Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association
AN ACE IN THE HOLE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS AUG/SEP T 2019
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 4
10 The Goods Tom Bedell reviews Kevin Robbins’ new warts-and-all biography of Payne Stewart, The 405 cigar reviewed and Greg Horton shows us how to keep lubricated with some unique summer cocktails.
14 Chip Shots CBD oil and golf, a marriage made in heaven? Joey Dills broke the mold.
30
Features 18
2019 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame inductee Jim Awtrey rose from humble Oklahoma roots to become the first CEO of the PGA of America.
38
Rhein Gibson of Edmond regains his PGA Tour card and hopes for better results in his second go-round on tour.
40 18
Destinations 26
Standouts such as Ledgestone and Branson Hills complement the newer Big Cedar offerings on any Branson golf trip.
30
Fun and relaxing are the key words to remember at this Grand Lake getaway, currently open for new members.
33
The Rangers Golf Club in Arlington is the first golf course named for a major league baseball team.
Competition 35
40
Quade Cummins at Oklahoma and Austin Eckroat at Oklahoma State will be the leaders in reconstituted lineups for both collegiate powerhouses, plus much more on outlooks for all the state teams. Jordan Wilson and Sydney Youngblood capture the OGA and WOGA State Amateur Championships in a busy summer of competition for both organizations.
26 Departments 6 8 8 9
Letter from the Publisher OGA ED Mark Felder WOGA ED Susan Ferguson
43 44 45
Instruction: Pat McTigue Fitness: Clint Howard Schedules and results
Rules, Gene Mortensen
On the cover 2019 state amateur champions Jordan Wilson and Sydney Youngblood. Photos by Bill Powell
Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 4
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
It ’s Time to Experience
“ONE OF THE BEST GOLF RESORTS IN THE SOUTHWEST” 2019 GOLF DIGEST EDITOR’S CHOICE
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AUG/SEPT 2019
FROM THE PUBLISHER KEN M AC LEOD
Time for a solution in Tulsa Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum reiterated pub- rounding Page Belcher and golfers who licly recently that there is no plan to close account for the more than 60,000 rounds either of the city-owned golf courses at Page played there last year should ask now for Belcher but don’t think for a minute that the city to put in writing a clear, definitive mission statement regarding golf. If this is hasn’t been seriously considered. Long-time municipal courses have closed a lull in support for the courses and the next recently in Little Rock and Wichita, two mayor will address the issue, that’s much cities of similar size and golf populations different than if a plan is being discussed to potentially close any holes. to Tulsa. Wichita closed the L.W. The slowly deteriorating condiClapp course which it was subsitions are no fault of the current sudizing at a rate between $200,000 perintendent and his crew. If there and $300,000 annually. is no money for tree trimming, for Little Rock closed War Memorial fertilizer in the zoysia fairways, for and Hindman golf courses after deternew drains and liners in the bunmining they were the biggest money kers, for fescue grass in shaded arlosers in annual golf expenditures of $2.6 million versus revenue of $1.4 Tulsa Mayor eas, for cart path repair, for sod, for G.T. Bynum replacing the dilapidated clubhouse million for the four city courses. Tulsa subsidized its two 36-hole facilities up and everything in it, then the result will to $1.7 million annually in the past, but those eventually be a worn-out track incapable of days are over. The subsidy built into the bud- hosting tournament play. Tulsa’s last capital investment in the courses get now is $75,000 and Bynum expects the courses to do their best to toe that line. The was in 2002 when Stone Creek was renovated problem is that leads to long-term deteriora- by United Golf and architect Randy Heckention, making it easier to justify eventual clo- kemper for $4 million (and it was spectacular). Only a few years later, with annual subsidies sure or repurposing of the land. Subsidy is a dirty word for some city coun- reaching $1.7 million (mostly due to the since cilors, but let’s face it, if every municipal course discontinued use of union maintenance labor in the state that wasn’t subsidized to some on the four courses) Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor degree in either annual operations or periodic led an unsuccessful effort to close 27 holes. Tom Wolff, who operates the courses infusions of capital from bond issues were to close, there would be fewer than five munici- for contractor Billy Casper Golf, has told the city he could bring the courses back pal golf courses in the state. Maybe none. Similarly, if every privately-owned public into competitive condition with either an course had to survive only on its golf opera- annual subsidy of $400,000 for 72 holes tion and no other motive (such as selling real ($100,000 per course), or having the city estate or being an amenity to a resort or ca- pick up the tab at its own courses for the sino), they would mostly be gone as well and water bill and utilities, a practice common in many places including right down the only private clubs would exist. Thus it is absolutely crucial that each mu- road in Oklahoma City, which operates nicipality decide if golf is important from a one of the most successful public golf proquality of life standpoint, to attract jobs, tour- grams in the country. The maintenance budget for all 36 holes ism, businesses and individuals, just like parks, zoos, museums and other entities that are sub- at Page Belcher ($633,000) is significantly sidized whether they bring in revenue or not. less than what suburban competitors BaiTulsa has had a particularly difficult time ley Ranch in Owasso and Battle Creek in expressing its philosophy toward golf. It Broken Arrow each spend on 18 holes. If Bynum has decided that golf is not part wouldn’t take that much of an investment to keep the two magnificent layouts at Page of the city’s mission, tell us that clearly and Belcher among the finest in the region, but it let’s see if that opinion holds the day. If the does take a consistent commitment that the city does want to remain in the golf busicity hasn’t shown or recognized. Brought back ness long-term, what is the plan for sucup to proper condition, they should be able to cess? A simple mission statement would break even or make money most years, but go a long ways towards letting us know they will still need periodic investments of what to expect and giving folks at the capital dollars for major projects. If you own city, whether in the administration, parks department, park board or city council, a them, that’s your responsibility. Homeowners in the neighborhoods sur- clear understanding of what the goal is. 6
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Volume 9, Number 4 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 102 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-280-0787 Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996
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COO/Marketing Director A.G. Meyers agm@golfoklahoma.org Art & Technology Director Chris Swafford chris@golfoklahoma.org Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $15 for one year (five issues) or $25 for two years (10 issues). Call 918-280-0787 or go to www.golfoklahoma.org. Contributing photographers Rip Stell, Bill Powell Golf Oklahoma PGA Instructional Staff Jim Woodward Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National jwoodwardgolf@sbcglobal.net, 405-348-2004 Jim Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, FlyingTee vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 Maggie Roller Director of Instruction, Cedar Ridge CC maggie.roller@sbcglobal.net, 918-261-1441 Jerry Cozby PGA Professional jerrycozby@aol.com, 918-914-1784 Kyley Tetley, PGA Professional The Golf Studio 918-232-6564 Oklahoma Golf Association 2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2 Edmond, OK 73034 405-848-0042 Executive Director Mark Felder mfelder@okgolf.org Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Jay Doudican jdoudican@okgolf.org Director of Junior Golf Morri Rose morose@okgolf.org Copyright 2019 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma. Golf Oklahoma is published by South Central Golf, Inc.
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MARK FELDER
OGA Executive Director
FROM THE OGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A wealth of great OGA champions Myers who prevailed, holding off Carson Oklahoma is loaded with of Jenks in 2009. Eckroat, who is pursuing a berth on the Tewell of Edmond, Hunter Laughlin of Tulsa fantastic golfers, from youngsters still waiting for their first shave to gray- 2019 Walker Cup Team, showed confidence and William McDonald of Oklahoma City. Myers, a great champion and representabeards who will drain your wallet if given in himself just by entering, as a loss in any round except the final could have hurt his tive for golf in our state, led after each round half a chance. The variety was on full display this sum- chances for the Walker Cup. Wilson, mean- and held off a furious rally by Tewell, who shot 30 on the front nine the final mer in major OGA events. day. On Sept. 4-5, Myers will deJordan Wilson, a rising junior at fend his 2018 OGA Mid-Amateur Edmond North, is the 2019 State title at Twin Hills Country Club in Amateur champion. The Stroke Oklahoma City. Play Champion is 35-year-old Gibson, of Yukon, survived mid-amateur and current OGA wind gusts of up to 37 mph and president Heath Myers of KingDon Cochran’s gritty play to earn fisher. And the Senior Match Play his first OGA title and it was extra champ is 53-year-old Blake Gibspecial to do it on his home course son, who captured the title on his Heath Myers Blake Gibson at The Greens. home course at The Greens Coun- Jordan Wilson The 2020 State Amateur Championship while, is looking like the latest in a long line try Club in Oklahoma City. Wilson put on an amazing show of ma- of fantastic juniors to emerge from the state. will be held at the newly renovated Oklaturity and short-game touch in holding off Semifinalist Luke Morgan of Guthrie, who is homa City Golf and Country Club and it should be spectacular. We want to thank all two-time Oklahoma State All-American heading to Baylor, is another rising star. The youngsters were out in force at the of our host clubs this year for providing their Austin Eckroat to become the first high school golfer to win the prestigious State OGA Stroke Play Championship at Oak tremendous venues and support for our staff Amateur championship since Colton Staggs Tree Country Club, but it was the veteran and the contestants.
SUSAN FERGUSON
President WOGA
WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION
Exciting finale fitting end in Amateur WOGA recently concluded its won by Scarberry and the Mid-Am trophy Girls programs. We brought back our Women’s Senior 101st Women’s State Amateur Champion- went to Michaela Dierinzo. Our seventh ship at Oak Tree Country Club’s East Course. annual Junior Girls Fundraiser Tournament Championship tournament this year. The University of Oklahoma golfer and Durant and the 69th Junior Girls Championship Trails Golf Club provided a challenging and native Sydney Youngblood is the latest name Tournament were held June 17-19 at beauti- fun venue for our 50-and-over “youngsters.” Lee Ann Fairlee won the Senior Championto be added to the WOGA’s prestigious and ful Quail Creek Country Club. The Fundraiser resulted in a record ship, while Linda Maddux won the Super impressive trophy. Congratulations to Sydney, who defeated amount of money raised for our Scholar- Senior Trophy. Entertainment was organized runner-up ShaeBug Scarberry on the 18th hole ships and Grants Programs, and provided by Tournament chair Letty Watt. Our annual Partnership Tourlots of fun for of match play in the final. Connament is coming up Aug. gratulations to the rest of our 19-20 at Shangri-La Golf and flight winners, and thank you Resort and, as in the past, to all of our participants for entries are already full. We supporting this great tournawill conclude our tournament. ment season with our annuThank you also to Oak al WOGA Team Club Cup Tree Country Club for such Tournament on Sept. 30-Oct. an outstanding job in host1 at Oakwood Country Club ing this tournament. Head Sydney Youngblood Maddi Kamas Lee Ann Fairlee in Enid. Entries begin on Aupro Devin Davenport and his staff were exceptionally supportive in all as- all participants. Many new faces to WOGA gust 8 and close on September 19. Plans are already in place for our 2020 pects of this tournament. Thank you also to were there with lots of excitement for WOCherie Rich, WOGA State Am tournament GA’s mission in supporting women’s and tournament schedule, so be watching for chair, and to Pat McKamey, USGA Rules of- junior girls golf programs. The Junior Girls future announcements of dates and sites. ficial, for all of your hard work throughout Championship, won by Maddi Kamas of As always, please visit our website, www. Kingfisher, offered an impressive field of woga.us, for all tournament results and inthe entire tournament phase. WOGA has enjoyed a successful 2019 Oklahoma’s finest junior girl golfers. Thank formation. Thank you for all of your support of tournament season. Our Stroke Play tourna- you, Louise Blumenthal Johnson, for all of ment in June at Hillcrest Country Club was your hard work and dedication to our Junior WOGA, and see you on the golf course. 8
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
GENE MORTENSEN
OGA Rules Director
OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS
Know the rules to obtain relief In this article, let’s review tion of the Reference Point which is the “Abnormal Course Conditions” and the nearest point of complete relief in the Genprocess by which a player takes relief from eral Area. That means the spot which is the closest point to where the original ball them (Rule 16). There are four conditions: 1). Animal lies and which, if the ball were there, the holes; 2). Ground Under Repair; 3). Im- player could play a stroke with no interference from the movable Obcondition. There structions; and, is only one such 4). Temporary spot. When the standing water. point is located, Since the condimark the spot tions should not with a tee for be part of the later use. challenge of the The next step game, the player in obtaining reis entitled to free lief is the estabrelief if the ball Not marked as ground under repair, play it. lishment of the touches, or is on the condition, or when it physically inter- Relief Area. For abnormal conditions it is feres with the stance or space for the in- defined by one club length from the Reference Point. Mark that line with another tended swing. If the player’s ball lies on the green, inter- tee. This area can’t be nearer the hole than ference also exists by intervention between the Reference Point and must provide comthe ball and the hole. There is no free relief plete relief from the condition. It is absolutely essential that the player available if the abnormal conditions are in make certain of the measurements in that a Penalty Area as Rule 17 controls. Taking relief starts with the determina- the dropped ball (from knee level) must
GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
land in and come to rest in the Relief Area. If the ball is dropped in another way or outside the Relief Area and/or if it rolls out of the Area, correct the mistake before the next stroke or incur penalties. If the player’s ball is on the green and there is intervention by a condition, place the ball at the nearest point of relief. When the player’s ball is in a bunker, the nearest point of complete relief and the Relief Area must be in that bunker. There is an additional option that will take the ball out of the bunker under penalty of one stroke and that is to drop a ball on an extension of the imaginary line from the flagstick through the original spot of the ball and going straight back. If you have questions about the Rules, call the OGA at 405-848-0042.
