best and most anticipated events of the year came at the end of July with the 2010 Club Championship. This is the event where everyone gets an individual opportunity to see how their game stacks up against a variety of factors. For some, it is an opportunity to see how they fare in competition. For others, it is an opportunity to see how they have improved over the year. For everyone though, it is a change to get out, play, and enjoy all the great camaraderie that defines summer for many.
This year, the Club conducted all four major Club Championships: Men's, Ladies, Senior, and Junior in the same week. It turned out beautifully and there were no shortage of exciting moments.
Junior Championships
As is customary, the week kicked off with the juniors. The Junior Club Championship featured four age divisions: 10 & Under, 11 & 12, 13 & 14, and the 15-17 year old group. The complete results are as follows:
10 & Under
1st Place - Justin Vincent (2-day, 12-hole total: 54)
2nd Place - Tyler Gainer (2-day, 12-hole total: 58)
11 & 12
This was a brilliant battle between Reid Baggett and Michaela Williams that went to a sudden death playoff after both players shot an 18-hole total of 93! Reid emerged victorious by winning on the first playoff hole, but it was a great match the entire way!
13 & 14
1st Place - Will Phillips (2-day, 18-hole total: 94)
15-17
This division competes for a coveted spot in the Men's Club Championship and for the second year in a row, Luke Mathias walked away the winner with an impressive 2-day, 36-hole total of 144, even par! Nicely done Luke!
Other finishers included:
2nd Place - Nathan Boswell (72-77, 149)
3rd Place - Lee Hodges (71-79, 150)
4th Place - Zac Garner (90-87, 177)
Ladies Championship
The 2nd Annual Ladies Club Championship drew 10 participants this year as the Canebrake Club WGA continues to grow. After two days of play, it was the young Ashley Beck who was crowned the champion with a fantastic 36-hole total of 151!
Other finishers included:
2nd Place Gross - Cindy Bennett
1st Place Net - Kay Tyler
2nd Place Net - Mary Bissell
Men's & Senior's Championships
Among the men, there were 64 participants, broken up into several flights and sub-divisions. A complete breakdown of the flights and winners is as follows:
Regular Men's Flight, A Division
1st Place Gross - Ray Whitt (68-77, 145)
2nd Place Gross - Paul Crowell (72-74, 146)
1st Place Net - Johnny Vincent (67-69, 136)
2nd Place Net - Jimmy Bryan (69-70, 139)
Regular Men's Flight, B Division
1st Place Gross - Chris Piette (78-77, 155)
2nd Place Gross - Rod Bissell (78-78, 156)
1st Place Net - Jerry Egbert (68-73, 141) *Playoff
2nd Place Net - Russell Webber (71-70, 141)
Regular Men's Flight, C Division
1st Place Gross - Jonny Bennet (85-80, 165)
2nd Place Gross - Ros Richardson (89-82, 171)
1st Place Net - Joe Boler (67-68, 135)
2nd Place Net - Brian Brandt (72-72, 144)
Senior Men's Flight
1st Place Gross - Trent Chandler (76-77, 153)
2nd Place Gross - Bill Kennemer (80-79, 159)
1st Place Net - J.J. Donahue (66-66, 132)
2nd Place Net - Wayne Reynolds (62-75, 137)
Of course, the Club Championships would not be complete without the Men's Individual Championship. Unlike the other flights, this flight competes over the course of three days. Brad Dahlke took an early lead with a four under par 68 on day one but had Junior Club Champion, Luke Mathias, nipping at his heels with a three under par 69. Several other players sat quietly within a few shots and things got much more interesting on day 2. After a bit of a falter by Dahlke with a two over par 74, the stage was set for some excellent theatre as Mathias shot a one over 73, and Wes Coleman followed up his one under total from the first day with a second. Three players were tied at 2 under par, 142, with David McKenzie, Ryan Bowie, and Craig Whitt all within four strokes. In the end, a steady, even par 72, round with relatively few tense moments from Brad Dahlke helped him secure his first ever Canebrake Club Championship. He celebrated in style, enjoying a cold beverage from the beloved trophy as onlookers cheered him on. Congratulations Brad! A complete listing of the final results for the Championship Flight are as follows:
1. Brad Dahlke, -2
2. Luke Mathias, E
2. David McKenzie, E
4. Ryan Bowie, +2
4. Craig Whitt, +2
6. Wes Coleman, +3
7. Armand Hunt, +6
7. Paul Vandiver, +6
9. Jimmy McDole, +8
10. Jeff Fenton, +11 (Winner of B Division with a Final Round 72)
11. Chris Harwell, +15
11. Randy Jones, +15
13. Travis Clement, +17 (2nd Place, B Division, Final Round 76)
13. Blair Whitt, +17
15. Rick Layne, +23
16. David Hyman, +25
17. Sam Bryan, +26
I would just like to express my deepest and heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated! I look forward to another great event next year!
Josh