2021 Golf Oklahoma June|July by Golf Oklahoma Magazine

Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE/JULY 2021

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 3

10 The Goods Tom Bedell reviews the new Dottie Pepper book and Greg Horton tells the story of the new Clubby Seltzer.

16 Chip Shots New coach at UCO, Folds of Honor update, play Southern Hills, OGA adds new championship for women, more.

Features 20

PGA’s Kerry Haigh had unique opportunity for 2022 planning with Senior PGA in town.

No one has enjoyed teaching or playing the game more than Art Proctor

Kickingbird Golf Course, a cradle of junior golf, celebrates turning 50

34 36 38

Roller, Goodman prevail in OGA Junior OSU men, women loaded for title runs OU’s Logan McAllister is the rare college

26 20

player infatuated with course design

Competition: High school boys and girls roundups

Destinations 44

Golf travel remains uncertain, with some markets closed and others flooded

Departments 6 8 8 9 48 49 50

38 44

Letter from the Publisher OGA ED Mark Felder Rules, Bob Phelps WOGA ED Laurie Campbell Instruction: Maggie Roller Fitness: Clint Howard Schedules and results

On the cover University of Oklahoma golfer Logan McAllister

Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 4

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

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June/July Issue 2021 FROM THE PUBLISHER KEN M AC LEOD

A season of repair and unexpected Holder legacy

very golf course is taking slightly different approaches to repairing the damage caused by the extraordinary deep freeze in February that left the transition zone in tatters. Those differences depend on the amount of damage and the budget. Southern Hills in Tulsa began sodding April 6, way before anyone else, in anticipation of having the course in superb condition for the 2021 Senior PGA Championship. Superintendent Russ Myers and his crew did a wonderful job and the course looked beautiful both in person and on television. Hard to tell more than five acres of sod had been put down. When the NBC crew went across town to play at Tulsa Country Club one morning, they got a better idea what most courses in the state looked like, as superintendent Brady Flinton and his staff were still in the midst of applying acres of sod to dead fairways, collars and tee boxes. Anyone with extensive damage was busy plotting out the quickest and most efficient way to get their course back in shape, even if it was highly painful. The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, which had reopened its greens in October after an extensive renovation, went to 15 temporary greens on June 14 to put in new sprigs on the other 15. It’s a costly decision and one that the director of golf and general manager Brian Talley hated to make, but the right decision. It was backed by the city council and local leaders who believe the course is an important piece of the recreational puzzle in Sand Springs. The City of Tulsa owns 36 holes at Page Belcher and 36 more at Mohawk Park, all with Champion greens. Mohawk Park suffered far less damage than Page Belcher, while Stone Creek at Page took the brunt of the damage compared to Olde Page, but both had several greens that needed to be addressed. Crews were beginning to put down sod on the 18th green at Olde Page at press time. Perhaps the city could make repairing the greens part of a larger plan to begin repairs to the course such as the specific improvements suggested by its golf course 6

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

advisory committee to begin to reverse the decline of Stone Creek, once one of Oklahoma’s finest public courses. No one should be holding their breath, but it's badly needed. If nothing happens, it will be a wasted opportunity for the city to shine when the 2022 PGA Championship brings visitors from across the region and country to town next spring.

HOLDER NOT GOING FAR Mike Holder steps down in July as athletic director at Oklahoma State but he will not be going far. His new office is likely to be the passenger seat in Karsten Creek superintendent Travis Levings cart as Holder plots a massive renovation of the course he created through sheer force of personality back in 1994. Part of Holder’s legacy at OSU will be the incredible fundraising work he did as AD in transforming the university’s facilities. For those of us who have been around a while, we will never forget his accomplishments as a golf coach, eight national and 25 conference titles in 31 years. A true visionary, Holder correctly foresaw that adding a televised match play format to the end of the NCAA Championship would bring more attention to college golf than it had ever had previously, even if the cost was national championships for the best team in stroke play. That team is often his beloved Cowboys. Three times OSU has won the stroke play but not the match play portion of the NCAA Championship, and this year was nearly a fourth as the Cowboys led through three rounds. What he probably didn’t foresee is how that move would cement the University of Oklahoma as a national golf power on equal footing with his Cowboys. OU coach Ryan Hybl said that since the dawn of televised match play the attention it brings his program exceeds any other media format past or present. Of course, Hybl has more than done his part by leading his school to five consecutive

See PUBLISHER on page 13

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION Volume 11, Number 3

Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 102 LIKE US! Tulsa, OK 74136 FACEBOOK.COM/ 918-280-0787 GOLFOKLAHOMAMAGAZINE Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996 Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org

COO/Marketing Director A.G. Meyers agm@golfoklahoma.org Sales Sam Humphreys sam@golfoklahoma.org Art & Technology Director Chris Swafford chris@golfoklahoma.org Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $20 for one year (five issues) or $35 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 Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Ryan Rody Director of Instruction Southern Hills Country Club rrody@southernhilscc.org Pat McTigue Director of Instruction, Meadowbrook CC pmtigue277@gmail.com Maggie Roller Director of Instruction, Cedar Ridge CC maggie.roller@sbcglobal.net, 918-261-1441 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 Director of Rules Bob Phelps bphelps@okgolf.org Copyright 2021 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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FROM THE OGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cedar Ridge awaits best state amateurs The Oklahoma State Amateur is returning to one of our favorite venues, Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow. Designed by Joe Finger and opening in 1969, Cedar Ridge has not only been one of the state’s most attractive, well manicured and most demanding layouts for 52 years, it has always been supportive of the game at every level. The course has hosted major championships, notably the 1983 U.S. Women’s Open won by Jan Stephenson, as well as numerous other events by the LPGA, USGA, Tres Hill OGA, WOGA and OSSAA. Former pro Buddy Phillips and long-time superintendent Mike Wooten were both legends in our game, now ably replaced by David Bryan and Eddie Roach. The tournament is July 19-21 and it’s an honor for us, as it presents one of the best match-play venues you could hope for, with it’s demanding par-4s, premium on accuracy and greens requiring imagination and touch. Jamie Voegeli of Meadowbrook Country

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has been an issue. We had to move both the Spring Four-Ball and a USGA qualifier for the U.S. Amateur from Gaillardia as it repairs its fairways damaged by winter kill. The FourBall will be Oct. 19-20 at Gaillardia. The OGA Foundation also recently announced its scholarship winners for 2021. All four scholarships are named for dedicated past OGA volunteers and administrators. The Bill Barrett scholarship goes to Tres Hill of Oklahoma City, who is bound for Oklahoma City University. The Roy Oxford Scholarship was awardDominic Stevens Max Garza Lindyn Ross ed to Dominic Stevens of CresQualifiers for the event will both be held cent, bound for Northeastern State University. The Corky Billen Scholarship goes to Max in the Oklahoma City area this year. The first is July 6 at Lincoln Park and the second Garza of Oklahoma City, who is headed to July 8 at Lake Hefner. The qualifier originally Northwestern Oklahoma State University. scheduled at Bailey Ranch in Owasso was And the Gene Mortensen Scholarship was moved as that course is closed to install new awarded to Lindyn Ross of Ardmore, who Bermuda greens. Go to www.okgolf.org for will attend Oklahoma Baptist University. The OGA would like to congratulate each more information. With several other courses being impacted of the winners and wish them well at their by the terrible freeze in February, scheduling respective universities. Club won last year at The Patriot in Owasso, showing that mid-amateurs can still succeed against the wave of young talent in the state. Along with 2019 champion Jordan Wilson of Edmond, they are likely to be the only past winners in the field as going back to 2008 the champions are all now professionals.

OGA Rules Director

FROM THE OGA RULES DIRECTOR

Rules questions abound at Senior PGA As a member of the PGA of America’s Rules Committee, I have the opportunity to officiate three or four PGA events each year. I was honored to learn one of my assignments for 2021 would be at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. Following is a recap of my week serving on the PGA Rules Committee for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 My responsibilities began with a Rules Committee meeting at 9 a.m., followed by a course tour. Many items were discussed but the primary focus was to discuss items likely to be encountered during play. For instance, what is the status of buried cables, concession stands, sponsor signs, hole signs, television towers, temporary fencing, concession stands, sodded areas, etc. Many of the items put in place for the tournament are actually movable but others must be defined as a Temporary Immovable Obstruction. A common practice today is to allow relief from a TIO on either side of the TIO. At Southern Hills, either 8

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

side relief was allowed for every TIO except one, the large concession area left of No. 13. This turned out to be a wise decision when a player sought relief during the final round from this particular TIO. One last item I am sure very few people were aware of was an internal Out of Bounds. A couple of players were overheard contemplating playing their tee shot on 12 into the 10th fairway. So, a local rule was put into play that stated, “during play of the 12th hole, a ball that is on the fairway of hole No. 10 is Out of Bounds. THURSDAY, MAY 27 The day began with cloudy, humid conditions and a high probability of strong storms. We were hoping to play as many holes as possible and were able to dodge a few early threats before play was suspended for dangerous conditions at 3:48 p.m. Although Southern Hills was spared the predicted hail, high winds and heavy rain, conditions did not allow play to resume and it was announced at 5:58 p.m. that play would resume at 7:15 a.m. Friday. No unusual rulings had occurred to that point.