Sign up for our enewsletter at golfoklahoma.org for the chance to win tickets, rounds and other prizes as well as keep up with all the breaking news
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9
The AUG/SEPT
Some things we like to do before and after the round
GOODS
The Bookshelf
To mention three, prior to a final match of the Missouri Amateur Stewart barked at his opponent, a former Walker Cup player named Jim Holtgrieve, “Bring your Walker Cup game tomorrow, fat boy.” Holtgrieve’s caddy barely managed to prevent a fistfight between the two. After his final round at the 1989 PGA Championship, Stewart acted the buffoon in front of the TV cameras as Mike Reid was self-destructing out on the course to give Stewart the title. He was so boorish in victory that Peter Jacobson later took him by the shirt collar in the locker room and essentially told him to shape up. He hadn’t by the next night when, at a charity event dinner attended by Palmer (whose lack of a PGA Championship title kept him from the career Grand Slam), Stewart lifted the Wannamaker trophy and said, “Arnold, don’t you wish you had one of these?” (Had she known about this, my mother might well have soured on Stewart, no matter how much he resembled her grandson.) Robbins makes plain the due diligence of his research, including many an interview from those who knew and played alongside Stewart. He did not, as far as I could tell, interview his widow, and I’m not sure why, unless Tracey Stewart knew this wouldn’t resemble the authorized biography she did with Ken Abraham back in 2000. But she needn’t have worried. If Robbins includes the warts, it’s mainly to show that Stewart managed to turn his life onto a redemptive trajectory, both as a player and a person. He became more caring, more wrapped up in his children,
Payne Stewart’s path to redemption by tom bedell
I
n a professional golf career that began in Asia in 1980, Payne Stewart had 24 wins, 11 on the PGA Tour, including three majors (the 1989 PGA Championship and the U.S. Open in 1991 and 1999). He was made a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. Next to Arnold Palmer, my mother’s favorite golfer was Payne Stewart. “Why is that?” I once asked her. “Because he looks like Doug,” she said. Doug was her first grandchild. No further explanation was necessary. And it was true to a point; both had blond hair, blue eyes, effortless good looks, and a genial sense of bonhomie. Doug didn’t play golf, however, or parade around in wildly colored plus fours and a flat cap. Stewart adopted the plus fours because his father, Bill Stewart, was a salesman who always dressed in bright colors. As he once told his son, “If you stand out when you go to sell somebody something, they’ll remember who you are. But if you come dressed in a boring, navy-blue suit, you’ll just be another person in the crowd.” Stewart was never just another person in the crowd; throughout “The Last Stand of Payne Stewart” (Hachette Books, $28) author Kevin Robbins refers to Stewart as “the Missouri showman.” True, some sometimes wished Stewart’s young self had faded into the background. He had all the golf tools in his youth, again encouraged by his father, an accomplished amateur. But the son lacked a brake on his often unrestrained brashness that led many to consider him, well, kind of a jerk, even into his early years on the PGA Tour. And Robbins doesn’t shy away from relating some of the cringeworthy instances that led people to that opinion. 10
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more attuned to developing a spiritual life. He could be enormously generous, such as the time he denoted his entire Bay Hill Invitational winner’s paycheck of $108,000 for an Orlando facility to assist families of cancer patients. Then there were his consoling words to Phil Mickelson after Stewart’s dramatic winning putt at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, words which had nothing to do with golf and everything with Mickelson about to become a parent for the first time. There’s a secondary theme at work in the book, as Robbins ponders how the technological advances in golf equipment that were flooding the game toward the end of Stewart’s career were changing the very nature of competition and the kind of players who would best succeed. Stewart, like many of his era, was a feel player with what Johnny Miller called, “a classic swing.” E. Harvie Ward, the 1955 and 1956 U.S. Amateur champion, said of Stewart, “He had a swing like a RollsRoyce. All you had to do was be sure that the water and oil levels were right, and that there was gasoline in the car.” Robbins makes a more or less convincing case that by the time of the 1999 U.S. Open, the bomb and gouge players were beginning to push the finesse players into the wings. Hence the book’s subtitle, “The Year Golf Changed Forever,” and making Stewart’s victory at Pinehurst that year significant in more than just nostalgic hindsight. But there’s no getting away from the piteous fact of Stewart’s death at 42. Robbins frames the book with the narrative of the eerie plane crash that took Stewart’s life and that of three other passengers and two pilots on October 25, 1999, a flight that had begun in all normality in Orlando, bound for Houston. But relativeGOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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ly early in the flight N47BA lost its cabin pressure, putting all on board into a lethal state of hypoxia and turning the Learjet 35 into a ghost plane. As Robbins starkly puts it, “N47BA was airborne for three hours and fifty-four minutes, most of that time on autopilot, to a score of bells, alarms, chimes, and claxons that no one heard. It covered fifteen hundred miles over eight states.” Before it ran out of fuel and crashed into a South Dakota prairie, the plane’s inexorable fate began playing out over the nation’s airwaves, especially when it was finally revealed that Payne Stewart was aboard. It became all too clear what the grisly end would be. Despite a subsequent 1,542-page National Transportation Safety Board report on the crash, no one could ever determine why the pilots could not or did not respond to cabin pressure failure alarms in time to don their oxygen masks and take action. The sad fact is that for whatever reason, they were quickly overcome, and that was that. Robbins reminds us that Stewart had another significant closing act after his U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst, the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline. Robbins delves into the competition in full, yet deftly manages to divert the focus from the remarkable comeback of the U.S. team, to the closing match between Stewart and Colin Montgomerie. The voluble Scotsman had been unmercifully baited by the partisan Boston crowds throughout the matches. But with Justin Leonard’s resounding putt having secured the Cup, Stewart and Montgomerie were left to finish their last hole in a now meaningless tied match. Stewart’s second shot was in a greenside bunker, Montgomerie on the green with a medium length putt. Stewart might well have halved the hole and the match, but he decided take a loss instead. He picked up Montgomerie’s coin as the latter applauded. They shook hands and Stewart said, “That’s enough for today, don’t you think?” Montgomerie said, “I’d have to agree.” Considered in the light of what was soon to come for Stewart, this simple compassionate act is just about enough to make you weep. In any case, it did me. Tom Bedell has blue eyes and once had blond hair. His swing looks nothing like an automobile that could even pass inspection. GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
The 405 - A ZT Cigars exclusive by tyler warcup
& mike crabtree
Welcome to The 405. The 405, exclusively blended for ZT cigars that is. A cigar that pays homage to the state of Oklahoma and celebrates the tradition of the Oklahoma City Thunder. ZT Cigars had the privilege to work one-on-one with brand owner Erik Espinosa in crafting this cigar. The 405 is a complex blend that is medium to full in body and in strength. Great pride went into the development and production of The 405 and we are excited to share this cigar with you. Founded in 2012 in Estelí, Nicaragua, Espinosa Cigars has made a name for themselves by producing great, quality cigars for a reasonable price. Brand owner and founder Erik Espinosa, began working in the industry in 1997 with other brands such as Drew Estate, Rocky Patel and Alec Bradley, learning every aspect of the industry before branching out on his own. Erik built his La Zona Factory in the heart of Estelí and started producing his noted 601 blends and crafting the art of the Habano wrapper.
The 405 is available in two sizes, the Money Ball 660 and Alley-Oop Robusto. At first light up you will enjoy smooth, creamy notes of cocoa, earth, sorghum and a touch of white pepper. The retro hale has notes of citrus, lemon zest and spices. This cigar has a wonderful volume of smoke with hints of salt on the wrapper that accompany a nice even burn. The expertise in construction that La Zona lends to their cigars is evident in the smooth draw and slow burn. From the colorful artwork and band design to the complexity of tobacco used in the blend, The 405 harnesses passion and artistry that is at the core of the cigar industry. Newcomers and connoisseurs alike will enjoy this cigar down to the very last draw.
Proudly serving Oklahoma with a fine selection of cigars and related products. Stop on by our current locations and share a smoke with us!
2726 W Britton Rd Oklahoma City, OK 405-942-0070
1801 Cornwell Dr. Suite 301 Yukon, OK 2nd Location NOW Open 405-494-7188
www.ztcigars.com (800) 340-3007 W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
11
THE AUG/SEPT
GOODS
News around the state Sponsored by
Try these cool classics on 19th hole or at home by greg horton
August is to summer as February is to winter in Oklahoma, which means the worst of the heat is here. Typically, during the heat of summer, cocktails get lighter, zippier, and more refreshing. Whiskey needs not go away completely, but the best way to beat the heat is with gin- or vodka-based cocktails. Prairie Wolf Distillery in Guthrie makes Loyal Gin, a traditional-style dry gin with an added punch of flavor. In addition to the standard botanicals, Loyal Gin also contains Gunpowder green tea, which it sources from T, An Urban Teahouse in Oklahoma City. The botanical blend creates a smooth, pleasant gin with none of the astringency associated with some botanicals. “The trend now,” Julia McLish said, “is to play with traditional gin and tonics to create new flavor profiles.” McLish is a veteran bartender who now owns Barkeep Supply, a combo bar and
bar supply retail store in Oklahoma City’s it’s a local beverage the origins of which are disputed. Local golf clubs, including Midtown District. “It’s a pretty straightforward idea,” Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, McLish said. “You just add a favorite fla- claim that the drink originated in their vored tonic, like Fever Tree’s Elderflower clubhouse. We’ll leave that to the booze or Cucumber Tonic, and then incorporate historians, but irrespective of its origin, the fresh fruit or cucumbers, even some fresh cocktail tastes like boozy lemonade, making it easy to drink and easy to like. herbs, like basil or rosemary.” McLish recommends the following recipe: With only a few ingredients — gin, tonic, fruit, herbs — you can create dozens of different variations on a very easyto-make cocktail for your In a pint glass with patio or pool deck. salted rim, combine; “Summer also makes me 2 ounces Prairie Wolf Vodka think of tall, refreshing, bubbly cocktails with lots 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice of fresh citrus,” McLish 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice said. “When someone 1 ounce simple syrup asks what’s best to beat Fill glass with Sprite and soda water. the heat, my mind usually Stir and garnish with lemon goes to the Club Special and lime wedge. first.” The history of the Club Most bars and clubs in Oklahoma offer Special is interesting, primarily because
Club Special
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Club Specials now, so even if it’s not on the main cocktail list, they will have the ingredients on hand and know how to make it. “Don’t skimp on the juice,” McLish said. “Fresh squeezed is rule No. 1. That’s where all the flavor, acidity, freshness and aromatics come from. A drink is always going to taste better with freshly squeezed juice.” Two other classic cocktails round out the summer lineup. First, for the whiskey drinkers, the traditional Whiskey Sour is a perfect summer sipper. Combine 2 ounces of Bourbon, 3/4 ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed), and a 1/4 ounce simple syrup. McLish cuts all simple syrup proportions back in her whiskey cocktails. Spirits like Bourbon and Rye are already sweet, and adding fruit juice just ups the sugar content. By cutting back on the simple syrup, the acids and hightone aromatics come to the front, making the otherwise syrupy drink very refreshing. Tiki drinks are popular in the summer, but if you’re planning on playing a round, the overwhelming alcohol content can make them a terrible idea early in the day. Two tikis is just about everyone’s limit, so opt for a classic Daiquiri with a twist. Plantation Pineapple Rum is the one infused rum that every bartender seems to rave about. Too often, infused spirits are made with artificial flavors or substandard ingredients. Plantation Pineapple is delicious neat, so it makes a stunning Daiquiri. You can order it out at better bars since many of them are stocking it now, or you can make it at home. McLish’s recipe is very simple.