FRIDAY, MAY 28 For the 7:15 restart, it is the player’s responsibility to be in position to play at the designated time. As players were making their way onto the course, a call came in for a rules official to No. 1 green. I happened to be near 1 when play was suspended and had observed Colin Montgomerie, Jim Furyk and Ken Tanigawa all mark their balls within a couple of feet from the hole. As I approached the green, Colin informed me that all three marks had not been replaced in the correct spot by the mowing crew. In this case we could actually see holes made by the previous marking with tees that were slightly closer to the hole. All three replaced their mark in the correct location and resumed their first round with one-putts. It was a long day of play with very little hope of completing Round 2. Several rulings involved the temporary fencing between No. 5 and the driving range. The range wasn’t Out of Bounds and the fencing was movable. Surprisingly, I was called more than once to confirm Loose Impediments could be removed from bunkers. The second round was suspended at 8:31 p.m. and play W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

LAURIE CAMPBELL ended with six groups left on the course. SATURDAY, MAY 29 Play resumed at 7:15 and the cut was made at 7-over par. The tournament was now back on schedule with the third round beginning at 9:52 a.m. With 78 players and a double-tee start, the day seemed to be over quickly. It was another day of typical rulings except for Dicky Pride and Thongchai Jaidee. After lifting his ball on the green and tossing it to his caddie to clean, Pride was inadvertently given another ball that he replaced and holed out. The result was a two-shot penalty for substituting a ball when not allowed. I am not sure if his caddie is still employed. My most unusual ruling occurred when I was called to the No. 9 fairway. There I encountered Jaidee pointing at his ball in the fairway amidst a 2-foot branch with dense leaves. I explained the branch was a Loose Impediment and he was entitled to move the branch but would be subject to penalty if the ball moved. He seemed puzzled and I reiterated his options. He had no choice but to play the ball as it lies and was able to advance the ball near the green. As I retreated, I was approached

See RECAP on page 11

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President WOGA

The ace that pays This year has proven to be impactful. We had a full field of participants in our fifth WOGA Stableford Tournament at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City. That was followed by Bobbie Langford of OKC making a hole-in-one at our Senior Championship at Tulsa Countr y Club. WOGA began a hole-in-one pot in 2016. That year Denise Tillman of OKC won $485 with a hole –in-one on Heritage No. 5 during our Four Ball Partnership at Shangri-La. Since then the fund has accumulated over the last four years. Half of the unpaid funds at the end of every year was donated to the Junior Girls Grants and Scholarships fund amounting to more than $900. And with 2021 the hole-in-one pot grew to $1,252, won by Langford with her ace on No. 17. Our next event will be the WOGA Fundraiser on June 28 at Oak Tree Countr y Club. This event has allowed us to grant $ 500 to more than 100 junior and high school girls golf programs and 25 scholarships since we

became a 501(c) 3 in 2013. This year we have postponed the finalizing of the scholarship applications. Per Kathy West, the chair of WOGA Scholarships and Grants, “WOGA Scholarships for 2021 will be announced on July 1st due to our commitment to ensuring all scholarships awarded will be needed for tuition and/or housing beyond all additional scholarships awarded. This year some of our applicants had “local” scholarships which will not be announced until June. Thank you for your patience.” T he Fundraiser wi l l be fol lowed by t he WOGA Jun ior Girls Championsh ip, also at Oak Tree Countr y Club on June 29- 30. Come watch t hese young ladies play. Due to winter kill at Gaillardia, the WOGA State Am has been moved to July 12-15 at The Territor y in Duncan. We will close out our year with the Four Ball Partnership August 16-17 at Shangri-La in Afton and the WOGA Cup on Sept 27-28 at Meadowbrook Countr y Club in Tulsa.

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

The

BOOKSHELF

Heed your elders, you whippersnappers! by tom bedell

As Phil Mickelson remarkably demonstrated at this year’s PGA Championship, age and experience make a potent combination. Dottie Pepper confirms the same in her delightful “Letters to a Future Champion: My Time With Mr. Pulver” (available at www.dottiepepper.net, $39.95). Pepper is perhaps best known to a younger generation as the incisive on-course reporter for CBS (she survived the last day’s riotous 18th hole scrum at the PGA Championship by linking arms with colleagues). But as a golf-mad youngster growing up in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Pepper had big dreams, and she made them come true: 17 wins on the LPGA tour, two major wins and a sterling Solheim Cup record in six appearances (13-5-2). But she had help, mainly from the subject of this book, George J. Pulver Sr. Pulver was a long-time PGA pro, a confidant of Seymour Dunn and Devereaux Emmett, a some-time course designer himself as well as the long-time superintendent, manager and pro at the Emmett-designed McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton, N.Y. He was retired in 1980 when the 15-yearold Pepper reached out to Pulver and his wife, Martha, hoping for some assistance with her game. Pepper played a few rounds with Martha before Pulver’s wife fell ill and passed away. Shortly thereafter Pulver actually began watching Pepper hit balls, and sending her a typed letter after each session. The correspondence between the two continued for five years until Pulver’s death in 1986, at 87, when Pepper was a junior at Furman University. Lucky for us, both of them kept every letter, and they are the basis of the book, with Pepper’s commentary throughout. Pepper presents the actual letters in the book, complete with her fine penmanship, 10

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

Pulver’s typing errors and corrections, even the reinforcement rings – Pepper kept Pulver’s letters in a three-ring binder that she took with her everywhere, so keenly did she lean on his advice. And his advice is consistently encouraging, wise about life as well as golf, and utterly self-effacing. The cumulative effect of the continuity here, as we trace Pepper’s progress, Pulver’s straightforward golf advice and subtle inspiration, and eventually his growing health problems, is incredibly poignant. You’d

in the treacle. If Nicklaus II says once that Nicklaus I is the greatest dad of all time, his best friend, a man who always puts family before golf, he says it 10,000 times — or so it seems. The relentless canonization gets mighty thick. (And Barbara Nicklaus gets an equivalent Mother Teresa treatment.) All is not lost. Being his father’s namesake could have been an intolerable burden for Nicklaus II. While he alludes to some early tussling with the weighty mantle, he clearly emerged unscathed, and now applies an amusing selfdeprecating voice in confirming that youth is wasted on the young. Among the book’s virtues is that the parenting advice seems sound, if hardly groundbreaking: Listen to Your Children, See the Best in Others, Focus More On Your Family Than Work, and so on. Best of all, have to have a the advice is frequently illustrated by aneccold heart not to dotes drawn from Nicklaus I’s golf career. be touched by One example summarizes the “Listen to this unique view Your Children” chapter, when Nicklaus the of a mentorship younger, fresh from a disappointing junior suffused with golf tournament round, receives a call from mutual respect his dad. Nicklaus listens patiently with ocand love, one casional suggestions as his son bellyaches that came along at just the right about his round for 20 overly detailed mintime: when both needed it most. utes: “Then Dad said, ‘Jackie, would you like to know how your dad did today?’ BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE “A little embarrassed, I quickly said, Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger have collaborated on “Best Seat in the House” ‘Well, yes, how did you do today?’ “’Well, I just won the U.S. Open.’” (Thomas Nelson, $25.99), a book that surely qualifies as an uber-Father’s Day offering. Essentially a book about par- BEN HOGAN CONTROVERSY enting, Nicklaus II passes on the advice Speaking of U.S. Opens, did Ben Hogan he’s learned from Nicklaus I, better win four or five? The official record known among golfers as GOAT. books say four (1948, 1950, 1951, Like many golf books (surely, 1953). Hogan always claimed it by now, too many), this one was five, thanks to his victory parcels its life lessons into 18 in the 1942 Hale America Nachapters (the subtitle is “18 tional Open, a tournament put Golden Lessons From a Father to together to, well, sort of replace His Son”). the regular U.S. Open, canceled Peter May It has to be said that this is due to World War II. Yet, aside hagiography fashioned to a stunning de- from Sam Snead, all the top players in the gree. Non-Nicklaus fans may well drown game, plus Bobby Jones, competed in the W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

tournament, having not yet assumed their wartime assignments. Who’s right? Peter May doesn’t give a definitive answer, but as his book’s title suggests, leaves it as “The Open Question: Ben Hogan and Golf’s Most Enduring Controversy” (Rowman & Littlefield, $24.95). The USGA has never budged from its position that the tournament was not an official Open. And it’s hard to say what point it would now serve to rewrite the books. Thankfully, May’s book is not one long pro and con, but a detailed look at the time and the players of the day. May sets up the context that led to playing the Hale America tournament, and speaks of its aftermath in the years since. He organizes the bulk of the book into the four days of the tournament, but this

is a mere framework from which he fires off tangents in all directions; indeed, the book offers up mini-biographies of Hogan, Snead, Jones, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret and in particular, Lloyd Mangrum. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if May wished he were writing a biography of Mangrum. This is less a criticism than an observation, because all this peripheral material is pretty fascinating, especially a rare look at what all the players did undertake as part of their wartime service. Mangrum comes off well as both an underappreciated talent and a refreshing crank. He probably does deserve a good biography, and May should think about it. He’s already halfway there.

Recap cont. from page 9 by a Golf Channel worker who informed me that the branch had actually broken from the tree and came to rest on the ball after the ball had come to rest. My first thought was a player is entitled to the lie the ball had when it came to rest and I wondered why nothing was said before the player played his shot. However, a player is entitled to the lie of the ball when it comes to rest except when the lie is worsened by Natural Forces, i.e. wind or gravity. In this case, even though I did not have all of the facts of the situation, the outcome would not have changed.

SUNDAY, MAY 30 The final round was uneventful from a rules of golf standpoint and the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship concluded with Alex Cejka winning his second consecutive senior major. I left Tulsa with lasting impressions and immense respect for the course, staff and membership at Southern Hills CC. Hopefully I will be fortunate enough to be selected to serve on the Rules Committee for the 2022 PGA Championship where Southern Hills CC To his great surprise, Tom Bedell has become will become the first club to host five PGA an elder himself. So pay attention! Championships. Member FDIC

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JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

EQUIPMENT

Inside view of golf club frenzy by ed travis

t the low point of the COVID-19, pandemic millions were out of work; no cure or vaccine was in sight and the world’s economy was caught in a downward spiral. Things, however, look a lot brighter today and with its implicit social distancing, golf was part of the recovery. Numbers from the National Golf Foundation (NGF) paint a picture of where the game was and how far it has come back. Fifteen states had statewide shutdowns or restrictions on play by the end of March 2020 with the NGF saying over half of courses were closed. The number of golf rounds plummeted, but golf provided such a welcomed relief for cabin fever and at the end of the first quarter 2021 play was up 24.3% over the previous year. Overall participation ballooned as well. Again, citing NGF reports, participants in the out United States on- and off-course increased 8 percent in 2020 to 36.9 million with the total being roughly split in thirds: those playing only on-course (9 or 18 holes), those only off-course (Topgolf, etc.) and those playing both. Golf-associated travel is also coming back. A survey conducted by Sports and Leisure Research revealed half of golfers are planning to spend as much or more on travel in 2021 and 70 percent are planning on playing the same number or more rounds. Golf equipment retailers capitalized on the burgeoning number of players and rounds in part by placing an increased emphasis on ecommerce with a report from Golf Datatech showing overall a 10.1 percent retail equipment sales growth in 2020. Green grass shops were up 1 percent while off-course grew 16 percent. PGA Tour Superstore, the largest golf-exclusive retailer, during last year saw record sales despite its 40-plus stores being closed for nearly two months. Company officials attribute much of the increase to their strong commitment to faster and easier Internet transactions plus the influx of new and returning players, especially women and juniors. Club manufacturers usually do not talk 12

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

about internal operations but the two largest, Acushnet Holding Corp. (NYSE: GOLF) and Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY) being publicly traded do reveal some information in shareholder statements. Acushnet’s bounce back started in the second half of 2020 and the first quarter 2021 statement reported club sales versus the same quarter last year rising 67 percent and ball sales almost 50 percent. Callaway said their results were similar and we think both companies should have record years for revenue and profitability. A few months ago, Callaway purchased Topgolf, the largest golf-entertainment operation, and the first quarter comments from management noted it is expected to exceed the pre-pandemic year of 2019. We did however have the chance to talk with one of golf’s most savvy entrepreneurs, David Glod founder and

mortar off-course retail shops, and a majority were closed for 60 days-plus. This led to significant losses in sales in March and April and carried over into May. With all the golf retailers closed, it was the largest drop-off we’ve ever seen in business. But when they opened back up, it was like a wildfire of demand that had pent up and we were ready. That extreme demand is still taking place into Spring 2021, as we are seeing a record number of new golfers coming to the game, rounds played, and dollars spent on equipment. This has led to an industrywide shift in availability and increased waiting times in the supply chain.

Was R&D curtailed and were new model introductions affected? R&D plans were delayed slightly, but we have had three major launches since the shutdown with our EXS Pro limited-edition line in “Golf’s back – Golf equipment sales June of 2020, the biggest launch in company hisare at an all-time high across the board tory with our Hot Launch in 2021. If it’s not bolted down, it’s going 521 rollout in November and our new Exotics 721 the door, and quickly.” – David Glod Series this past February. All of the new launches president of Tour Edge Golf, known in the have been highly successful. industry for producing hi-tech club designs Now that the worst of the downturn is with cutting edge materials at what has often been termed “golfer-friendly” prices. behind us and with the number of rounds showing pre-pandemic numbers, have the Did Tour Edge furlough employees dur- company's shipments recovered to preing the pandemic slowdown and are they pandemic levels? Are they higher? Golf equipment sales are at an all-time back at work? We started out 2020 on track to shatter high across the board in 2021. If it’s not every sales record we’ve ever had. We were bolted down, it’s going out the door, and mandated to be closed from mid-March to quickly. I think this is long term. More June 1, but we went into full work-from- people are golfing as families, more women home mode, and eventually got a small and juniors are coming to the game and I team into headquarters to ship out orders. don’t see any reason why that would stop We stayed the course without any layoffs now that they have started. or pay cuts to our employees. By June, we Summarizing what was learned while started to see a silver lining in that the pandemic was actually bringing new golf- researching this article, golf is back, bigger ers back or to the game for the first time. and better due to unprecedented doubleWe were positioned well to take advantage digit increase in the number of players, even of that as the best bang for your buck golf higher that the boom 20 years ago when clubs in the marketplace and with all the Tiger Woods first captured the public’s attention. Equipment manufacturers are ridcomplete sets we do. ing this wave which is not attributable to How was production affected and how increases in club or ball performance but have your suppliers returned to normal the desire of consumers for a relatively safe social activity. delivery schedules? The best question though is can it last? Tour Edge relies heavily on brick and W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Publisher cont. from page 6 appearances in match play, including winning the title in 2017 and finishing second this year. Some fans of both schools begrudge the success of the other, but not Hybl. He appreciates what Alan Bratton has done at OSU and like many of us was pulling for a Bedlam final match (Pepperdine defeated OSU in the semis and OU in the finals). He enjoyed a tweet that captured a screen shot from the Golf Channel showing OSU first and OU second on the leaderboard in stroke play that said, Golf State, when you don’t have to say you’re a golf state. The state ties to the Sooners success will continue. Not only will Logan McAllister of Oklahoma City be the team leader next year, but incoming freshman Drew Goodman of Norman should move right into the starting lineup and possibly be joined by Jaxon Dowell of Edmond, a redshirt freshman. Jake Hopper of Norman, one of the state’s top juniors, is also committed to OU. “Our lineup will have changed a lot but our expectations won’t change at all,” Hybl said. They won’t be changing any in Stillwater either. One year soon, what Holder created will result in a Bedlam face off with everything on the line. Golf state indeed!

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The following summer Room 101 hit the shelves with Farce, a medium to full-bodied mixture of pepper, balanced by caramel sweetness and cinnamon. Four months later, Matt Booth announced the creation of the Farce Connecticut. The Farce Connecticut is unique from its predecessor, featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with fillers from both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The pale golden-brown wrapper is extremely smooth to the touch and features almost no visible oil. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of cedar, hay, nuts. With a cold draw brings flavors of creamy oak, earth, leather, white pepper, citrus and a slight spice. The first third begins mild and creamy with a combination of cedar and leather notes on the palate, along with flavors of milk chocolate and toast. Hints of white pepper and honey sweetness are pleasant in the retrohale. There is an ample amount of smoke billowing off the foot while the burn is sharp and clean. The draw is smooth and effortless, just begging the cigar to be smoked slow. Entering the second third, the cigar builds in strength to a light medium. Creamy almond and cedar notes dominant the palate accompanied by lemongrass, espresso bean and dark cocoa. Smoke production remains quite high, and the draw is still clean and smooth. Rounding out the final third, the Farce Connecticut leather and cedar return adding hints of milk chocolate. Light citrus and white pepper notes remain present in the retrohale. The strength remains a solid medium. Slow and steady wins the race with the Farce Connecticut smoke to fast and it can get bitter. Smoke it slow and enjoy all the nuances that make this cigar complex. As Matt Booth’s vision constantly evolves, Room101 Cigars has become the go-to for creative and exceptional cigar blends. He has crafted boutique brands for those who demand quality with an edge. JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

THE GOODS

Clubby Seltzer partners Lane Gibbs, Matt Whitaker and Thomas Moratto.

Club Special in a can? Brilliant! by greg horton

homas Moratto readily admits that he and his fellow partners Matt Whittaker and Lane Gibbs weren’t the first to come up with the idea of putting a Club Special in a can. “I’ve talked to 50 or so people since we started Clubby who said they’ve had the idea over the years,” Moratto said. What these partners did do, though, was act on the idea and then quickly shift gears. “We looked at putting a cocktail in a can first,” Whittaker said, “but it would have been 300 calories, and that’s just not what people want now.” Gibbs added, “There’s also the reality that after a few Club Specials, everyone’s golf game degrades.” Whittaker said the three partners decided a hard seltzer was the best bet – low calorie, refreshing, low alcohol – and they certainly hit the zeitgeist. The hard seltzer market in the United States alone is a nearly $2 billion industry and projected growth is estimated to be about 16% according to alcohol indus-try experts. Clubby Seltzers is the new com-pany, and the first cans hit the Oklahoma City market in the second week of April. Cody Wilson, owner of George’s Liquor in downtown Oklahoma City, sells through his inventory almost as soon as it arrives in the store. 14

GOLF OKLAHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

“People love it,” he said, “and I get it. It tastes like lemon-lime Gatorade powder.” For those who don’t know, that’s a compliment. Moratto said he likes the comparison, and thinks it may help introduce Clubby Seltzer to people who aren’t familiar with this very Oklahoma-centric cocktail. Most Oklahoma golfers likely know that the drink originated in Oklahoma, and while the actual origin story is disputed, the popularity of the drink is well established. The three partners – and friends – met at Chesapeake Energy, and all have varying degrees of recollection of their first experience of a Club Special. Moratto remembers being at a wedding at Petroleum Club or OKC Golf and Country Club. Both Gibbs and Whittaker remember being on a golf course; all three remember liking the drink immediately. The drink is easy to enjoy, both for its four-ingredient simplicity and because it’s very refreshing on a hot day. It’s just vodka, Sprite, limeade and a splash of club soda or mineral water. That last bit is important, as it makes the cocktail a bit of a natural to convert to a hard seltzer. During the research process, the partners had a meeting with the principals at Vanessa House Beer Company, the local brewery located just off Automobile Alley in OKC. One of Vanessa House’s partners, Zac Smith, is also an energy guy, and he’d worked with Moratto previously. It seemed

an excellent match, and so Vanessa House now produces Clubby Seltzer, and uses its distribution network via Republic National Distributing of Oklahoma to get the product to stores and golf courses. That distribution network could come in handy if Clubby’s popularity continues to grow. The company started with one a few hundred cases, but Whittaker said they are currently trying to “crank up capacity” at a rate that would put them at 7,000 cases per month in the next few months. The plan all along was to have them on golf courses, but no one balks at expanding distribution to other outlets. “We’re very happy with what’s happening,” Gibbs said. “We added electrolytes because we always expected to have them on the courses, and the worst case scenario was that we could just give them to our friends if the idea didn’t take off.” But it did take off, and now they have to think through difficult questions about distribution. Moratto is a Houston native, so Texas makes sense. So does Tulsa and Stillwater. But distribution expansion requires production expansion. “Our first goal is to satisfy the demand in OKC and Norman, and then we can think about expanding,” Moratto said. The question of “How much can we grow?” – as Moratto puts it – is a good problem to have, and for Clubby Seltzers, it started with a delicious product. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

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JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

CHIP SHOTS

News around the state Sponsored by

UCO hires Thompson to OGA adds Women's Stroke Play lead men's program Championship at Lincoln Park EDMOND – Derrick Iowa Western, where he spent Thompson was introduced the past seven years leading June 1 as the head coach for the both the men’s and women’s University of Central Oklaho- programs. “I am extremely exma men’s golf program. cited to be joining “We are so exthe UCO family,” cited to announce Thompson said. and welcome “The men’s golf Derrick Thompprogram has a rich son as the men’s history and tradigolf head coach tion of being one at UCO,” athletic of the strongest prodirector Stan Wagrams in the MIAA gnon said. “As we Derrick Thompson and in the country. searched through a pool of highly qualified can- I’m excited to get to work to didates, Derrick’s attributes continue that tradition. The and demeanor, leadership ap- greater OKC area is a hotbed proach and record of success for junior golf and has an infully matched what we were credible depth of talent. I’m excited for the recruiting posseeking.” Thompson comes from sibilities that it brings.”