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Classic Daiquiri In a mixing tin, combine ice and; 2 ounces Plantation Pineapple Rum 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce simple syrup Shake and serve in a coupe glass, garnished with a lime wheel.
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Former PGA Tour golfer and prodigy Joey Dills passes away
J
oey Dills, one of Oklahoma’s most outstanding junior golfers who also played briefly on the PGA Tour, passed away at age 67 after an extended battle with prostate cancer. At his service attended by golfers and friends from throughout the country, he was remembered as a generous man who overcame some personal demons to dedicate his life to his faith and helping others. Dills, of Tulsa and a longtime member of Southern Hills Country Club, was born in 1951 in Enid and later moved to Muskogee following the death of his father Joey Dills during his in an auto accident. He won the BYU days. Class 2A state championship for Muskogee in 1967 and again in 1970 after finishing fourth as a sophomore and second as a junior. He combined raw power with an incredible touch and became particularly well known as one of the best bunker players in the country. “It could be argued that Joey Dills is the greatest junior golfer in the history of the state,” said Oklahoma golf historian and current Baylor coach Mike McGraw. “He would definitely be in my top five with players Bob Dickson, Jeff McMillian, Mark Hayes, and Kevin Tway. He was a dominant player in his era.” Dills attended Brigham Young from 1970-74, winning the Western Athletic Conference Championship as a sophomore. He won the PGA Tour qualifying school in 1975 and stayed on tour until 1977, but admittedly spent as much time partying as concentrating on golf. Sober and in a second marriage with the former Sheila Joey and Sheila Dills Luguinbuel, a champion golfer in her own right, Dills ran a successful insurance company. He and Sheila have a daughter, Annie. Dills also had two sons, Billy of Houston and Joey of Tulsa, and granddaughters Isabelle and Mallory. He is also survived by his mother, Dena Dills Nowotny, a member of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. Dills was driven in his final years by a desire to see the restoration of Southern Hills by architect Gil Hanse completed. Hanse paid tribute to Dills at the grand opening, saying his contributions were invaluable. 14
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Rolling out the relief, Jobe big believer in CBD by ken macleod
T
he marriage of CBD oil and golf has suddenly become a huge topic as an older generation of golfers looks for alternatives to Ibuprofen products for aching backs and joints. One golfer who has experienced tremendous relief with one company’s products and signed on the represent the company in a national media campaign is Oak Tree National member Brandt Jobe. His company, although named Boomer Natural Wellness, is actually a Las Vegas company and Boomer refers to baby boomers, but still seems to fit. Jobe was born in Oklahoma City, but moved away at an early age, attended UCLA and it took him more than five decades to find his way home and become the newest member of the venerated Oak Tree Gang. His son, Jackson Jobe, led the way to Edmond with his desire to attend Heritage Hall, where he is a star quarterback and pitcher. Brandt was looking for relief from residual pain from three shoulder surgeries when he began to investigate the CBD oil products and look for one that did not have any measurable THC, important from both a drug testing standpoint and from his own moral compass. After discovering Boomer Natural Wellness refined the THC completely out of its products, he tested the golf line products and two jumped out right away. The first is a roll-on cream with menthol that helped his shoulder pain immediately. The second was a product for anxiety where you put a drop under your tongue at night. “That really helped calm me down and get a better night’s sleep,”
Jobe said. “It’s a very good product and I’ve been able to help a lot of other folks I Brandt Jobe know as well.” Jobe and the company reached an agreement for him to be its spokesman and last month he was featured in a full page in both Golf Magazine and PGA Magazine. Company COO Mike Quaid, who was lured out of retirement by the potential for rapid growth in CBD products, said having Jobe as a spokesman has been fantastic for Boomer Natural Wellness. “The reaction to the ads has been tremendous,” Quaid said. “We just got a call from Muirfield interested in carrying the products, which would be great.” The Boomer Golf line is available online at www.boomergolf.com and some high-end clubs are stocking the products. “If I was going to endorse a product I wanted one that I’ve had really good results with,” Jobe said. “This is something that will help people and is a much betBrandt Jobe uses ter alternaBoomer Natural tive to pumpWellness’ pain ing the Advil relief roll-on and Aleve.” while golfing. Quaid said sales of CBD products in the United States were close to $800 million in 2018, expected to reach $2.3 billion this year and could be north of $21 billion by 2021. “That’s what got me out of retirement,” said Quaid, a former financial equities trader who said he had spent the past five years playing golf. “We want to be the AnheuserBusch of this industry.” Although the FDA is still in the midst of studying the CBD products, Quaid pointed out that hemp products have been in medicinal use for more than 5,000 years and that other countries have done studies that concluded they do have painrelieving properties.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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EQUIPMENT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
Dan Murphy Bridgestone Golf president and CEO
Bridgestone
G
by ed travis
coming on strong
olf industry veteran Dan Mur- say “play what the pros play” like every phy after a three-year hiatus re- other brand out there. We spoke to conturned in June last year to take sumers on their level and were honest with over as Bridgestone Golf’s presi- them - that playing the ball the top players dent and CEO. Since then most observers in the world play isn’t necessarily the best agree the outlook for the Covington, Geor- choice for them due to vast differences in gia based company has improved markedly the way they swing vs. those guys on Tour. with a refocusing on their core business— We got away from that over the past few golf balls—and a top to bottom redesign of years. This year we have reinvested in ballfitting and we have improved the process their club lines. During his previous tenure at Bridges- to provide a broader analysis of how balls tone Murphy was the moving force behind effect each portion of a player’s game. How is it working? their ball-fitting program, an innovative road Early returns have been strong. We saw show travelling around the country helping golfers find the proper ball for their particu- some really great momentum through the lar game. As a result ball sales reached to al- first 4 months of the year, demonstrating most a 20 percent share of the market, still some real, tangible growth. Describe the how Bridgestone ball fitwell behind the leader Acushnet, but enough to be a definite factor in the ball business. ting program is evolving by the inclusion That changed when corporate management of approach shots in the analysis. The only criticism our competitors ever changed, and Bridgestone fell from one of had of our ball-fitting platform was the fact the category’s leaders to an also-ran. Even signing of Tiger Woods to an en- that it only accounted for measuring one dorsement contract in December 2016 part of the game - off the tee. With the GC didn’t seem to light up sales and Bridges- Quad, we have integrated 8-iron measuretone fell to a fourth behind Callaway Golf ment and short game consideration into our overall recommendation formula. We and TaylorMade Golf. That all has changed, and we thought now fit players from tee-to-green, just like Golf Oklahoma readers might like to have we all play the game. How has what you have learned doing some insight into Murphy’s approach and what Bridgestone is working on right now. thousands of ball fittings We had the opportunity to ask Murphy for impacted the types and features his view of the present and the future. At one time Bridgestone was second in of balls you golf ball sales. What changes in product make? This is a and marketing have been made to regain great point. market share? FitWe have returned to what made us great Ball - ball-fitting. We were successful with con- ting started sumers because we The Bridgestone Tour JGR line of were the approachable, consultative metalwoods have three wins on the PGA Tour in the past 12 months. brand. We didn’t just
out as a diagnostic tool for putting players in the right ball for their game, but what we learned is that it also helped us identify gaps in the marketplace. For instance, it was through ball fitting that we discovered the need for a softer core golf ball for typical amateur swing speeds. What has the effect been of Tiger Woods as a paid endorser of the Tour B XS launched in 2018? Tiger has been a tremendous ambassador for the Bridgestone Golf brand, and he has really helped us to raise awareness among casual golfers of the quality and high performance of Bridgestone balls. His win at the Masters provided one of the absolute highlights of my career thus far and we fully anticipate Tiger has a ton more in the tank. Tiger has been wonderful at helping us tell the stories how golfers should play a ball that is best fit for them and not necessarily just what he is playing. He believes in ball fitting; he believes in Bridgestone’s quality difference and technological advantages and that has been proven by his on-course career success. What are the key features of Bridgestone golf balls that separate them from the competition? This varies across each product family of
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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course, but I think the unifying, underlying theme is that we make golf balls of the highest quality to fit the needs of a wide array of players. One consistent feature of all of our balls is the seamless cover technology. We are confident that we offer an aerodynamically superior option to anything else that is out there in terms of performance in wind and consistency from shot-to-shot. In addition, our engineers have found a way to use gradational compression core technology that allows us to achieve in a single layer what other brands have to achieve with adding layers to their golf balls. Less layers, less complication, less chance of manufacturing inconsistencies. What features can we expect in Bridgestone golf balls in the near future? We really feel like we’ve got something great in our active acceleration mantle layer that we introduced in the e12. To not only reduce spin but derive power from the mantle is a game-changing technology, and we fully expect that our engineers will find the best way to integrate that into our entire premium line. Stay tuned. The Tour B JGR family of clubs was introduced in December 2018. Have their sales been what you expected?
GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Bridgestone Golf is a golf ball company first and foremost. We pride ourselves on fitting players into the golf ball that will help improve their games. Our philosophy on golf clubs is no different, we make different products for different player needs. The TOUR B JGR line is designed to promote forgiveness, specifically in mid to high handicappers. We have been pleased
Tiger Woods endorses the Bridgestone Tour BXS ball which he used winning the Masters last April. with the product so far and have received solid feedback from our accounts. Not to mention, the driver has already had 3 PGA Tour Wins which is always a plus! Does Bridgestone have plans for other
club lines such as those targeted for better players or slower swing speed players needing super game-improvement models. We are always working with our R&D team in Japan to determine what new technologies or new products we can bring to the US market that will best serve the needs of our consumers. While we are currently focusing on the TOUR B JGR line to target the mid to high handicapped player, we are also working on future product lines that target different segments of the market. Bridgestone Golf is slightly different than many of the other manufacturers in that we will never launch a product just for the sake of launching a product. We strive to make sure each new product we launch brings a significant benefit to the end user. Are there any other plans to expand retail distribution of your woods and irons? We are keeping our minds open to the possibilities, but right now we are really focused on getting back to being the #2 golf ball brand in the industry, before we really focus on a strategic plan to grow clubs. The next two years will be very interesting to watch and see if Bridgestone and Murphy can not only reposition themselves in the market but continue the growth of the recent months.