Young moves to Gaillardia PGA teaching professional a massive sodding project as Jim Young became the new Gaillardia was hit hard by director of instruction at Gail- winter kill on its 419 Bermuda lardia Country Club in Okla- turf grass. It is being replaced with Tahoma Bermuda, which homa City on June 1. Young has been teaching is hoped to be much more cold tolerant. and running the Young was workinstructional proing in auto finance grams at River when he first Oaks Country joined River Oaks Club in Edmond and didn’t join the since 2010, where PGA program unhe was a charter til 2010. He earned member when the his Class A PGA club opened in teaching license in 2000. Jim Young 2015, but long beYoung succeeds Seth Bryan, who left to become fore that he had a passion for the director of instruction at the swing. “I had studied an enormous Flint Hills National near Wichita. Previous to Bryan, the job amount on my own and my was held by Ryan Rody, now dad (Jim Young Sr.) was really director of instruction at South- into technique and had about every instructional book that’s ern Hills in Tulsa. Young said it was a Godfa- ever been written,” Young said. ther move. “They gave me an “I caught the bug from him. To some extent, when I started I offer I couldn’t refuse.” Gaillardia’s teaching facili- was winging it, but those I was ties are matched by few clubs teaching enjoyed the experiin the state. The driving range ence enough to keep coming will be closed when Young back and keep sending friends takes over as it is first up in and family to me.” 16

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

The first annual Oklahoma Golf Association Women’s Stroke Play Championship will be held Aug. 1011 at Lincoln Park (West Course) in Oklahoma City. The 36-hole event was added to the schedule to give the state’s top competitive players another summer event to compete in, according to OGA Executive Director Mark Felder.

“There just aren’t that many events for all our college players to compete in,” Felder said. "We think it will be a great event.” The Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur championship is July 12-15 at The Territory in Duncan. Otherwise much of the summer schedule is geared around high school and younger age groupss.

Charles, Hill are 2021 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame scholarship recipients The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame executive board has announced that Meghan Charles of Sand Springs and Tres Hill of Elk City are the recipients of its 2021 Hall of Fame scholarships. Charles will receive the Mid-First Bank Scholarsh ip and Hill the Hall of Fame Tres Hill sc hol a r sh ip. Each is worth $5,000. Both Charles and Hill are competitive junior golfers who competed this week in the OGA Junior State Amateur at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond. Hill, who will continue his playing career at Oklahoma City University, was the 2020 Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour player of the year. He is also the point guard on his basketball team at Elk City, while finding time to maintain a 3.95 grade point average, become a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Rotary and help deliver Meals on Wheels, along with strong involvement in church activities. Charles, who will also continue her career for the OCU Stars, where she will major in nursing, has been a consistently successful competitor in high school, OJGT

and South Central PGA junior events, being named the SCPGA Player of the Year for 2020. Charles is a member of the National Honor Society, has served on the student council, helped with Special Olympics and been on mission trips and otherwise involved with Meghan Charles serving her church and helping those with special needs. “With Tres and Meghan we have two excellent recipients,” said Lew Erickson, chair of the scholarship committee. “They will both represent their schools and communities extremely well at OCU. The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame is happy and proud to assist them in their college endeavors.” Hill and Charles will be recognized at the 2021 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony Nov. 21 at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. The 2021 class consists of Scott Verplank, David Edwards, Danny Edwards, Art Proctor and Floyd Farley. For more information on the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame or to attend the dinner, go to www.oklahomagolfhof.org. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Successive aces? What are the odds?

he odds against making a hole-inone on any swing are astronomical. The odds against making two in three holes, with one of them on a par-4? 67 million to one. Oral Roberts University golfer Jared Strathe defied those odds May 30. In a casual round with ORU teammate Jack Howes at his home club, The Patriot in Owasso, Strathe aced the par-4 seventh and the par-3 ninth holes to cap his round after playing the back nine first. The two were playing for fun from the white or regular men’s tees and not the back tees. So the downhill seventh hole was listed at 355 yards but Strathe estimated it was probably playing no more than 310. He and Howes both hit driver and there was only one ball visible on the green when they crested the plateau in the fairway. “There were two guys playing in front of us and they were driving back to tell us one of the shots had gone in,” Strathe said. “Your first thought of course is that they could be

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Strathe holed out with a driver on Par 4 #7 and then again on Par 3 #9 with an 8 iron. These are his 8th and 9th aces.

messing with you. But they said no, they promised it went in and the guys in the pro shop said there is no way they would joke about something like that.” Two holes later on the 184-yard downhill ninth hole, there was no doubt, as Strathe launched an 8-iron shot right at the flag and both ORU players watched it take a hop and roll in. “It was just crazy,” Strathe said. “It was like, this can’t be real. Two holesin-one in three holes. My friend said he looked it up and the odds are 67 million to one.” We can’t vouch for the odds. The odds of making a hole-in-one for an amateur are about 12,500 to one. Combine two in three holes with one of them a par-4 and that sounds about right. For those of you who tend to get jealous, that makes three hole-in-ones in the last 12 months and eight in the last five years for Strathe, who played high school golf at Owas-

so, attended Kansas State on a golf scholarship and then transferred to ORU. If you were wondering what someone who makes two aces in a round shoots overall, Strathe said he was 2-over playing the back nine first and had a 7-under 29 on the front. ORU volunteer coach Bill Brogden, when asked for Strathe’s phone number, wondered what had happened. Told about the two aces in three holes, he dryly said “Ask him why he never did that for us.”

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

CHIP SHOTS

Play before the pros! First Tee of Tulsa Classic at Southern Hills accepting entries Here’s your chance to play Southern Hills before the pros come in for the 2022 PGA Championship. The 19th annual First Tee of Tulsa Charitable Classic is scheduled Oct. 11 with shotgun starts in the morning and afternoon. The format is a four-person shamble. To enter a team or select one of a variety of sponsorship packages available, contact Nancy Acton at 918-477-5274 or nacton@southernhillscc.org to request an entry form. The First Tee of Tulsa Charitable Classic is the main outside fundraiser for the First Tee of Tulsa, which provides free programming to thousands of children from its base at Mohawk Park in north Tulsa and its outreach program to schools, community centers, parks and more.

SENIOR GAMES OFFER COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE Competition and meeting new people drives 93-year-old Bill Ruhman to make the Oklahoma Senior Games a part of his schedule each year. Ruhman has competed in every Senior Games since 1988 and won more than 100 medals in golf, bowling and horseshoes. He has bowled a perfect game 18 times and knocked in a hole-in-one in 1997. The Oklahoma Senior Games host 25 events including golf and are held each year in September and October. The games promote health and wellness for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and health. Go to www.Okseniorgames. com for additional information. Ruhman entered the military right out of high school in 1946. He spent time at Tinker Bill Ruhman Air Force base where his love of bowling led him to run the leagues on the base. He went on to become one of the state’s best bowlers and is in the Oklahoma Bowling Hall of Fame. He took

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up golf shortly after leaving the military and has been dedicated to that game ever since as well. FOLDS OF HONOR, PGA HOPE START NEW PARTNERSHIP The 11th annual Patriot Cup was held on Memorial Day in Owasso, with several of the participants in the Senior PGA Championship staying around an extra day to lend their support. Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder of the Folds of Honor, and Chris Nowak, a military veteran and spokesman for PGA HOPE, both attended a press conference at the Senior PGA Championship to explain the new partnership between the two organizations first announced in the Dan Rooney fall of 2020. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is funded by the PGA of America’s foundation PGA Reach. It offers veterans with disabilities an eightChris Nowak week curriculum taught by PGA professionals, meant to enhance their mental, social and emotional well being. “Our goal in this is to give the veteran a skill set to play the game of golf,” Nowak said. “Because as we all know who play the game, that’s the one thing you need to be thinking about — striking the golf ball. We call that a moment in time at PGA HOPE. “And that moment in time allows the veteran not to relive the trauma they dealt with, the trauma they’re dealing with and the other issues they’re dealing with as they come back and integrate back into society and start being productive members of society.” Folds of Honor is the Owasso-based foundation founded by Rooney that offers higher education scholarships to the families of veterans killed or wounded in active duty. The agreement calls for Folds of Honor to help sponsor PGA HOPE by sharing revenues derived from Patriot Golf Days. Those include the donations that individuals make and the events that PGA professionals run on that weekend. Patriot Golf Day had traditionally been over the Labor Day weekend but the intent this year was to move it to the Memorial Day weekend to coincide with the Patriot Cup and the holiday that honors veterans. Although some courses may not have been aware of the switch, individuals can go to www.foldsofhonor.com and contribute at any time. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

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2021 KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA ROUNDUP

Onward to 2022 PGA Championship Mike Weir and Alex Cejka head toward the 18th green. The seniors were presented some challenging pin locations, but generally played ever before has the Senior PGA the course from between 6,700 and 6,900 Championship and the PGA yards, including 6,730 in the final round Championship been held on the Sunday. The par-4 17th was moved up to 270 or less the final three days to become a same course in successive years. You better believe Kerry Haigh is taking risk-reward drivable par-4. The difficult parfull advantage of that in preparation for the 3 eighth hole played as short as 158 yards in one round, challenging players 2022 PGA Championship at to go at a front left pin position. Southern Hills. Compliments from the Haigh, the chief championplayers were many and comships officer for the PGA of plaints were few. Steve Stricker America and known for his thought uphill putts were too course setups that are both slow the first two days, but the challenging and fair, could be greens were much quicker on spotted frequently during the Sunday when he missed seven 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA putts inside of 8 feet. Retief Championship, watching inKerry Haigh Goosen, a brilliant fast-greens tently from behind a green or tee box, seeing how the world’s top putter, thought the greens were too slow seniors handled different pin positions or early and just right by Sunday. He also said the fairways were not mowed Friday or tee locations. Saturday and he was hitting fliers from the And plotting. “This is wonderful,” Haigh said during fairway when they actually were mowed the third round. “I’ve been going round Saturday. Vijay Singh said the fairways were with Russ (superintendent Russ Myers) this too wide for next year’s PGA Tour bombers. morning, looking at the various tees we’ll Singh shot 9-over with the wide fairways. As both Haigh and Myers have learned be using next year. It couldn’t be more valuable. All the challenges and issues you have at many championships over the years, the come in this week you now know and you feedback from pros on conditions and setup, while useful at times, can also be taken can plan and adjust.” by ken macleod