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2019 OK L A HOM A GOLF H A LL OF FA M E
Jim Awtrey: PGA's first CEO a Sooner success story
by john rohde
J
im Awtrey’s career in golf got out of the starting gate thanks to a horse. “My dad had taken me out to the course, but I told him I didn’t want to caddy for him. I wanted to play,” Awtrey said. “So I sold a horse for $100 and bought my first set of golf clubs in the store.” Awtrey, a 2019 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame inductee, grew up in Shawnee, playing on courses with no irrigation and no bunkers. “We used to have crabgrass-picking parties,” Awtrey said. “We didn’t care about the condition of a course. We just wanted to play. I never even got to see a bunker until I went to Oklahoma City (as a junior player).” Awtrey’s golf swing was self-taught. “More than anything else, golf is an opportunity in Oklahoma,” Awtrey said. “I started as a quarterback on the high school football team, but playing golf is something I wanted to do. I always wanted to play on the tour. We’d go out to the Elks Club and play all day long when we were 13 and 14. We’d start in the morning and 18
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play until somebody came by to get us.” Local tournaments are where Awtrey honed his craft – events such as the Cherokee Strip Golf Classic in Ponca City, the Boom Days tournament in Seminole, the Pokkecetu Tournament in Wewoka. “It was like a mini-tour,” Awtrey said. “Everybody played. College players played. As you got better, the better players wanted to play and you got better. That’s how we really learned to compete. There were a lot of great players that you saw and you aspired to be like them. Oklahoma was just a great place to be and grow up and learn to play.” Awtrey recalled qualifying for the Oklahoma Open at age 16, which resulted in a unique experience for the junior pro-am on Wednesday prior to the tournament. “There was one woman in the field, and I’m paired with her,” Awtrey said. “All the sudden I look up and I’m like, ‘Wow, she can really play.’ ” That lady was Susie Maxwell Berning, who would win four major championships on the LPGA Tour – three U.S. Women’s Opens and the Women’s PGA Championship – and 13 pro tournaments total. “That’s kind of the world we live in
Oklahoma,” Awtrey said. Born in Oakland, Calif., while his father was stationed there with the Navy during World War II, Awtrey arrived in Shawnee when he was 8 months old and would grow into one of only two junior golfers from the area at that time. Awtrey played at the University of Oklahoma and after graduating with an accounting degree in 1966, he served as an assistant professional for 2017 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame inductee Joe Walser at Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City. Fresh out of college, Awtrey spent three years playing on the winter tour to earn money. “We drove everywhere and we didn’t have a home,” said Awtrey, who was married and a father of one child at the time. “We didn’t have an apartment or a home in Oklahoma. We drove from California, to Florida, traveling in caravans with other players. You do that now you’d say, ‘Well, that sounds stupid.’ But back then, that was the dream.” Walser and fellow Hall-of-Famer Ernie Vossler suggested Awtrey head to New York. GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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Rubbing shoulders with George and Barbara Bush and with fellow Oklahoma pros Ernie Vossler and Joe Walser. “They told me, ‘You play well up there, somebody will come along and sponsor you,’” Awtrey said. After a brief stint in New York and two years on the PGA Tour, Awtrey returned to his alma mater as head coach from 1972-77, leading the Sooners to three NCAA tournament appearances. Awtrey’s playing and coaching ability are not what earned him a spot in the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, however. It was a conglomeration of everything he did
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thereafter. First elected into the PGA of America in 1969, Awtrey built an unfathomable resume as an executive with the organization that would span five decades. After leaving as OU’s coach, Awtrey served as treasurer and president of the PGA South Central Section, then joined the PGA Rules Committee and its Board of Directors. In 1986, he joined the PGA of America staff as tournament manager. Nine months
later, he became Executive Director on an interim basis and soon became the first PGA professional to hold the title. In 1993, Awtrey was named the PGA of America’s first-ever CEO, a position he held until his retirement in November 2005. The PGA of America enjoyed unprecedented success during Awtrey’s tenure. Membership almost doubled to 27,000, the PGA Championship gained in stature as one of golf’s four majors, and the Ryder Cup became the sport’s preeminent inter-
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2019 OK L A HOM A GOL F H A L L OF FA M E
President Bill Clinton greets Jeanne above, while the two flank Arnold Palmer at right. national competition. “We developed a strategic plan early and we were able to get to all of them because we kept evolving and creating benefits out of the money raised,” Awtrey said. “The plan was executed and it was a great time to do it.” When Awtrey became executive direc-
tor at the PGA of America, there were only five hours of Ryder Cup television coverage in 1987. At the end of his term, there were 26½ hours of coverage. It was Awtrey who boldly made the decision to relocate the 1991 Ryder Cup from sweltering Palm Springs to the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in
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South Carolina, even though the Pete Dye design was still under construction at the time. Playing in the Eastern time zone rather than the Pacific allowed international broadcast coverage to reach London before midnight. Known as “The War on the Shore,” the United States recaptured the Cup from the Europeans with a 14½13½ victory. “It turned out to be one of the greatest moves ever and one of the most dramatic Ryder Cups we’ve ever had,” said PGA of America historian Bob Denney. “I wouldn’t call him (Awtrey) a gambler, but I would call him a man who balanced things so well. He just handled things so easily. He was a man who also believed in the future in the game of golf. He helped build the pathway to diversity and it’s picked up in strength since that time.” Kerry Haigh, who is the Chief Championships Officer for the PGA of America, noted Awtrey’s vision. “Jim was able to get the team to work together beautifully, and at the same time he was able to look out 10, 20 years from now. Most of us are looking day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year,” Haigh said. “The decision to move the Ryder Cup from Palm Springs to Kiawah at the time may have seemed risky, but in truth when you heard of all the details and the facts that were involved, it really was a very smart and a great decision as the outcome of the Ryder Cup proved to be. Kiawah ended up sort of being the steppingstone to what it (the Ryder Cup) is today.” Awtrey also became influential outside his PGA of America duties, which included the National Golf Foundation, World Golf GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Foundation, Golf 20/20 and the National First Tee Oversight Committee. He was vice president of Landmark Land Company from 2006-09. Awtrey has served on the national advisory council for the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, trustee/fellow on the Georgetown College board in Lexington, Ky., the Baldwin Wallace College business council, the Digital Media Arts College board of directors and the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 2006, Awtrey was honored with the Donald Ross Award by the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2007, he was inducted into Oak Hill Country Club’s Hall of Fame. In 2011, the PGA of America inducted Awtrey into its Hall of Fame. Since then, he has served as Representative At-Large to the GCAA National Advisory Board. As Arnold Palmer Cup tournament chairman, Awtrey developed the event’s Patron Sponsor program, secured Rich Harvest Farms and Atlanta Athletic Club
as host sites and was instrumental in the event’s expansion to include both men’s and women’s college golfers from around the world. When business took him away from Oklahoma, the 75-year-old Awtrey said he always looked forward to returning. “All the years and all the pressure and all the things I went through, when I got off the plane or drove into Oklahoma, I took a deep breath and felt like I was in a different place,” Awtrey said. “The energy and the people are different. You walk into a place and people are smiling at you. When I left Oklahoma (to work for the PGA of America), everyone thought I talked funny. But when I get back to Oklahoma, I feel, ‘Hey, I’m at home.’ If I’m there two months, I’ll start to develop an accent again. It was just a comfortable place to grow up.” Awtrey and his wife, Jeanne, have been married 51 years, live in Windermere, Fla., and are the parents of daughters, Jena and Julie; Awtrey played well enough to reach the PGA Tour. and a son, Justin.
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BRANSON by ken macleod
OLD FAVORITES, EXCITING NEW OPTIONS MARK THIS DESTINATION IN TRANSITION
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Ledgestone hole 18 2019 GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
The fountain and light show at Branson Landing. by ken macleod
O
nce mainstays of any golf adventure in Branson, courses such as Branson Hills and Ledgestone – which are not part of Johnny Morris’ burgeoning Big Cedar Golf destination – are doing quite well in the resort town’s continuing transformation from country music haven to something much more. For those who want to create a package
Room with a view at Chateau on the Lake.
combining older Branson venues with several of the Big Cedar courses, the possibilities are truly enticing. Branson Hills, formerly the Payne Stewart Course, was voted the top public-access course in Missouri numerous times by Golfweek Magazine raters. It also earned a reputation as perhaps too difficult for enjoyable resort play and went through some financial ups and downs. Morris looked at purchasing the course but nothing was worked out with
the ownership group HCW Development. The advent of the stylish Branson Landing and a stay-and-play partnership with the Hilton Branson Convention Center & Hotel have helped bring Branson Hills back to the forefront, said long-time manager Dan Davis. “The advent of Branson Landing, with the upscale store, the activities like the bowling and arcade, zip line, boating, the bars, it’s all been good for us,” Davis said. Also helping has been superintendent Lu-
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DEST I NAT ION course in Hot Springs Village among his deep resume of mostly courses further east, is another exceptional course and enjoyable addition to any Branson getaway. A recent visit by Clark led to some ongoing and planned improvements, according to director of golf Phillip Drips. Ledgestone takes full advantage of the limestone bluffs that cut through the property and also makes effective use of the streams and small lakes on site. It requires accuracy, distance control and some thought to successfully navigate, but is always a blast whether the route taken is fully successful or not so much. Chateau on the Lakes, with its stunning views of Table Rock Lake, huge outdoor pool and patio as well as tennis courts, makes a great headquarters for your trip. Or The Hilton has two options at The Landing, where you can chill out Second hole at Top of the Rock is over the top. with your favorite beverage and watch cas Phillips, who had the course in tremen- the fountain and light show from the deck dous condition during our recent visit and of the Landshark Bar & Grill, one of the has helped oversee a program to soften the many cool Landings venues including bars, rough edges, including select tree and native shops, restaurants and specialty stores that grass removal to widen some landing areas has really added to the overall Branson expeand approaches and make the course more rience. We returned for dinner at the Level 2 Steakhouse in the Hilton Convention Center enjoyable for first-time guests. “We’re in the best shape we’ve been in a and the food and atmosphere were fantastic. Meanwhile Morris, the owner of Bass Pro long time and Lucas is a big part of that,” Shops and all things Big Cedar (lodge, resort, Davis said. “He’s done an amazing job.” Davis said many golfers are planning trips golf, shooting wildlife preserves and much that include one or two of the Big Cedar more) is building a golf destination to rival properties and also Branson Hills, Ledges- Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes or most any other tone or other courses such as Thousand Hills U.S. golf resort in terms of the quality and variety of courses. and Pointe Royale. The highly-anticipated opening next Ledgestone, which was designed by Tom Clark, the architect who counts nearly every spring of Tiger Woods’ first public-access
course design in Payne’s Valley will give Morris five distinct and unique courses for visitors to sample. Pricing for packaging and individual rounds is generally below what you would pay at the nation’s top golf destinations, but still above what many were accustomed to when trying to include golf on a Branson trip. This is an entirely different Branson with golf and outdoor activities rivaling the shows for prominence. The courses under Morris’ umbrella – Ozarks National, Buffalo Springs, Top of the Rock, Mountaintop and soon Payne’s Valley – will be five distinctly different but all entertaining courses each with its own wow factor. Play at all the Big Cedar properties is above what was budgeted for the year but the buzz surrounding the first public-access course by Woods has some waiting to include that if they are coming from ports afar. Payne’s Valley is expected to open in May or June of 2020, but dates with Morris are always flexible. “A big pull for the national media has been Tiger and having that Tiger Effect,” said Matt McQueary, director of sales and marketing for Big Cedar Golf. “There’s been a lot of anticipation among golfers as well.” Payne’s Valley, as named, will occupy the valley below the Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore-designed Ozarks National and can also be viewed from the ridges of Buffalo Springs, the Tom Fazio design that was originally Branson Creek. Woods, arguably the most talented golfer of all time and capable of playing any course, has embraced the modern slant among architects of going away from torture chambers and making the game more accessible and playable. “Payne’s Valley will be playable and have wide fairways and huge greens,” McQueary
Get ready for Tiger Woods’ Payne’s Valley.
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Branson Hills is not as difficult as it once was but perhaps even more scenic. said. “Tiger’s gone with the later philosophy of making courses more enjoyable and easier to get around. But the Tiger Tees, which are essentially the tips at 7,300 yards, will still be all the challenge any golfer could want.” Woods bouncing back to win The Masters ramped up the anticipation even higher, though that performance seemed to take everything out of him, at least for 2019. A couple from Georgia who had first learned of the Big Cedar courses by watching the Legends of Golf in the spring on
GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Golf Channel had just completed play on Ozarks National when we joined them for post-round refreshment. It was the Top of the Rock par-3 course that had lured them, but they thought Ozarks National was one of the best courses they had played on their many travels. Combining a round at Gary Player’s walking-only par-3 Mountaintop with Ozarks National, combined with the Tom Watsondesigned Himalaya putting course, is a full day of fun for any golf junkie.
Top of the Rock is more glamorous and has the restaurants, cave tour, natural history museum and other attractions, but the 13-hole Mountaintop course is hard to beat for sheer golf fun on a shorter course, one with a great mix of easy and demanding holes, creative greens and one where the hole can change from a daisy to a dragon depending on where the pin is set. To book any Branson trip, here are two helpful links. www.explorebranson.com/ golf and www.bigcedargolf.com.
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OK L A HOM A COU R SE SPOT L IGH T
The Coves Where the deer and the golfers do play
A couple of uninterested bystanders may interrupt your round at The Coves. by ken macleod
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ark Hill can get a little repetitive when describing the golf holes at The Coves, the pleasant course nestled up against the south side of Grand Lake on Bird Island, home to a community of some 350 homes full of lake and golf enthusiasts. As our cart turned toward a new tee, Xxxxxxxxxx Hill, the director of golf, would invariably begin his description with, “Now this is a fun hole. . . .” 30
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Fun seems to be the operative word at The Coves, vying with relaxing to be the most popular description of the 18-hole lake course, with nine holes designed in 1991 by Tulsa architect Randy Heckenkemper worked into an original nine by John Cotter of Wadsworth Construction. “It’s almost an old-school design, back before every architect was trying to build the longest, hardest golf course out there,” Heckenkemper said. “It was designed for the casual golfer looking for a fun golf experience. Some holes are more challenging
than others, but everyone can have a good time, from grandparents to the grandkids.” The Coves, located just minutes from the Cherokee Yacht Club and Marina, where plenty of member yachts are stored, was an amenity added by former owner Bob Buford, an oil man and rancher from Wichita, whose son R.C. Buford is the general manager and architect of the San Antonio Spurs’ long-running NBA dynasty. After riding the waves of the Oklahoma economy through some ups and downs, Buford sold The Coves development, including GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Director of Golf Mark Hill on the scenic 17th green with a view of Grand Lake. the golf course, to the Home Owners Association in 2018. Subsequently the HOA entered into a long-term lease with a group of members to operate the course. Rodney Radcliffe, a member of that group who serves as the general manager, said the
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Evening sun accentuates the folds and rolling terrain. course came in good shape with no debt and the new ownership group is very excited about the club’s future. So why are you reading this? Because there is great opportunity at The Coves, both for new members, groups looking for stayand-play packages, casual lake visitors to add a round of golf and for new homeowners. The club has extraordinary practice facilities and offers camps and clinics for its junior golfers. The land surrounding the golf course is fairly flat, but not so once you get into the neighborhoods to the south. A tour with
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A Coves member enjoys a late round.
Lori Worley Gray of Bird Island Real Estate took us past houses on wooded bluffs in what was once a game and hunting preserve. Wildlife still abounds and at least 20 deer looked on unconcernedly as I first pulled into the pro shop parking lot. “There are a lot of reasons to live here, mainly the lake and the golf, but also the 24-hour security, the active associations and the cost,” said Gray. “The POA dues are just $210 a month and the golf is just $200 (individual) to $250 (family). It’s just a beautiful place and the people are nice.” Both resident and non-resident member-
ships are available. The course itself is just 6,506 yards from the tips and 6,106 or shorter from where 95 percent of the play takes place. Yet it has smallish greens and holes that meander and often are protected by a breeze off the lake. The green on the par-3 17th has a wonderful lake view and the first and last holes are par4s that will challenge any skill level. For groups who would like to have an outing near the lake, The Coves has casitas and other rental properties. For more information, call the pro shop at 918-782-3220 or go to www.covesgolfclub.com.
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DEST I NAT ION
The third hole at the new Texas Rangers Golf Club.
New public Texas Ranger layout a golfing home run for Texas-Oklahoma players by art stricklin
ARLINGTON, Texas – While Friday Night Lights and high school football may always rule the Texas sports scene, you can never say the Lone Star state doesn’t love its pro sports teams as well. North Texas was the first and still only area to have a NFL-themed golf course, the Dallas Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine. A few years later, the area followed with the first NHL Dallas Stars Course at Stone-
bridge CC in McKinney and the latest, the newly named and renovated MLB Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington opened earlier this year. The Rangers Golf Club opened for play in February following a $24-million overhaul of the former Chester Ditto Golf Course that transformed the property on the northwest corner of Collins St. and Brown Blvd. in North Arlington, from an outdated layout to an upscale, resort-style design from the Arlington-based course ar-
chitects. “We do courses everywhere, but this was personal to us,” said John Colligan at the recent official city grand opening. The world’s only Major League Baseballbranded golf course is a par-72 that can stretch to 7,010 yards but features four sets of tees for golfers of all levels. The renovation included a complete rerouting of the former golf course, improved turf grasses and a 33,871-square foot clubhouse that is set to open in early 2020.
The rolling terrain will surprise visitors.
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That’s because Colligan and his longtime associate Trey Kemp poured out a labor of love on their hometown former Ditto Public Course, originally born in 1982. “Of course, I played Ditto Golf Course when it first opened, but this is so different,” Colligan said. Natural looking bunkers, long greens and native areas add to the charm. before connecting on the left side of the such as the dog leg left 595-yard, par-5 first “This is huge and open and wonderful. “But to be honest, I felt a lot of pressure No. 9 fairway, prior to emptying into the hole being called “Lead Off” and the closdoing this course in Arlington. I didn’t three-acre irrigation pond in front of the ing 532-yard, par-5 18th hole is known as want to be walking around the streets of 5th tee. From beginning to end, the water the “Walk Off.” The downhill par-4, No. 5 features a split Arlington and people pointing me out and travels 1,300 feet horizontally and 50 feet fairway and is aptly titled “Double Play.” saying, ‘see there’s the guy who messed up vertically to create movement. Add the lakes, plenty of mature trees and Another fun note is that the yardage markthe ole Ditto course.’ you have a championship golf course just ers in the center of the lush fairways are all He didn’t need to worry. The public course features plenty of miles away from where the Rangers base- in the shape of a home plate. The double-ended practice facility is 13 large, deep bunkers which can sink many ball team has sought, but never consistentacres and includes two separate levels on ly found championships on the field. a round or a ball. As one would expect, baseball themes the practice tee on the south end. There are scenic water features throughThe Texas Rangers Golf Club is the newest out the course with the pinnacle being the are prevalent throughout the only golf series of four ponds between No. 18’s green course that is associated with a Major addition to the City of Arlington’s golf community, and the early returns say it could be and the 10th tee box with the water fea- League Baseball team. The 18 holes are all individually named huge for both the Rangers and Arlington. tures cascading down 15 feet in elevation
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• www.forestridge.com GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
COM PET I T ION ROUN DU P
College golf preview: What to watch for in
2019-20 by scott wright
Here’s a look at some of the major story lines to watch in Oklahoma’s college golf scene as teams enter the 2019-2020 school year: NEW LEADERS, NEW FACES FOR OSU, OU Owners of two of the last three NCAA men’s golf national championships, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State face some changes entering the coming year. Five of the six players who filled out OSU’s potent lineup over the last two seasons have moved on — three who graduated and two who turned pro early — with Quade Cummins the lone remaining player, Edmond product Austin Eckroat, emerging as the Cowboys’ new leader. Eckroat was a key player as a freshman on the 2018 NCAA Championship team, and even more vital last spring Garett Reband when he had a 70.97 stroke average (thirdlowest on the team) and won the Querencia Cabo Collegiate with a three-round total of 14-under-par 199. At OU, another instate product will carry the weight of leadership. Weatherford’s Quade Riley Casey Cummins, now a fifth-year senior, steps to the forefront as part of a trio of Sooner seniors who will determine the direction of coach Ryan Hybl’s program this year. Riley Casey and Garrett Reband, both from Texas, join Cummins as senior leadGOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
ers for OU, and each of the three had a stroke average below 71 last season. Cummins took a big step forward in his junior season, leading the team in top10 finishes with five in 11 events, and finishing second in Hawaii. The Sooners and Cowboys will each turn to new players primed for the big stage. At OU, Logan McAllister came into the program as a highly ranked junior player and played in three fall tournaments last year, but didn’t break into the veteran-heavy lineup in the spring. The door will be wide-open this time around. Aman Gupta is in a similar position at OSU, spending most of his freshman season as the Logan McAllister Cowboys’ sixth man. He almost didn’t make it to Stillwater at all, after toying with the idea of a professional career. Gupta advanced through the first stage of both the Web.com and European Tour qualifying schools during his senior year of Aman Gupta high school. On the women’s side, Oklahoma State is going through a change atop the program. Former coach Courtney Jones was not retained, and OSU athletic director Mike Holder put the program in the hands of one of his pupils, Greg Robertson. Robertson played for the Cowboys when they won the 1995 NCAA championship and the 1996 Big Eight championship. He spent the last six seasons as the head coach at Kent State where he won 27 tournaments, including six Mid-American Conference titles, and coached four WGCA All-Americans, six MAC golfers of the year and five conference tournament medalists. He also led the Golden Flashes to each of
Austin Eckroat the last three NCAA Championships, where they advanced to match play twice. At OSU, he inherits a young roster that graduated only one senior last spring and was led by Leicester, England, native Lianna Bailey, with a stroke average of 74.65 as a freshman last year. The OU women’s team returns perhaps Sydney Youngblood the largest portion of its core, considering its top three players, in terms of stroke average, were sophomores or younger last year. That consisted of Norman native Kaitlin Milligan, who won the individual title at the Norman ReLianna Bailey gional and advanced to the NCAA Championships. Now a junior, Milligan finished last year with a 72.40 stroke average over 35 rounds, finishing in the top 10 in six of OU’s 10 events with one win. Libby Winans had Libby Winans OU’s only other individual title, winning the Clover Cup and finishing third at the Big 12 Championships as a freshman last spring. She was also the only other player with a stroke average below 73, coming in at 72.52. Durant native W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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COM PET I T ION ROUN DU P Sydney Youngblood, a junior who won the of Chickasha native Cody Burrows conWOGA State Amateur title in July, rounds clude in the NCAA Regional at Austin, Texas, last spring, where he finished 34th. out the Sooners’ core. FROM TAIWAN TO TULSA The University of Tulsa women’s program got a boost from a pair of Taiwanese freshmen last season, and will be counting even more heavily on Lorena Tseng them going forward. Lorena Tseng and Sammy Liu are the team’s top returning players this season, with Tseng posting a 72.1 stroke average over 33 rounds as a freshman. She had seven top-10 Sammy Liu finishes last season, including a win at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, and qualified for the NCAA Regional as an individual.
The mantle could be passing to Piedmont High School product Dustin Hasley, who was the only other ORU golfer to record a top-five finish last season in addition to Burrows’ eight. Hasley finished fifth at the Summit League Championship in the final event of his sophomore season, ending the year with a 73.6 stroke average, just a hair behind Jack Howes, a McKinney, Texas, native who is now a senior.
SOUTHWESTERN WOMEN FACING REBUILD After his team came just a couple strokes away from reaching the championship match of the NCAA Division II Women’s Championship, Southwestern coach Brad Fleetwood knows the rebuild going forward won’t be easy. In many ways, he’s right back where he was four years ago, putting a team together nearly from scratch — and look where that got the Bulldogs. With a core group of four players who HASLEY NEXT IN LINE FOR ORU Oral Roberts saw the impressive career were mainstays in Fleetwood’s lineup the
last four seasons, and a fifth player who blended in quickly with her teammates, Southwestern finished fourth in stroke play at the D-II National Championships, then won in the quarterfinal round of medal matches. The impressive run came to an end in the semifinals with a 3-2 loss to eventual champion Florida Tech in a match that
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Dustin Hasley
could have been changed by two or three strokes. Fleetwood said the momentum for the late-spring run was built in the fall, and his players were able to carry it into the spring. After finishing sixth in the first fall tournament, the Bulldogs only finished worse than fourth one time the rest of the school year. Senior Gloria Choi led the way, concluding her career with a second-place finish in the NCAA stroke-play round. “We’d had pretty good regular seasons with these girls before, and previous to this year, we had struggled in the postseason,” Fleetwood said. “These girls had something to prove. They’re a very talented group that felt like they had left something out there. They probably felt like they had underachieved a little bit in past seasons. “Being their senior season and having some momentum going into the postseason, they were able to put it all together. The run they made at the national championship was pretty incredible.” All five starters are gone now, and only two other players — freshman Mikayla Rindermann from Mount St. Mary High Mikayla Rindermann School in Oklahoma City and freshman Zoe Morton from Scotland — were around to watch the team from last season. Fleetwood brought in a large recruiting class and will try to build from the ground up once again. Zoe Martin “Mikayla and Zoe got to experience the leadership that we had, the work ethic that we had,” Fleetwood said. “We had some players who really worked their tails off every opportunity they got. “From a recruiting standpoint, we hope we’ve recruited the talent that we think we have. We’re going to find out this fall where we’re at, what our girls’ strengths and weaknesses are, and we’ll find out pretty quickly.”
schools in the country, both for men and women. The OCU men were ranked No. 1 for part of last season and finished third at the NAIA Championships. The OCU women’s team took fourth at the NAIA Championships, hosted on the West Course at Oklahoma City’s Lincoln Park Golf Club, where it will be again in the spring of 2020. Melissa Eldredge The Stars have won three national titles in eight years under coach Marty McCauley, and graduated only one player from a year ago. Melissa Eldredge, from Eufaula, finished tied for fourth in the national tournament as a juTy Stites nior last spring. The men’s team will once again be led by Ty Stites, a junior from Sallisaw who tied for sixth at the national championship last season.
Kaitlin Milligan
OKLAHOMA CITY MEN, WOMEN LOOKING FOR MORE Oklahoma City University has entrenched itself as one of the top NAIA golf GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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PROFESSIONA L ROUNDUP
Rhein Gibson earns second chance at PGA Tour by murray evans
Rhein Gibson feels better prepared to stick around in second year on PGA Tour.