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

with a grain of salt. Most believe themselves much more informed about turfgrass issues than they actually are. No telling what Haigh will do, but it’s likely the field next year will see nearly every inch of the course, which can be pushed out to approximately 7,400 yards. Greens will also probably be a bit firmer and faster. Haigh will never say exactly how fast greens are rolling on the stimpmeter during a particular event, just insisting that they are running “at championship speed.” By Sunday, “championship speed” was fast enough that Haigh and Myers had to forego some planned pin positions and move pins to safer, more central locations. The speeds were bordering on 12 on the stimpmeter, which for some areas on the sloped greens can get out of hand. By the end, only seven of the 156 seniors bested par at Southern Hills, which stood up magnificently after the restoration completed by Gil Hanse in 2019. That’s two more than the five that broke par in the 2007 PGA Championship won by Tiger Woods at 8-under, and the four that finished under par in the 2001 U.S. Open won by Goosen at 4-under. When the tees are pushed back to 7,400 or more for 2022, green speeds are slightly increased and hopefully a normal spring W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

EXPERIENCE

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF Major Championship golf returns to Southern Hills Country Club for the 104th PGA Championship on May 16—22, 2022

TO REGISTER FOR TICKETS, VISIT PGACHAMPIONSHIP.COM/2022/TICKETS

SOUTHERN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB | TULSA, OK | MAY 16–22, 2022 W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

2021 KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA ROUNDUP

Retief Goosen will lead to a lusher rough, defending par won’t be an issue even in this age of bomb and gouge. The determining factor will be Mother Nature. Windy and firm and the scores will soar. Soft and wet and someone will go double digits under par. After a record-setting arctic blast damaged Bermuda grass throughout the state in February, Myers began sodding on April 8, before most had even begun assessing their damage. Sodded areas, of which there were more than five acres, were scarcely noticeable during the tournament except for being a darker shade of green. With few warm nights during April and May, growing thick, lush rough was not going to happen, but the rough did come on strong the 10 days before the tournament and offered plenty of challenge. With the PGA Championship being a week earlier, Haigh was asked if he would consider an over seed of rye or fescue in the roughs for the 2022 event. “No, this is just perfect,” Haigh said. “The rough will allow players to hit the ball out but not spin it. A lot of players enjoy being able to hit the ball out of the rough even if they don’t know how it’s going to react. I think it makes the golf more enjoyable rather than pitching out. “We’ll go with the Bermuda similar to what you see this week, maybe a little bit longer. And hopefully we won’t have a winter like this past one. But with Southern Hills, the fairways are fairly wide. It’s the green complexes and the hole locations that 22

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

Tom Lehman challenge every golfer no matter how far you hit it. It’s just a beautiful golf course.” Haigh, Myers, Southern Hills General Manager Nick Sidorakis and 2022 Championship Director Bryan Karns will spend much of the immediate future working on logistical plans, as the event will have a huge corporate presence, television village, more merchandise and concessions and of course more than 30,000 in attendance each day. The television compound has grown to the point where it will have to take up several of the holes on the West Nine. That course, which was chewed up a bit this year, will also support the Wanamaker Tent on the first fairway and the merchandise tent on the ninth fairway. Much of the corporate village will be on the rise above the 12th and 13th holes. Sidorakis said the driving range will likely be moved to the lower tee box and players will make more use of the two greens outside the indoor facility. The three practice green complexes to the south of the entrance road were also popular during the

Ernie Els chats with fans.

Cary Cozby with son Banks event and will get heavy use in 2022. The early support from the corporate community in Tulsa and Oklahoma and the enthusiasm of Southern Hills members has impressed Haigh. Just as the 2021 championship was a good test run for 2022, the PGA Championship will serve as an audition for the one remaining spot in the schedule that is still open in the relatively near future and that is the 2030 date that Southern Hills originally had. “Part of the reason we came here in 2022 when we were deciding where to take it was the club and how much they wanted to host it,” Haigh said. “The support they showed for next year shows what a great community, city and state this is for supporting major professional golf and that’s exactly why we’re here.” Haigh said it was unlikely a decision will be made on 2030 prior to next year and hinted he wanted a good look at how Southern Hills handles everything, including the expanded infrastructure. “We’ll see how next year goes,” he said. “We’ll need the club to want to do it again as well, it’s not just our decision.” Sidorakis said, “I think based on everything we’ve done thus far, including early ticket and corporate sales and interest, that we would be high on the list. I know there are other great clubs that want it and Kiawah Island (site of the 2021 event) will probably want it. We’ll just have to see.” W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Alex Cejka conquered Southern Hills to win the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship: Photos by Rip Stell

Cejka shows off power, touch by ken macleod

emonstrating a versatile game of accurate and powerful ball striking combined with a deft touch around the demanding greens at Southern Hills Country Club, Alex Cejka shot a final-round 67 to shoot 8-under and win the Senior PGA Championship on May 30 by four shots over Tim Petrovic, who also closed with a 67. Retief Goosen, winner of the 2001 U.S. Open at Southern Hills, shot a 4-under 66 to tie K.J. Choi for third at 3-under. Choi briefly tied Cejka for the lead after four birdies in his first seven holes before settling for a 2-under 68. Cejka, 50, won his second consecutive senior major, having defeated Steve Stricker in a playoff at the Regions Tradition in early May. Stricker had a one-shot lead going into the final round of this championship and many expected another duel to the finish. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

That duel vanished early as Stricker’s usually reliable putting failed him greatly, missing seven putts inside of 8 feet. His ball striking was also off, leading to a 77 that dropped him all the way to a tie for 11th. “It’s incredible,” Cejka said. “Seeing and knowing all those names who are up there on the trophy and being on the trophy myself, it’s a dream come true. . . Monday when I played for the first time here I walked those fairways and remember seeing this on TV in all those years and I can’t even describe how it feels to be here and touching the trophy. I’m just super blessed. I’m super happy. It’s an incredible feeling right now. “ After a birdie at the first, Cejka had a nervous bogey-bogey stretch on 2 and 3. But with Mike Weir and Stricker making a mess of things around him, he steadily pulled away with birdies on 5, 7, 11 and 12. From there he held on, getting up and down from greenside bunkers and over-

coming a water ball on the par-5 13th that led to his only bogey on the back nine. He also drove into a creek on the par-4 10th, but after taking a drop, hit his third shot to 6 feet and saved par. Cejka said seeing what was happening to Stricker and Weir early was a shock to his system. Weir started the day three shots back but shot a final round 72. “I was actually almost in shock which threw my game off totally,” he said. “ I was expecting him (Stricker, who began the day at 6-under) to come out and just put so much pressure on, as great a player as he normally is. But it’s golf.” Cejka fled the Czech Republic with his father at age 9, settling eventually in Munich, Germany, where he took up golf and turned professional at age 18. He won three times on the European Tour in 1995 and a fourth event in 2002 before moving to the United States. He played the PGA Tour from 2002-11 before losing his status, but he regained it in 2015, a year JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

2021 KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA ROUNDUP

Mike Weir he won the Puerto Rico Open for his lone PGA Tour victory. He joined the PGA Tour Champions without enough career money winnings for full status, and was an alternate into the Tradition. Cejka also finished second in the Chubb Championship in April. He now not only has earned full status, he will be back at Southern Hills in 2022 for the PGA Championship, for which he will be

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

slightly younger than the defending champion Phil Mickelson. Petrovic has now finished second in nine events including twice in this event. In 2018 he was second in both the Senior PGA and Senior U.S. Open, as well as second in the Chubb Championship. In 2019 he was second in two events and in 2020 second or third in three events. “I just put the blinders on and play my game,” Petrovic said. Bernhard Langer, Jerry Kelly, Paul McGinley and others waited on the first tee to congratulate Cejka on the torrid start to his senior career and the impressive performance at Southern Hills. “After he won Regions Tradition, you know, he was really meaningful in saying, I finally feel like one of you guys,” Kelly said. “Now he’s been a great player for a long time and he’s put in so much time. He’s playing the Outlaw Tours in Arizona. He’s played everything he can. He never gave up and this is the reward that’s happening right now. I mean I think it’s an awesome story. He’s a great guy. He works his butt off. He keeps his head down and goes and gets it. I think it’s awesome.”

Steve Stricker

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2021 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME

Art Proctor: All in for the game by john rohde

rt Proctor began giving golf lessons as a 16-year-old in 1955 at Shawnee Country Club in Topeka, Kan. Please note, Proctor was giving lessons, not getting them. A group of ladies at his home club needed some instruction and Proctor happily obliged. “I didn’t know how to teach, but I was a good coach,” Proctor said of his teenage tutelage days. “I knew the basic fundamentals.” There’s no telling how many people the now 82-year-old Proctor has taught since then, but his teaching ability is one of many reasons he was selected as a 2021 inductee into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. Hired in 1971 as the first-ever head professional at Kickingbird Golf Club in Edmond, the multi-faceted Proctor excelled as a player, professional, promoter, competi-

Art Proctor gives the winner's check to Tom Jones at the 1983 Oklahoma Open at Kickingbird Golf Course tor, teacher, coach and course designer. Proctor actually grew up loving baseball. “That’s what I did all the time,” he said. “I was a pretty good player. I could hit, but I couldn’t run. My high school coach chose to play somebody else. Being a competitor, I decided to play golf. I went back to thank my high school coach many years later because I never would have made it in baseball.” But Proctor certainly fit like a glove in golf W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

and now joins fellow Hall of Fame inductees U.C. Ferguson and Joe Walser, for whom Proctor served as an assistant at Lincoln Park Golf Course and Lake Hefner Golf Course, respectively. “I took the best of U.C. and Joe and then opened Kickingbird,” Proctor said. “I tried to take some of the things they did I wouldn’t normally do. I set goals for myself and tried to be the best at everything.” From the time he crossed state lines, Proctor evolved into becoming one of the sport’s biggest self-promoters. “When I came to Oklahoma Teacher, designer but always a competitor from Kansas, I was an immature “There really wasn’t a golf community young man who was very shy,” Proctor said. “Joe taught me how to say ‘hello’ to every- back then and there certainly weren’t very body. You shake their hand and find out many low handicap players,” Proctor said. Spurred by the popularity of Kickingbird their name. I started doing that and found out how easy it was. Then I gave a lot of les- and an explosion of golf course construction, sons and that promoted me to where people Edmond quickly evolved into one of the nagot to know who I was. Word of mouth, I tion’s premier golf communities. Edmond became known as a good teacher before I has since become the state’s fifth-largest city with a population just shy of 100,000. was known for anything else.” The additions of Oak Tree Golf Club Oklahoma Golf Association executive director Mark Felder was fresh out of high (opened in 1976) and the adjacent Oak Tree school when Proctor hired him as a Kicking- Country Club East Course (1981) and West Course (1983) in north Edmond boosted bird assistant in 1977. “When I went to work for Art, he was the quality of courses and overall quality three things: He was the best player, the of play. Touring pros and low handicappers best teacher and the best self-promoter,” have since passed down from generation to Felder said with conviction. “He kind of had generation. Edmond North has won 14 of the whole package going on there at once. the last 16 Class 6A state golf championHe constantly was doing something to put ships and 17 total since the high school was Kickingbird on the map … and to also put established in 1994. Before Oak Tree existed, Kickingbird esArt on the map. At the same time, he was a great enough player to win section champi- sentially served as Edmond Country Club. “That’s exactly right, and we treated it like onships and play in PGA Championships.” During one of his many PGA Champi- that,” Proctor said. “We had a men’s club, a onship appearances, Proctor asked local ladies’ club and we started the junior prosports director Jerry Park of KOCO-5 to gram, which evolved into something great. We were in the right place at the right time.” serve as his caddy. Many have long marveled at Proctor’s “With him as his caddy, guess who would be on the news every night?” Felder said playing skills. The first time he shot his with a chuckle. “That tells you the whole age was when he was 64. He did it again Art Proctor story right there. Art just ran at 65 and 66, “but I missed 67 and missed 68. Don’t know what happened there,” the with it, and it was great.” Coinciding with the arrival of Kicking- ever-competitive Proctor said in frustration. bird, Edmond’s population began to boom, Shooting his age “is easy” now for the octofrom a population of 8,577 according to the See ART on page 32 1960 census to 16,633 in 1970. JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