R
hein Gibson desperately wanted a second chance at the PGA Tour, but three years after his initial opportunity fizzled, he entered this season wondering if it might ever come – and how long he could afford to keep alive his hopes of again competing at the highest level of golf. Without sponsors of any kind – Gibson has worn a plain gray hat and logo-less shirts during tournaments this year – the quest was costing Gibson thousands of dollars each time he entered an event. He realized he couldn’t keep chasing the dream without something positive happening. And then it did. In mid-June, the native Australian who now calls Edmond home posted his first career win on the Korn Ferry (formerly Web. com) Tour, taking top honors in the BMW Charity Pro-Am at Thornblade Club in Greenville, S.C. That win – after so many close calls through the years – means Gibson will be back on the PGA Tour for the 2019-20 season. Gibson appreciates his good fortune and intends to make the most of it. “I’m glad I stuck with it, because you never know,” he said in June during the Wichita Open at Crestview Country Club. “This game is so mental, that sometimes you’re always thinking what’s next. Should I just quit and get a job, stay at home and get a solid paycheck? A weekly income, I
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wouldn’t know what that is, because it’s so sporadic out here. But I’m glad I stuck with it and I’m glad I’m going back. “People look at it as, I played good for one week and made $100,000. They don’t realize the blood, sweat and tears that I’ve put into my career to get to this point and even to keep playing, because financially, it’s very tough.” Gibson’s golf story began in Lismore, Australia, where as an 18-year-old he knew he wanted to play professionally, but was mature enough to know his game wasn’t ready to do that. He wanted to get an education as a backup plan and signed up for a scouting service that helped land foreign players on U.S. collegiate rosters. Oklahoma Christian University coach David Lynn had enjoyed success with another Australian, Richard Guzzo, and Guzzo visited with Gibson in Australia to assure Gibson he’d enjoy playing for Lynn and the Eagles. Soon enough, Gibson was on a plane to Oklahoma, not really knowing what to expect. Gibson went on to become a four-time, first-team NAIA All-America selection and graduated from OC in 2008. That summer, he won the Oklahoma State Amateur title before turning pro in 2009. He toiled on numerous mini-tours and played on courses around the world. Gibson’s first pro win came in the Oklahoma Open in 2010.
In May 2012, Gibson gained fame after shooting a world-record 55 at River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma City, but his goal was to not be famous for just one round. He wanted to establish himself as a player with legitimate credentials. So he kept plugging away. He won the Brickyard Open in Indiana in July 2012. A year later, he won two tournaments, including the Arkansas Open, then finished fourth in the Nanshan China Masters, finishing behind a pair of major winners, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke. Then Gibson played in the Australian Open in Sydney and found himself on a leaderboard with two other major winners, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott. Gibson closed with a 3-under 69 in the final round and finished tied for fourth. That earned him a spot in the 2014 British Open, and he made the cut on the number with a 15-foot putt in the gloaming during his second round at Royal Liverpool. The next day, he played in a threesome with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. In 2015, he finished fourth in the Web.com Tour Championship, earning him his PGA Tour card. Life was good. But the reality of being a PGA Tour rookie hit hard and before he knew it, Gibson lost his card. He’d earned only $155,578 in 20 events during the 2015-16 season, which meant a return to the Web.com Tour. GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
“It was weird,” he said. “I kind of got thrown to the wolves. Your first year on the PGA Tour is difficult. You don’t get much access as far as tournaments. Every course is brand new to you. You don’t really know how to travel or where to travel – airports, hotels – it’s just a lot going on. And then to expect to play well, it’s just tough. But I really think that’s only going to make me better for my second go-round.” In 2016, Gibson hoped another good finish at the Web.com Tour Championship would propel him back onto the PGA Tour, but Hurricane Matthew arrived and resulted in the cancellation of the tournament in Atlantic Beach, Fla. That meant another year, and eventually another, on the developmental tour. “I know how hard he has been working to put everything together. It’s the toughest job in the world and the ups and downs are brutal,” said Lynn, Gibson’s college coach. Gibson had three runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes during his time on the Web.com Tour, but a win remained elusive and the cost of continuing began to rise. Gibson’s wife, Nancy, works full-time in real estate, and the money she earned helped keep his career afloat, especially af-
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ter he lost most of his sponsorships. “I’ve had sponsors, but … this year, it was difficult to get some, and I kind of wanted to go the route of playing equipment that I wanted to play,” Gibson said. “But as far as corporate stuff, I’ve never had any corporate help. That takes a nice chunk of pressure off of you, knowing you have money coming in, because I tell people it’s organized gambling out here. I’m paying $3,000 or $4,000 a week to be out here and hoping I make that and more.” Now that he’s assured himself a spot back on the PGA Tour for next season, Gibson said he has “got a couple of irons in the fire” as far as sponsorships but adds that “space is available” on his clothing. After playing in the first few events of the PGA Tour season – starting with A Military Tribute to The Greenbrier in September in West Virginia – Gibson will return to his native country for Christmas and will
“play what I can.” The Australian Open will be atop that list, as he bids for a return to the British Open. Ideally, he said, some good results in the fall will set up him for a good schedule of events in 2020. No matter what happens, though, Gibson is determined to enjoy a fresh start on the PGA Tour after the frustration of his first experience. “I think it’s just sweeter,” he said. “All the hard work – I had it, then I lost it, but I liked it so I wanted to get it back. It kept me driven to stay the course and try to get back there. I know what to expect now, so I think I’ll be better for it.” NOTES: Gibson is just one of many pros with Oklahoma ties hoping for PGA Tour cards in 2019. Go to www.golfoklahoma.org to keep up with the latest on Viktor Hovland, Max McGreevy, Robert Streb, Josh Creel, Michael Gellerman, Charlie Saxon, Hayden Wood, Taylor Moore and many others.
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COM PET I T ION ROUN DU P
presented by
Meet your 2019 State Amateur champions by ken macleod and murray evans
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ithin one day and a ½ mile of each other, two dramatic final matches in our state amateur championships produced two worthy champions, one a somewhat shocking upset and the other a toss up. The Women’s State Amateur Championship on the East Course at Oak Tree Country Club was chalk all the way, with the top four seeds reaching the semifinals and the top two – ShaeBug Scarberry and Sydney Youngblood – dueling in the championship match. Each had a few hiccups, but it was overall a very well-played, riveting match which ended with Youngblood prevailing on the 18th hole. Scarberry threw everything she had at her, making seven birdies (two of them conceded), including a dramatic 20-footer on the par-3 17th to extend the match. Youngblood, entering her redshirt junior year at the University of Oklahoma, was determined to avoid being the bridesmaid in this event for the third consecutive year, having lost the last two finals to OSU’s Alexis Sadeghy in 2017 and to OU teammate Kaitlin Milligan in 2018. She did it with solid driving and iron play, giving herself numerous good looks for birdie and converting on five of them. Both players are hopeful their performance propels them into big seasons for their collegiate squads. Scarberry transferred to Troy after her freshman season at the University of Tulsa, while Youngblood seems poised for a breakout year at OU. The OGA State Amateur Championship finale took place a day earlier and across the street at Oak Tree National. The finale pitted OSU All-American Austin Eckroat against a young man who grew up wanting to match his accomplishments, Edmond North rising junior Jordan Wilson. Eckroat won two state individual titles at Edmond North and Wilson is halfway to matching that after capturing the crown this spring as a sophomore. There is a chance he could wind up trying to match Eckroat’s accomplishments at OSU as well, as Cowboy coach Alan Bratton was at the event to watch him play several matches. All that said, few expected Wilson to knock off Eckroat in this match. But with a combination of great chipping and putting when needed and Eckroat’s inability to capitalize on his opportunities, that’s just what happened. Wilson won the match on the 19th hole when Eckroat failed to make par from just off the green to the right, leaving his pitch shot 15 feet short. “I play with Austin out here sometimes and 40
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Sydney Youngblood
Heath Myers
Jordan Wilson
when I knew we were playing in the finals I was actually relaxed,” Wilson said. “I was just going to play my game and see what happened. I knew if I played really well and he wasn’t at his best I would have a chance.” Wilson made a series of improbable up-anddowns from off the difficult greens at Oak Tree National to build a two-up lead with four to play. Eckroat, who has not lost a match in the match play portion of the NCAA Championship the past two years, came back to force a tie by winning holes 15 and 16 and the two both made pars on 17 and 18 to force extra holes. “Jordan played really well and congratulations to him,” Eckroat said. “We play together quite a bit and he’s a good player but I hadn’t seen him in tournament conditions. He made a lot of good birdie putts and par-saving putts.” “To have my name on this trophy with so many great players and so many years of history is very special,” said Wilson, who moved to Oklahoma in 2013, the year Eckroat won the first of his two individual Class 6A state titles for Edmond North as a freshman. “To win it against Austin, who I’ve been following all his accomplishments for years, is even more special.” Wilson is the first high school player to win the state amateur championship since Colton Staggs in 2009. Myers holds off challengers to win OGA Stroke Play Championship Heath Myers held off a blazing front-nine charge by Carson Tewell of Edmond with steady golf down the final perilous stretch at Oak Tree Country Club East Course to win the Oklahoma Golf Association Stroke Play Championship. The 35-year-old businessman from Kingfisher is now holder of the Stroke Play and Mid-Amateur titles, having won the Mid-Am in 2018, and will try for a trifecta later this summer in the OGA State Amateur Championship. Myers shot 2-under 68 in the final round for a 4-under 206 total, three shots ahead of Tewell, who closed with an even-par 70. Hunter Laughlin of Tulsa placed third at 211 after a closing 69 while William McDonald of Oklahoma City finished fourth at 213, aided by an ace on the par-3 17th hole. Tewell reeled off five birdies on the opening nine to shoot 30 and climbed even with Myers who held the lead after both of the first two rounds. Hughett, Gibson win senior titles As Mike Hughett walked off the 18th green at Gaillardia Country Club, he told Oklahoma Golf Association Executive Director Mark GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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Blake Gibson made the most of a rare opFelder, “It never gets any easier!” Try convincing Hughett’s opponents of portunity to win an OGA title on his home that. For the sixth time – and the second course, edging Don Cochran of Norman 2 straight year – Hughett prevailed in the OGA up in the championship match. After a few struggles late, Gibson found Senior Stroke Play Championship, rallying from four shots down midway through the his mojo, drilling an approach shot on No. 18 within three feet of the flagfinal round for a one-shot win stick to win the final hole and over Jeff Smith of Arcadia. secure the match. Hughett, who lives in OwasThe OGA title was the first so, sunk a nervy six-foot birdie for Gibson, a 53-year-old Yukon putt on No. 18 – after Smith resident who’s the president of had made his own 8-foot birdie Trake Window Cleaning Inc. putt to heap on the pressure – and was the runner-up in last to finish the round at even-par year’s OGA Senior Stroke Play 72 and the tournament at 4-untournament at Oak Tree Counder 140. The pair separated try Club in Edmond. By the end themselves from the field, with of the match, numerous friends Joel Driver of Oklahoma City a Maddi Kamas of Gibson from The Greens distant third at 3-over. The recently retired Hughett, 61, now showed up to form somewhat of a gallery has won an astounding 22 OGA titles dur- to cheer him on. ing his brilliant amateur career, to go with two Nebraska amateur titles he won back in Kamas wins WOGA Junior It’s been a busy summer so far for Maddi the day. He won his first Senior Stroke Play championship in 2009 and followed that Kamas – filled with a family vacation and with titles in 2010, 2012 and 2016 before his a U.S. Golf Association event qualifier – so much so the Kingfisher High School standcurrent two-year run. In the OGA Senior State Amateur at The out didn’t have time to squeeze in a pracGreens Country Club in Oklahoma City, tice round for the Women’s Oklahoma Golf
Association Junior Girls Championship. That lack of familiarity with Quail Creek Golf and Country Club almost cost her during the final round, but she steadied herself and shot even par on the back nine to hold off Brooklyn Benn of Edmond by one shot for the title in the championship flight. Kamas, who entered the day with a twoshot lead, posted a 5-over-par 78 to finish the two-round tournament at 153 (7-over), one shot better than Benn, who closed with a 75. Emma Shelley, who just finished her senior season at Bartlesville High School, shot a 78 and took third, one shot behind Benn.