KICKINGBIRD GOLF COURSE

Junior golf mecca celebrates 50 In July 1983, a 44-year-old Proctor set a then-Guinness Book of Records mark by playing 414 holes in one day. He teed off hen Kickingbird Golf Club at Kickingbird at 5:46 a.m. and finished held its Grand Opening on his 23rd round of golf at 8:51 p.m., an avMay 29, 1971, head profeserage of slightly more than 2:10 minutes sional Art Proctor wanted the entire town per hole (which included two 15-minute to take note of its first municipal course. breaks). Proctor shot 6-under-par for the Ever the promoter, Proctor decided the day, took 1,604 shots (69.74 per round), festivities would start in downtown Edaveraged 3.87 strokes per hole with a mond and meander through the streets low round of 66 and high round of 75. with participants from 24 pro-am teams Nearly four decades later, the signifiswatting a golf ball with a putter off ascance of Proctor’s legendary achievephalt, gravel and rocks until reaching the ment has not waned. city’s new golfing mecca situated south of A staunch proponent of pace of play, Danforth Road and east of Bryant Avenue. Proctor also tried to organize the fastest The shotgun start of golf in Edmond was round of golf ever recorded, strategically inauspicious, to say the least. Heck, some placing quality, ready-to-hit golfers on folk didn’t even want the course built. each hole. The plan failed because KickThe now 82-year-old Proctor deMike McGraw and Art Proctor reminisce at the ingbird was not conducive to fast play. scribed what transpired: “The mayor 50-year anniversary of Kickingbird. “Our golf course was too hilly and too (Fred Snyder) hits the first putt. He takes a full swing with the putter. He didn’t like ing pros. Winners there were Danny Ed- tree-lined,” Proctor said. “Back then, all golf. He didn’t vote for the golf course to be wards (1979), Jaime Gonzalez (1980), Dr. you heard was golf balls bouncing off trees built. He was anti-Kickingbird. His first shot Gil Morgan (1981), Doug Tewell (1982), – ‘boink, boink, boink, boink.’ We really ricocheted off a car in front of the bank. I Tom Jones (1983), Kenny Huff (1984) and couldn’t set that record on that golf course. It needed to be done on a wide-open golf thought, ‘I haven’t even opened yet and I’m Bob Tway (1985). “Sure, it was fun, but there was pressure,” course.” Since then, thousands of trees have going to lose my job.’ Luckily, we had some city councilmen, board members and great said Morgan, who went on to win seven been lost or removed at Kickingbird to help city leaders with the foresight of what this PGA Tour titles and post 25 Champions improve grass growth and speed of play. The course was designed by course could be.” renowned architect Floyd Farley, “The Bird” instantaneously bewho along with Proctor will be incame was one of the state’s most ducted in November into the Oklaprolific municipal courses. A steady homa Golf Hall of Fame. Also in flow of golfers became a raging the 2021 class are Scott Verplank, river in its first half-century of explus Danny and David Edwards. istence, averaging between 60,000In fact, David Edwards was a 70,000 rounds per year. ninth-grader employed as a member An aerial image of the city shows of Proctor’s first-ever “Range Rats.” Kickingbird Golf Club serves as Ed“I started working out here bemond’s square-shaped equivalent of Kickingbird closes for extensive renovations June 30. fore the golf course was even open, Central Park. Kickingbird is located on 160 acres in Tour victories (tied for fourth all-time). “You picking up the range, sweeping the floors,” Reynolds Park, named after the Edmond pi- try to do well, try to win, try to play your said Edwards, who drove his mini-bike on the side of the road back and forth to work. oneer businessman Milton “Kicking Bird” best. I don’t think that ever goes away.” “On opening day, when they played golf It was friendly, but competitive. Reynolds, publisher and founder of the Ed“In the beginning, we were all friends from downtown Edmond, I had to work mond Sun newspaper, who agreed to sell 80 acres to the city only if the entire property with Art,” Edwards said. “Out of respect for that day, washing carts.” Edwards, who attended the 50th anniremained a park. Approximately 120 acres him, we wanted to do something. So we is used for the golf course itself and Proctor were all like, ‘Sure, we’ll come and play and versary celebration, worked at Kickingbird once planned to turn the unused portion of we’ll have some fun.’ And it was. In golf, throughout high school, went on to beland into a nursery for the course. Prior to you rarely get to play in ‘hometown’ events. come a two-time, First-Team All-American the course being built, the original acreage You’re always on the road basically. It was at Oklahoma State and claimed the 1978 owned by the city included a rodeo arena a chance for friends and family to come out NCAA individual title. Seeking instruction and watch us, walk with us. It was pretty in- occasionally from Proctor, Edwards went on site for the Edmond Round Up Club. In addition to becoming the annual site formal. You’d walk along and talk to people, to post four PGA Tour victories and claimed of the OGA Junior Boys & Girls tourna- stuff like that. It snowballed pretty quickly one Champions Tour title. He also won two Oklahoma Opens (1994, 1996) at nearby ment since 2010, the Oklahoma Open was and got the purse up. “With all the touring pros who played, it staged at Kickingbird from 1979-85 and See KICKINGBIRD on page 30 featured the state’s most prominent tour- was kind of an honor to win.”

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KICKINGBIRD cont. from page 26 ing lot, a four-bay pavilion on the driving accommodating the relentless high volume Oak Tree Country Club. “I told Art when I left (Kickingbird), ‘This is the last job I’m ever going to have.’ And I was right,” Edwards said with a smile. Edwards was paid $1 an hour as a Range Rat. Other Rats through the years have included National Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bill Self ($1.25), KWTV News 9’s Kelly Ogle, plus many local junior golfers who have gone on to become state champions, collegiate All-Americans and tour players. “The biggest thing that hits me is the history of golf that has come through this place,” said Brian Soerensen, who was hired as a Kickingbird assistant pro in 1992 and become its head pro in 1997 after the course re-opened following a re-design from local touring pro and former junior standout Mark Hayes. “Prominent people in the profession have come through all the time. And for a municipal golf course, that’s unique to me.” Roughly one month after celebrating its 50th anniversary, Kickingbird will shut down completely to undergo $14 million in renovations and improvements set to begin in July. The project is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete and will include a new clubhouse, a short-game practice facility on the site of the existing park-

range which will include the latest in simu- of golf traffic. “When I first arrived, we were doing lator and ball tracking technology, a new irrigation system, new greens and a new park- 62,000 rounds a year. That’s an incredible amount of golf,” Soerensen said. “People would sleep at the front gate. I’d literally have to knock on windows to wake people up. I’d have a stack of numbers 1 through 75 on the counter. We’d be booked through 2 p.m. every single Saturday. It was nuts, just crazy.” Located on a hill at the end of the practice range along Danforth sits the course’s green million-gallon water tank that is filled by two private wells (not city water). Soerensen said during the dog days of summer, “We’ll go through a half-million gallons a night” watering the course. Kickingbird remains a place where many Tom Jones and Dr. Gil Morgan reflect on elite local golfers learn and hone their the unique history at Kickingbird. skills. “I learned a lot from Art being able ing lot. A detached banquet hall will be built to practice and watch him,” Edwards west of the new clubhouse. Soerensen said he hopes the length from said. “When I was struggling, he’d help. I the championship tees, which currently learned a lot about the game of golf and life max out at 6,722 yards, will approach 7,000 from Art in those years. I’m really glad to see the city step up and do this renovation. yards with the renovation. One of Soerensen’s biggest challenges as It was great to have Kickingbird in those Kickingbird’s head pro – like Proctor, Steve days. There wasn’t another golf course in Ball and Mike Heinen before him – has been Edmond.”