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Scarberry fends off Dobson, Dierinzo to win WOGA Stroke Play title ShaeBug Scarberry shot rounds of 76-75 to edge former Tulsa teammate Taylor Dobson by two shots in the WOGA Stroke Play Championship at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville. Michaela Dierinzo of Owasso shot rounds of 79-75 to place third, one shot behind Dobson. “I didn’t hit it that great but I was able to get up and down a lot for pars,” said Scarberry.
I NST RUC T ION
Time takes its toll Eighteen months ago, I left the golf business, and to make a long story short, find myself returning to teaching for a living. With renewed interest and passion for the game, I’m looking forPat McTigue ward to expanding my knowledge and improving my craft on how to get people to shoot lower scores and enjoy the game more. While in my mind I’m still in my mid30’s, my body reminds me I’m closing in on 60, and to enjoy the game I have to do some things that allow me to play relatively pain free. As well, I have to come to grips with the fact that my days of 300-yard drives are over, with the reduction in distance continuing through the bag. Getting older and dealing with pain is not unique to me, and I would like to outline some things that have helped me in the hope others may benefit from my experience. From some 45 years of hitting golf balls, I’ve developed pain issues in both shoulders, neck, back, elbows and left hand. I’m sure many golfers can check those boxes and add a few more, but the question is how do we manage that pain so we can play? There are good ways and not so good ways. My initial choice was Ibuprofen, which my body responded to very well, but I became concerned with the long-term detrimental effects of its use. Over the last few years, I’ve eliminated Ibuprofen and occasionally take Naproxen on game day, but the rest of the treatment is more holistic. I take fish oil and turmeric daily and believe they help. I also have a couple topical treatments that I keep in my golf bag, being a Lidocaine roll-on, and a CBD cream. These things help me and may work for you. I encourage all seeking to manage pain to try treatments other than or in addition to NSAIDs and see what might work for you. The most important aspect of reducing pain is improving fitness. I’m no doctor, but it makes sense that stronger muscles protect bothersome nerves. A good starting place is to seek out a good chiropractor (or other medical professional) and get an assessment of what’s wrong and what can be done to manage the pain. My chiropractor recommended a set of GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
fun. Our best golf often happens when we’re void of expectations. Knowing the distance your clubs travel is important. Most golfers greatly overesexercises to alleviate the issues, and he sent timate how far each club will travel, and I me packing to the gym. Please understand recommend getting good data on how far that I hate the gym. Or at least I used to. the ball will travel when struck reasonably I’ve come to understand that regular exer- well. At every level, golfers chronically cise and strength training is the only way I leave approach shots short. On your next round count up how many times you were can get out of bed in the morning. Most gym patrons would chuckle at my short of the green versus over the green, workout routine, but I focus on stuff that and the results will tell you the reality. specifically helps my back. The point is you Also, it’s really important to know how don’t have to become a gym rat, or even go far your driver will fly in order to manage to a gym, to get on the road to less pain. your tee game. Take a look at the set of tees you’re playJust commit to exercising regularly, undering. Playing a shorter set standing the potential of tees makes the game benefit. By the way, immore fun. A good rule of provement in pain manthumb is multiply your agement takes time and 7-iron distance times 14, ‘practice’ to attain, just then multiply your driver like any area of your golf distance times 18, and game. add the two together. Now, to the golf side That will give you a disof getting older. Pain will tance number approprilikely dictate a change ate for your game. in your practice habits, For example, I hit a equipment and strategy 7-iron 155, and driver to be able to enjoy the 260, and the distance I can game more. I’ve found I play comfortably is 6,850. can’t hit as many balls Doesn’t mean I can’t step or as frequently as I used back to longer courses to. Limit your range time from time to time. to warming up before a Michael Hughett defies the aging The set of irons I was round and a bucket or two process by staying in shape, and playing was very good, per week if that is causing he’s still winning championships. but the irons were not rechronic problems. Instead, commit to working more and ally distance clubs. So, I sought out a more more on your short game and putting, forgiving iron that allowed me a full club, which takes less of a toll on your body at least, more distance on well-struck shots. than beating balls. Over time, I’ve found I’m still getting used to them, but already that I really like spending more time chip- have recovered most of the lost distance in ping and putting, and I’ve found that I can my iron game. Take a good look in your golf bag. Is there rely on my short game much more than in the past to allow lower scores. By the way, a club in there that you don’t like? Get rid don’t take this as a pass to not warm up of it. Use hybrids for long irons, not just for or practice, just manage your practice time the 3-iron, but maybe one or two more. If you have trouble hitting a 3-metal, efficiently. Improving my short game very much like many golfers, why have it? Get a 4- or is the main feature of my renewed course 5-wood for a fairway wood where you can strategy. I don’t hit nearly as many greens get the ball in the air. Get some exercise, look into suppleas I used to and I’m much more confident I can get up and down frequently. Of course, ments to manage inflammation, work on this is a universal plea of golf instructors your short game and and get equipment everywhere that our clients need to work that helps you with what you need. Hope more on and around the greens. It really this helps you with your game. Lessons are available to members and does help folks, and the side benefit is that you will likely irritate your playing part- non-members. Cheers! ners when you’re getting up and down all Pat McTigue, PGA day. I’ve also succeeded in adjusting my exMeadowBrook Country Club pectations, which always makes for more W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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GOL F FI TN E SS
Why swing speed drops with age and what you can do to prevent it
W
e know t h a t most Clint Howard golfers experiGolf Fitness Systems ence a significant loss in club head speed and distance as they age. It’s a complaint I hear from pretty much every golfer I’ve trained who is into their age 50’s and beyond. Golf scores and overall enjoyment from playing golf, starts to decline as speed/distance decreases. A point to make though, it’s not your chronological age that’s primarily responsible for decline in distance, it’s your loss of strength and speed/power. This is huge because chronological age cannot be changed, but strength, power and speed levels definitely ca, at any age! By understanding the mechanisms that underlie this drop off it becomes easier to fix. Why Does Speed Drop Off With Age? 1. Decrease in Muscle Activity/Neural Drive: To carry out a movement, our Central Nervous System (CNS) must activate motor units. To avoid complexity, the more motor units that are recruited, and the faster these signals are sent from the CNS, the stronger and faster our movements can be. This is of course very important for generating high club head speed. It has been well established that as one ages there is a loss in working motor units which means generating high levels of force and speed becomes more difficult. 2. Muscle Fiber Type: You’ve probably heard of “fast twitch” and “slow twitch” muscle fibers, and these differ77 year old Golf ences in muscle fiber Fitness Systems type are very real and client Joe Willard very important. Fast doing a Core Anti- twitch muscle fibers are Rotation strength capable of much faster, exercise. and stronger contractions, and are therefore vital for explosive movements like the golf swing. It is well established that as one ages, there is generally a decrease in the size and amount of 44
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these fast twitch muscle fibers. 3. Sarcopenia: This is the term given to the loss of muscle and strength due to aging. Power is a combination of force and velocity. Due to muscle atrophy and loss of fast twitch fibers, muscle power is lost at approximately twice the rate of muscle strength. This is a very important point to note if high club head speed is a goal. What Can Be Done About It: I’ve worked with hundreds of middle age and older age golfers, and have seen the phenomenal improvements in strength/ speed/power (which corelates into greater clubhead speed and distance) that can be developed and maintained by following an appropriate training/workout program. Nobody is ever “too old” to start improving their physical function. Let’s look at how golfers can optimize your training and preparation to hold off Father Time and continue the results throughout your life. In particular, there are two types of training that have massive benefit for reversing/delaying the loss of strength and speed as we age. The first is strength training, which conGolf Fitness Systems client centrates on Guy Griggs doing squats. developi ng maximum force production. This is best accomplished with moderate to heavy loads, relative to your overall strength and fitness level. The second type of training is speed & power training. This is also termed Rate of Force Development (RFD), which is the maximum amount of force that can be produced very quickly. Maximum strength training is best accomplished with exercises where the client is in an environment where high forces can be produced with proper form/technique.
Basic compound movements like variations of hip hinges/deadlifts, squats, and upper body pushes and pulls all work very well. The most effective exercises for training high velocity movements are jumping variations, medicine ball/dynamax ball throw/ slam variations, and overspeed training using light speed clubs and other similar tools. All of these exercises of course need to be/and can be modified or regressed if needed for your specific fitness level and current abilities. There shouldn’t be any concern about not strength or speed training because of the fear of injury. Your workout program just needs to be designed and scaled to your individual fitness level and needs/goals. Research is very clear on strength training actually aiding in injury prevention. I do
Mach Speed Golf Class clients doing various speed and power exercises. always recommend getting with a certified golf fitness professional to help you get started on the right program for you and your specific goals. Don’t allow yourself to gradually get weaker and slower over time and decrease your overall enjoyment for the game. Wherever you are now, get started on a fitness/workout plan to help you improve your body and your game . . .and unleash your swing! Clint Howard is the Owner/Director of Golf Fitness Systems and is recognized as one of the Top 50 Golf Fitness Professionals in the country by Golf Digest. PGA Tour Pros, Oklahoma State Men’s and Women’s golf, University of Tulsa golf, and many other collegiate and high school golfers, world long drive champions, and golfers of all levels go to Clint and Golf Fitness Systems to improve their body, and their game. To learn more, call 918-296-7418 or go to www. GolfFitnessSystems.com GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org OKLA. GOLF ASSOCIATION STATE AMATEUR AT OAK TREE NATIONAL, GC, EDMOND JULY 22-24 Round of 16 Austin Eckroat def. Zane Heusel 4 and 2; Zander Tway def. Blake Blaser 4 and 2; Jared Strathe def. Austin Enzbrenner 5 and 4; Ben Thionnet def. Connor Wilson 1-up (19); Luke Morgan def. Rhett Bechtel 2 and 1; Sam Humphreys def. Brian Birchell 2 and 1; Trent Lutze def. Blake Phillips 1-up (20); Casey Bray def. Carson Twell 4 and 2. QUARTERFINALS Eckroat def. Tway 5 and 4; Strathe def. Thionnet 1-up (19); Morgan def. Humphreys 4 and 3; Bray def. Lutz 4 and 3. SEMIFINALS Eckroat def. Morgan 5 and 4; Wilson def. Klaus 2 and 1. FINAL Wilson def. Eckroat 1-up (19). STROKE PLAY AT OAK TREE CC (EAST), EDMOND (PAR-70) JUNE 24-26 1, Heath Myers 68-70-68 – 206; 2, Carson Tewell 69-70-70 – 208; 3, Hunter Laughlin 69-73-69 – 211; 4, William McDonald 73-70-70 – 213; 5 (tie), JR Hurley 71-72-71 – 214 and Cody Troutman 70-73-71 – 214; 7 (tie), Kyle Hudelson 72-70-73 – 215 and Kason Cook 71-70-74 – 215; 9 (tie), Connor Wilson 76-68-72 – 216, Casey Paul 74-68-74 -- 216 and Brian Birchell 71-72-73 – 216; 12 (tie) Alex Motes 71-74-72 – 217 and Carson Griggs 74-72-71 – 217; 14 (tie), Mike Hughett 76-72-71—219, Dustin Hasley 70-78-71 – 219 and Brock Polhill 71-75-73 – 219. JUNIOR BOYS AND GIRLS AT KICKINGBIRD GC, EDMOND JUNE 3-6 BOYS 16-18
GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
Round of 16 Jaxon Dowell def. Josiah Crews 5 and 4; Charlie Jackson def. Carson Francis 1-up; Bosten Benn def. Tres Hill 3 and 2; Christian McAllister def. Brodey Claborn 1-up; William McDonald def. Jacob Greliner 2 and 1; Jordan Wilson def. Buddy Wehrli 2 and 1; Andrew Goodman def. Brett Wilcoxen 4 and 2; Eric Schuessler def. James Roller 1-up. QUARTERFINALS Dowell def. Jackson 2 and 1; Benn def. McAllister 3 and 1; McDonald def. Wilson 1-up (24); Schuessler def. Goodman 1-up. SEMIFINALS Dowell def. Benn 6 and 4; McDonald def. Schuessler 3 and 2. FINAL Dowell def. McDonald 4 and 3. BOYS 14-15 QUARTERFINALS Ryder Cowan def. Bryant Polhill 3 and 2; Brooksie Levonitis def. Kolby Matthews 3 and 2; Jake Hopper def. William Sides 3 and 2; Tripp Schuessler def. Sutton McMillan 1-up (20). SEMIFINALS Cowan def. Levonitis 5 and 4; Hopper def. Schuessler 4 and 2. FINAL Hopper def, Cowan 2 and 1. GIRLS Round of 16 Brooklyn Benn def. Ramsey Gunter 5 and 3; Sydney Hermann def. Sarah Sherrard 2 and 1; Reagan Chaney def. Lilly Whitley 1-up; Jenni Roller def. Grace Griggs 1-up (19); Maddi Kamas def. Sara Armstrong 2 and 1; Alyssa Wilson def. Maisie Liddell 1-up; Raychel Nelke def. Hannah Torres 6 and 5; Blayne Barker def. Emily Miller 3 and 1. QUARTERFINALS Benn def. Hermann 1-up (19); Roller def. Chaney 4 and 2; Wilson def. Kamas 2 and 1; Nelke def. Barker 5 and 3. SEMIFINALS
Benn def. Roller 1-up; Wilson def. Nelke 2 and 1. Final Benn def. Wilson 1-up. SENIOR STATE AMATEUR AT THE GREENS, OKLA. CITY (PAR-72) JUNE 11-14 Round of 16 Don Cochran def. Scott Adams 3 and 2; Randy Robinson def. Bruce Maddux 4 and 3; Terry Collier def. Jeff Cox 3 and 2; Jeff Smith def. Shawn barker 6 and 5; Blake Gibson def. Kirk Wright 3 and 2; Curt Howard def. Russell Lowry 3 and 2l Brent Taylor def. Michael Hughett 4 and 3; Jerry Nick def. John Stansbury 5 and 4. QUARTERFINALS Cochran def. Robinson 5 and 3; Smith def. Collier 4 and 3; Gibson def. Howard 6 and 5; Nick def. Taylor 3 and 2. SEMIFINALS Cochran def. Smith 4 and 3; Gibson def. Nick 2-up. FINAL Gibson def. Cochran 2-up. WOGA STATE AMATEUR AT OAK TREE CC, EDMOND JULY 22-25 Round of 16 ShaeBug Scarberry def. Lauren Behnken 4 and 2; Faith Belmear def. Bailey Benton 2 and 1; Kate Goodwin def. Jennifer Tannehill 2-up; Madison O’Dell def. Lilly Whitley 2 and 1; Sydney Youngblood def. Bailey Blake 7 and 6; Reagan Chaney def. Charter Lawson 6 and 4; Taylor Dobson def. Josie Patterson 4 and 3; Madison Smith def. Natalie Gough 3 and 2. QUARTERFINALS Scarberry def. Belmear 5 and 4; Goodwin def. O’Dell 3 and 2; Youngblood def. Chaney 6 and 4; Dobson def. Smith 5 and 4. SEMIFINALS Scarberry def. Goodwin 6 and 5; Youngblood
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SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org def. Dobson 2 and 1.