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ART cont. from page 25 genarian Proctor, who in mid-May shot 71 at Lincoln West in Oklahoma City. “He’s a bit of a physical specimen,” Felder said. “An 82-year-old guy who can swing a golf club the way he’s swinging right now is incredible. I’m amazed every time I play with him. His swing has not shortened up at all. He still hits the ball out there.” All told, Proctor competed in 20 professional majors – three PGA Championships, two U.S. Senior Open Championships, five British Senior Open Championships and 10 Senior PGA Championships. “Not very many club pros get a chance to do that,” Proctor said with pride. “That’s a bunch.” Proctor also tied for third with Tom Weiskopf at the Japan Grand Slam behind winner Lee Trevino and runner-up Gary Player. “For some reason, I had most of my success playing overseas,” Proctor said. “I felt comfortable there.” In 1999, Proctor qualified for the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour) and remained active through 2005. He also played in 14 national club professional championships with a top finish of third place. Proctor’s club pro resume includes capturing the PGA South Central Section match play championships in 1974, 1976 and 1977 and Section Championships in 1973 and 1983. However, Proctor’s most significant playing performance came in July 1983 at the age of 44 when he set a then-Guinness Book of Records mark by playing 414 holes in one day. Proctor teed off at Kickingbird at 5:46 a.m. and finished his 23rd round of golf at 8:51 p.m., an average of slightly more than 2:10 minutes per hole, which included two 15-minute breaks. Proctor stopped for lunch around 2 p.m. and thought he was done for the day. While in the clubhouse, longtime friend and former major-league pitcher and coach Cal McLish convinced Proctor to just keep going. So Proctor played until dark. Even more impressive than his remarkable endurance, Proctor shot 6-under-par for the day. He took 1,604 shots (69.74 per round) with a low round of 66 and high round of 75. He averaged 3.87 strokes per hole, changed shoes three times and rode 98 miles according to the odometer on the makeshift dune buggy golf cart he purchased from Quail Creek Golf and Country Club. “People remember that day more than anything I’ve ever done,” Proctor said. Slow play has long stuck in Proctor’s craw, which is partly why he set out to prove a point on his Guinness record quest. “The thing that was killing golf was slow play,” Proctor said. “It just got slower and 32

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

slower and slower. I took ball washers off the golf course because people would take a full minute on each hole to wash their golf ball. That’s 18 minutes of slow play with nobody doing nothing.” With Proctor persistently pushing for a better pace of play, Kickingbird became one of the state’s busiest courses the past 50 years. “Experts said we wouldn’t play more than 22,000-23,000 rounds a year,” Proctor said of Kickingbird, which opened Memorial Day weekend in 1971. “We brought in tournaments and charity organizations, etc. In that first year, we played 39,000 rounds. The highest total we had when I was there was 66,000, but that didn’t ever count all the freebies. The assistants and kids who worked there for me all played for free.” Felder was astonished at the persistent

The happy winner of the 1973 Section Championship at Twin Hills CC. traffic jam. “We’d have tee times lined up ‘til 3 in the afternoon and the waiting list was always an hour after that,” Felder said. “We had great junior programs. Art and (current Baylor coach, former Oklahoma State coach and longtime junior program developer) Mike McGraw made golf cool in Edmond. Mike made it cool for the kids.” McGraw served as an assistant under Proctor after playing for the University of Central Oklahoma and became his junior golf director in 1982. “In my opinion, Art Proctor set the stage for the greatest junior golf dynasty in the history of Oklahoma,” McGraw said. “He gave so many young men jobs at Kickingbird and those jobs led to opportunity. That opportunity led to championships.” Proctor spread the gospel of golf through promotions, events, programs and his golf shop. “I had the first computer as a head pro in the city area,” Proctor said. “Didn’t know how to use it, but I had an assistant who was

smart. Golf assistants work long hours, but I allowed my assistants to have a lot more freedom than I ever had by letting them play and teach. Promoting the sport is one of the reasons I got the job at Kickingbird.” The OGA Junior Amateur has become a fixture at Kickingbird, with the tournament held there every year since 2010. “The first week in June, Kickingbird is generally in as good of condition as any golf course around, and I’m including country clubs.” Felder said. “I brag on Kickingbird all the time. It’s so good to see what they’ve done through the years, and it all began with Art.” As if those responsibilities weren’t demanding enough, Proctor also ran the tennis courts at Kickingbird. “I had more problems with the tennis center than the golf course,” Proctor said with a chuckle. “They had to pay 20 cents for lights. I had more arguments about people playing tennis.” Proctor did all this on a year-to-year contract. Upon leaving Kickingbird in 1986, Proctor planned to construct a 45-hole complex in neighboring Arcadia, for which he attempted to hire either Dick Nugent of Chicago or Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay as designers. “But they wanted too much money to do it and there wasn’t enough money to go around in those days (during the 1980s Oklahoma oil bust), so it never got off the ground,” Proctor said. Thereafter, Proctor worked for Oklahoma State Parks and made significant improvements to courses, including a nine-hole design project at Cedar Creek in Broken Bow, plus nine-hole re-designs at Lake Murray and Quartz Mountain. In 2000, Proctor was inducted into the inaugural PGA South Central Section Hall of Fame, alongside a slew of longtime colleagues, including Ferguson, Alsie Hyden, Duffy Martin and Jerry Cozby. Proctor said it was Ferguson who helped mold him into a relentless salesman for the game. “Art liked to teach, but he loved to compete and play,” Hyden said of Proctor. “He had the attributes for a golf pro because he lived and loved what he was doing. He just ate it up. He has a good sense of humor, just a fun guy to be around. He didn’t meet any strangers. He was a pretty open guy.” Longtime Quail Creek Golf and Country Club head pro Larry Fryer, a 2005 SCS inductee, was roommates with Proctor when they served as assistants at Quail Creek and Lake Hefner, respectively. “It’s been a good ride for him,” Fryer said of Proctor. “I’m tickled that he got elected into the (Oklahoma Golf) Hall of Fame. I think that’s wonderful. He deserves it.” W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

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Andrew Goodman

Jenni Roller

Olivia Coit

Goodman, Roller claim OGA Junior Amateur Championship titles by ken macleod

EDMOND – Andrew Goodman made sure his name would join the illustrious list of past champions on the Oklahoma Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship trophy, as the top-rated junior in Oklahoma defeated Bryant Polhill of Edmond 3 and 1 in the championship match at Kickingbird Golf Course. In the girls bracket, Jenni Roller of Jenks won a scintillating match with Olivia Coit of Edmond 3 and 2 to become a part of the first brother-sister combo to win OGA Junior titles. Her brother James Roller knocked off Goodman in the 2020 finals and now plays for Texas Tech. Goodman, of Norman, will be playing for Ryan Hybl’s Oklahoma Sooners in the fall and though he has many high-profile amateur events lined up this summer, he said winning 34

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

one, but Goodman birdied the par-5 12th and the par-5 15th to pull ahead by three holes. He gave Polhill the par-3 16th when he hit his tee shot behind a tree short and left of the green, but then birdied the par-4 17th to close out the match. Goodman said he was cheering wildly last week when the Sooners came up just short of the NCAA championship in the final match with Pepperdine. He looks forthis event was high on his priority list. “It feels really good,” Goodman said. “I ward to getting his chance to help in the fall. Polhill reached the final was really worried in my match with a dramatic comequarterfinal match (a 1 up back against his OCS teamvictory over William Sides mate Ryder Cowan. Down of Tulsa) that I wouldn’t 3 with four holes to play, he even be getting past that. finally tied it with a 30-foot And it’s always good to play birdie putt on the 18th hole, well in match play. That’s then won in a one-hole playwhat we’ll be playing at the off. It was a rematch of the Natty (NCAA ChampionBoys 14-15 final in 2020 won ship), so it’s great to win all by Cowan. four matches. The girls championship “And this is the last one for match had the fireworks. me. You’ve got to go for it.” Roller, a University of Tulsa Goodman led from the commit, birdied the par-4 fourth hole on and was 2 seventh and eight holes to go up at the turn. Polhill, who 3 up. Coit then played in the will be a junior at Oklahoma next three holes in 4-under Christian in the fall, won Bryant Polhill par, making an eagle on the the par-3 11th to pull within W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

par-5 ninth, chipping in for birdie on the par4 11th and hitting a beautiful tee shot on the par-3 11th to 10 feet for another birdie. How did Roller respond to that barrage? After both players made par on 12, Roller reeled off birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16 to close out the match. She was 6-under par through 16 holes. Roller said he wasn’t shook by Coit’s 4-under burst. “I just figured that’s golf,” she said. “She chipped in and made some great shots, nothing I can do about it. So I just kept playing my game.” Her game included hitting a pitch shot to 2 feet from 85 yards out on the par-4 13th, then hitting an 8-iron from 150 to 8 feet for another birdie on the par-3 14th. She hit a flop shot to a foot for birdie on the par-5 15th, then hit a 9-iron to 12 feet on the par-3 15th. With Coit looking at a 2-foot putt for birdie, Roller played the break perfectly and rolled hers in to close it out. “I didn’t even realize I had four birdies in a row,” she said. “I was just trying to play each shot and each hole. I love match play, it’s probably my favorite thing to do in golf. So I was pretty excited to win. And with JP winning last year that’s pretty cool.” Roller defeated Grant Gudgel top-ranked and stroke play champion Maddie Kamas of Kingfisher 3 and 2 in the morning semifinals. Coit knocked off Raychel Nelke of Pocola 3 and 2. The Rollers are a golf family. Mother Maggie Roller is the director of instruction at Cedar Ridge Country Club and father Bill was the long-time successful coach at Jenks High School. The Boys 14-15 division was won by Grant Gudgel, a rising sophomore at Stillwater High School. He defeated Preston Albee, a freshman at Choctaw, 4 and 2 in the final. Gudgel, who by happenstance played a round with mini-tour player Alexander Hughes at South Lakes in Jenks last year when Hughes shot a world-record tying 55, had his own magic going this week, playing solid in all four matches. Albee should have been worn out for the final. Not only did he play six rounds of competitive golf in blistering heat, but has played 11 basketball games since last weekend as his team sorts out its roster for the coming season. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Patterson wins rain-shortened WOGA Stroke Play Championship

klahoma Baptist golfer Josie Patterson of Chandler shot a 4-over round of 76 in wet conditions to win the rain-shortened Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Stroke Play Championship Tuesday at The Club at Indian Springs. The tournament was shortened to an 18-hole event after Monday’s round was

rained out. Michaela Dierinzo of Owasso and Rachel Eckert of Bixby, a current Oklahoma City University golfer, tied for second at 5-over 77. Dierinzo won the Mid-Amateur division by a shot over Janet Miller of Catoosa and two shots over Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame inductee LeeAnn Fairlie.