McKenzie McCoy 86-83 – 169 and Charter Lawton 83-86 – 169; 15, Chrissy Bagwell 82-88 – 170.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE TRAILS GC, NORMAN (PAR-71) JUNE 25-26 1, LeeAnn Fairlie 75-79 – 154; 2, Leigh Ann Fore 81-80 – 161; 3, Chrissy Bagwell 83-79 – 162; 4 (tie), Kimberlee Bell 79-83 – 162 and Marna Raburn 83-89 – 162; 6, Janet Miller 79-84 – 163.
TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION TWO-MAN CHALLENGE II AT SOUTH LAKES GC JULY 13-14 A flight: 1, Brandon Strathe/Freddie Wilson 6065 – 125; 2, Terry White/Jackson White 61-65 – 126; 3, Allen Anderson/Danny Barnett 63-64 – 127; 4, Lloyd Gilliam/Dave Wing 60-68 – 128; 5, Jon Shackelford/Larry Shackelford 61-69 – 130. B flight: 1, Bryan Lunger/Terry Trimble 64-68 – 132; 2, Jason Gulley/Jonathan Musgrove 64-72 – 136; 3, Merlin Kilbury/Burch Williams 67-71 – 138. C flight: Mike Gotcher/Patrick Gotcher 70-66 – 136; 2, Dan Duerson/Joe Tuttle 69-73 – 142; 3, Wayne Driggers/David Kelley 71-72 – 143.
FINAL Youngblood def. Scarberry 1-up.
JUNIOR GIRLS STATE STROKE PLAY AT QUAIL CREEK G&CC, OKLA. CITY (PAR-73) JUNE 18-19 Championship: 1, Maddi Kamas 75-78 – 153; 2, Brooklyn Benn 79-75 – 154; 3, Emma Shelley 77-78 – 155; 4, Liz Whitley 80-78 – 158; 5, Blayne Barker 81-78 – 159; 6, Raychel Nelke 80-80 – 10; 7 (tie), Jenni Roller 81-80 – 161, Sydney Hermann 77-84 – 161 and Sarah Sherrard 7784 – 161; 10, Olivia Coit 84-82 – 166; 11, Jordan Clayborn 86-81 – 167. 16-18: 1, Avery Clevenger 86-87 – 173; 2, Katelyn Bollenbach 87-92 – 179; 3, Taylor Due 87-94 – 181. 14-15: 1, Aubrey House 90-82 – 172; 2, Gracie Doke 89-84 –173; 3, Lily Stanton 85-90 – 175. 12-13: 1, Layne Alshie 94-90 – 184; 2, Natalie Blonien 98-93 – 191; 3, Riley Rinner 96-98 – 194. 10-11: 1, Megan Kalapura 42-36 – 78; 2, Lorelai Elaw 41-47 – 88; 3, Natalie Purvis 40-50 – 90. STROKE PLAY AT HILLCREST CC, BARTLESVILLE (PAR-72) JUNE 10-11 1, ShaeBug Scarberry 76-75 – 151; 2, Taylor Dobson 78-75 – 153; 3, Michaela Dierinzo 7975 – 154; 4, Faith Hopkins 84-74 – 158; 5, Faith Belmear 82-77 – 159; 6, LeeAnn Fairlie 81-80 – 161; 7, Rachel Eckert 85-78 – 163; 8, Emma Shelley 84-80 – 1654; 9, Adeline Norton 84-81 – 165; 10, Lexi Armon 82-85 – 167; 11, Natalie Gough 86-82 – 168; 12 (tie), Marna Raburn 82-87 – 169,
STROKE PLAY AT LAFORTUNE PARK GC JUNE 22-23 Championship: 1 (tie), Mike Gotcher and Luke Phillips 69l 3, Jeffrey Cox 71; 4, Colby Cox 71; 5, Jon Shackelford 72; 6, Ryan Hunter 73; 7, Patrick West 73; 8, Garrett Jelley 74; 9, Jackson White 74. Senior: 1, Mike Hughett 69; 2, Jerry Nick 70; 3, Steve Hughes 70; 4, Todd Raffensperger 71; 5, Brian Bennefeld 71; 6, Terry White 74. A flight: 1, Paul Stanton 75; 2, Ray Martin 78; 3, Stephen Dixon 78. Senior A flight: 1, Ken MacLeod 70; 2, Mark Johnston 72. PLAYERS SERIES AT FOREST RIDGE GC (PAR-71) JUNE 13 Gross: 1, Bryan Lunger 67; 2, Dave Wing 67; 3 (tie), Danny Barnett and Tim Burchfield 69; 5 (tie), Danny Mosier and Richard Townley 70; 7 (tie), Scott Starkey and Kyle Denney 71.
Net: 1, Starkey 62; 2, Townley 64; 3 (tie), Vince Nerio and Paul Stanton 65. USGA U.S. AMATEUR QUALIFYING AT THE TERRITORY, DUNCAN (PAR-72) JULY 15 1, Jansen Smith 68-66 – 134; 2, Tyson Reeder 68-68 – 136; 3, Jun Min Lee 70-68 – 138 (1st alternate); 4, Hanseung Chang 66-72 – 138 (2nd alternate); 5, Thomas Johnson 70-68 – 138; 6 (tie), JJ Russell 73-67 – 140, Sam Choi 71-69 – 140, Jaxon Dowell 72-68 – 140, Joshua Irving 69-71 – 140 and Jared Strathe 71-69 – 140. OKLAHOMA JUNIOR GOLF TOUR E-SCHOOL VIRTUAL CHARTER ACADEMY KICKOFF CLASSIC AT LINCOLN PARK GC, OKLA. CITY (PAR-70) JULY 16-17 Boys 15-18: 1, William Sides 65-68 – 133; 2, Blake Miller 66-71 – 137; 3 (tie), Austin Dolan 70-68 – 138 and Samuel Tandy 67-71 – 138; 5, Hayden Hall 66-73 – 139; 6, Shane Herlihy 70-70 – 140; 7 (tie), Ross Taylor 70-71 – 141, Bennett Baldwin 69-72 – 141 and Bryant Polhill 67-74 – 141; 10 (tie), Joseph Lewis 70-72 – 142, Brodey Claborn 72-70 – 142, Adam Kasitz 70-72 – 142; 13, Bo Robbins 69-74 – 143; 14 (tie), Tres Hill 74-70 – 144 and Matthew Smith 70-74 – 144. Boys 12-14: 1, Ryder Cowan 66-73 – 139; 2, William Hennessee 71-71 – 142; 3, Parker Payne 72-75 – 147; 4, Sam Morris 74-74 – 148; 5, Kolby Legg 75-75 – 150. Girls: 1, Maddi Kamas 72-69 – 141; 2, Adeline Norton 68-73 – 141; 3 (tie), Jordan Clayborn 66-76 – 142, Olivia Colt 69-73 – 142 and Emily Miller 73-69 – 142; 6, Raychel Nelke 70-75 – 145; 7, Reagan Chaney 74-72 – 146; 8, Macy Walker 74-74 – 148; 9, Sarah Sherrard 73-76 – 149; 10 (tie), Grace Griggs 74-76 – 150 and Lindyn Ross 74-76 – 150; 12, Sara Armstrong 75-77 – 152; 13, Maisie Liddell 78-77 – 155; 14, Kinslee Miller 82-78 – 160. HIGH SCHOOLS OCA ALL-STATE AT CHEROKEE HILLS GC, CATOOSA (PAR-70) JULY 22 BOYS WEST 13, EAST 11 Jackson White (Regent Prep)/David Woodliff (Bishop Kelley) (E) halved Peyton Burns (Kingfisher)/Hunter Oden (Piedmont) 2-2, 69-70; Kyle Peterson (Bixby)/Matthew Osteen (Kingston) (E) def. Justice Hartman (Turner) /Ethan Dawson (McGuinness) 4-0, 69-78; Chase Scott (Lawton Eisenhower)/Marquise Haliburton (Lawton Eisenhower) (W) def. Jacon Grellner (Cushing)/Tanner Griffith (Coweta) 3-1, 70-71. Mason Hadley (Bethany)/Grant Murphy (Putnam North) (W) def. Justin Coyle (Poteau)/ Allan Kalapura (Holland Hall) 3-1, 68-72; Said Powers (Okla. Christian School)/Wesley Sachs (OCS) (W) def. Cole Inouye/Evan Stafford (Wewoka) 3-1, 72-77; Parker Rose (Stigler)/ Colby Cox (Hilldale) (E) halved Cooper Wilguess (Edmond Memorial)/Christian McAllister (Putnam City) 2-2, 71-71. GIRLS WEST 19, EAST 5 Emma Shelley (Bartlesville)/Sydney Hermann (Ponca City) (E) def. Adeline Norton (Plainview)/Hallie Schultz (Plainview) 3 1/2 - 1/2, 6873; Abbigale Weatherford (Pauls Valley)/Alexa Benedict (Burns Flatt-DC) (W) def. Natalea Harcrow (Tishomingo)/Autumn Conneywerdy (Frontier) 4-0, 80-97; Haylee Poole (Elk City)/ Megan Brown (Cordell) (W) def. Callie Jackson (Coweta)/Emily Potter (Henryetta) 4-0, 68-83. Brooklyn Bostick (Duncan)/Jaelynn Unger (Noble) (W) def. Blayne Barker (Durant)/Abbey Hunt (Durant) 3 1/2 - 1/2, 70-77; Hannah Torres (Piedmont)/Jade McCurdy (Purcell) (W) def. Kirsten Matlock (Muldrow)/Madison Foster (Owasso), 4-0, 76-82; Grace Griggs (Edmond North)/Alyssa Wilson (Yukon) (W) def. Kenzie Kirkhart (Hilldale)/Kennedy Maybee (Jenks) 3-1, 69-75.
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