Champion Josie Patterson

Michaela Dierinzo

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Bo Jin

Aman Gupta

Eugeni Lopez-Chacarra

Cowboys loaded for 2021-22 run by ken macleod

erhaps no one should have been surprised by Oklahoma State’s performance in the 2020-21 season that ended with a NCAA semifinal loss to eventual national champion Pepperdine. Everyone knew about homegrown Austin Eckroat, but no one knew the collective talent coach Alan Bratton had plucked from the far corners of the planet and convinced to further their careers and educations in Stillwater. Bo Jin of China and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra of Spain, in particular, are extremely good, and combined with Eckroat, sophomore Aman Gupta and Jonas Baumgartner of Germany or Brian Stark of California, the team gelled into a power that won four of its last five starts, including the Big 12 Championship and the Stillwater Regional, led the NCAA through three rounds of stroke play and took eventual champion Pepperdine to the wire in the semifinals. The Cowboys lost Eckroat to the Korn Ferry Tour via PGA Tour University, but otherwise have everyone who played sig36

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

rector. In his 32 years as golf coach, Holder won eight national championships, 25 Big Eight titles and coached 112 All-Americans. He was equally impactful as a fundraiser, convincing many to follow his dream that resulted in Karsten Creek and then as athletic director raising hundreds of millions that have transformed the OSU athletic facility landscape. “I don’t know of a coach and not many figures of any kind who have had the impact on their university that Mike Holder has had on Oklahoma State,” Bratton said. “So many students at OSU are not aware of all the work he’s done and what they are the beneficiaries of in terms of facilities. He can walk away with equal pride in what he did for the golf program and the athletic program.” Holder, who attended and walked with the team in the 100-degree heat at the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk, isn’t going anywhere. His next mission is to finance Alan Bratton confers with Austin Eckroat. and help plan a major overhaul of Karsten Creek, which opened are going to be good.” Bratton took time to pay homage to his in 1994. Plans are still being finalized but college coach, Mike Holder, who is retiring expect to see the greens reshaped, new fairthis summer after 12 years as athletic di- way grass, new tee boxes and more. nificant minutes back plus add two talented freshmen, including Jordan Wilson of Edmond North. They will begin next season ranked in the top three instead of completely overlooked as they were this year. “I love the experience and the depth we’re bringing back,” Bratton said. “I love this nucleus. We’ll have no seniors, wonderful depth and I’m excited about the development we saw. These guys have a lot of personality, they’re fun to be around and they get along well. Austin did a great job as a leader for us, we’ll miss him but these guys

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Maja Stark

Rina Tatematsu

Lianna Bailey

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard

Isabella Fierro

Cowgirls will be among favorites for 2021-22 Could a sweep of the men’s and women’s national championships be in the offing in 2022? The OSU women return every starter from the team that rolled the national championship title match before falling 4-1 to Ole Miss. That includes Big 12 Player of the Year Maja Stark, Freshman of the Year Rina Tatematsu along with Maddison HinsonTolchard, Isabella Fierro and Lianna Bai-

ley. Greg Robertson was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Cowgirls were vying to become the first Oklahoma State women’s team to win a national championship in any sport after they blitzed Auburn 4-1 and then swept Duke in the semifinals 5-0. That momentum ran out in the final match but it would not be a stretch to imagine them back in a similar spot next season.

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JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

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GOLF COURSE APPRECIATION MCALLISTER SOAKS UP THE DESIGN WHILE COMPETING on a particular hole, then learn more as he goes along for a closer look. The look, design, feel and playability are important to McAllister not just to aid in his preparation and playing, but because he has an enthusiasm for and appreciation of course architecture and design and possibly a future career in the same when his playing career is done. That may not be anytime soon. McAllister is coming off a standout year for the Sooners, including going undefeated in three matches in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as the Sooners lost to a talented Pepperdine team in the finals 3-2 at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. In some respects, it was remarkable the Sooners made it to the match-play championship, as two of their stalwarts of recent years were in deep slumps. Patrick Welch was battling a putting malady and senior Garett Reband had a two-way miss going with his driver. Reband, who is now on the Korn Ferry Tour after finishing in the top five in the PGA Tour University standings, never broke 75 in stroke play and both were ineffective in match play. After saying goodbye to seniors Quade Cummins, Reband, Jonathan Brightwell, Thomas Johnson and Riley Casey, McAllister assumes the leadership mantle, a fact emphasized by coach Ryan Hybl immediately after the NCAA Championship. It’s a role McAllister is eager to embrace. “This is Logan’s team now and we talked about that,” Hybl said. “He’s got to be ready for that and he will be. He’s made tremendous strikes this year.” McAllister came out of Christian Heritage by ken macleod Academy in Oklahoma City with a reputahile his Oklahoma teammates tion for being unafraid to shoot exceptionally may use a practice round at an low scores, but in need of more consistency. unfamiliar venue to try to get After spending hundreds of hours to improve a feel for the width of the landing areas and his putting, the results were dramatic this the basic green structure and breaks, Logan spring, including a second-place finish in the Calusa Cup, sixth in the Big 12 ChampionMcAllister has a much more critical eye. McAllister may be studying bunker posi- ship at Prairie Dunes and the outstanding tioning, land forms, slopes, use of rough or play in Scottsdale, where he finished 17th closely mown areas. He’ll stand on the tee individually before the match-play heroics. McAllister made the first two hole-in-ones box and try to take in every particle of information the golf course architect is presenting of his competitive career in the tournament.

The first came on the fifth hole in the final round of stroke play when he changed clubs from an 8-iron to a 9-iron right before swinging and it one-hopped into the hole. The second came on the eighth hole in the final round, a pitching wedge that he was trying to carry 160 on the 175-yard par-3. “The only other hole-in-one I’ve ever made was by myself at Belmar,” McAllister said. “Then I make two on television in the biggest tournament in college golf. “ Side note: Oklahoma State’s Austin Eckroat was in the group with McAllister, then in match play witnessed Pepperdine’s Clay Feagler make an ace against him on the eighth hole, helping turn that match in Feagler’s favor. McAllister, whose father is a building architect, was so impressed by Perry Maxwell’s work at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kan., site of the Big 12 Championship, that he ignored Hybl’s dictum to leave the cell phones off for practice rounds. He was busy snapping

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

Logan McAllister after one of his two aces in the NCAA Championship. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

COM PET I T ION pictures and making mental notes of design features, maybe to share later on the website for architecture enthusiasts Golf Club Atlas. “That was one of the best weeks of my life, just being able to play that place,” McAllister said. “We got to experience it in all kinds of wind, with pins cut in weird spots. We had the wind out of the north the last day and 18 is all of a sudden is a touch drive with a 7-iron to a nasty pin. Just to see the design hold up in tournament play to the best conference in college golf was really cool.” “Coach doesn’t like us being on the phone but I had to take pictures of all the spots that I found memorable. You look around and realize this place has been here for almost 100 years and withstood the test of time, you realize how good Maxwell was at building courses that last.” Hybl said McAllister’s passion for architecture is a rarity among collegiate players. Professionals often seem to notice architectural features only when they think it has unfairly cost them a shot. “Most of us are just golf nerds,” Hybl said. “But Logan loves the history and the architecture. He has a real passion for it and obviously he’s a huge Perry Maxwell fan growing up in Oklahoma. But he knows them all and it’s something he really enjoys.”

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

McAllister played in and won the Southern Hills Junior Classic last summer, his first look at that venerable Maxwell classic and loved that. His favorite course is Maxwell’s first, Dornick Hills in Ardmore, which he fell in love

Andrew Goodman

Jaxon Dowell

with as a kid playing in the Red River Classic (Oklahoma juniors vs. Texas juniors). He is looking forward to going down this summer to meet and pick the brain of architect Tom Doak when he is in town as part of the current ongoing restoration of Dornick Hills. Former Sooner Tripp Davis has made a notable career in golf course architecture, including his restoration work at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course, home of the Sooners. McAllister enjoys conversing with Davis and he’s fortunate as a collegian to have played many great courses around the country. Playing the Big 12 Championship at The

Greenbrier in 2019, a Seth Raynor design, McAllister tried to impart his enthusiasm for the design to several of his teammates, notably Cummins and Brad Dalke. They even discussed building a golf course together later in life. For now, McAllister will be the team leader for the Sooners, who will enter the 2021-22 schedule with fresh faces but high hopes. You can be assured he’ll be appreciating the journey from more than a competitive standpoint. Note: Two fellow Oklahomans who likely will play a key role in the Sooners’ hopes for next year are redshirt freshman Jaxon Dowell and true freshman Andrew Goodman. Hybl expects both former high school rivals to make an impact. “Drew’s expectations since he was little coming to my golf camp are really high,” Hybl said. “I love it when a guy expects and truly believes he can be the best player in the country. We’re going to love that mentality. “Jaxon is going to be ready. He did a great job this spring, learned a lot and is super hungry. He came out to the national championship to watch and things like that can spur on some serioius motivation. I love his work ethic and look forward to what he’s going to do for us.”

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H IGH SCHOOL CH A M PIONSH I PS SPONSOR ED BY FI R ST OK L A HOM A BA N K

Andrew Goodman

Parker Payne

William Sides

Tres Hill

Standouts on cold day in May T

he Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s boys high school championships were decided on a cold, wet May 11, but despite the dreary conditions some excellent performances were put on by individuals and teams. Except in Class 6A at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, where the third and final round was canceled after course and OSSAA officials deemed the course unplayable after several hours of heavy rain. That left Edmond North as the team champion, polishing off an unbeaten season with its 14th state championship in the last 16 years. Owasso’s Ben Stoller is the new individual champion, edging 2019 champion Jordan Wilson of Edmond North by a shot. Stoller was at 4-under after shooting consecutive rounds of 2-under 70 during Monday’s 36 holes. Wilson shot 71-70 to finish a shot behind at 3-under. Bixby’s Dylan Teeter takes third at 1-under (72-71). About 18 miles away at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa, the third round of the Class 5A championship was played, and Noble’s Parker Payne prevailed with a gritty 4-over 75 in the miserable conditions to finish at 2-under 211. That left him as the only player in the field under par and five shots clear of fellow freshman Will Hennessee of Bishop Kelley, who also managed a 75 in the final round, which was delayed for nearly four hours by heavy rains. Hennessee did lead the Comets to a convincing win in the team race, the school’s eighth state championship and the fourth under coach Shawn Lawhorn, with the most recent being in 2017. “I just really had the driver going well both days, which you have to do here because it’s so tight, and W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

so many trees everywhere,” Payne said. “You just have to put the ball in the fairway and if you do miss, you have to miss in the right spots. “My mindset today was just to make all pars and see if that would get me through, and it did.” Tres Hill of Elk City and William Sides of Cascia Hall staged a brilliant duel in Class 4A, though they were never paired together. Hill shot a final-round 71 to edge Sides by a single shot and win the 4A title at Winter Creek Golf Club in Blanchard. He shot 69-67-71 while Sides shot 6868-72 to finish a shot behind, 9-under for Hill and 8-under for Sides. Sides did get the satisfaction of knowing Cascia Hall ran away with the team championship, with Elk City in second 19 shots behind. Drew Goodman, perhaps one of the top Oklahoma prep stars in recent decades, capped an 11-under performance with a 4-under 66 to roll to a sevenshot victory over Ryder Cowan in the Class 3A championship at Buffalo Rock Golf Course in Cushing. Goodman finished seven shots ahead of Ryder Cowan of Oklahoma Christian School (68-67-71). Cowan’s teammate Bryant Polhill finished third at 210 after a closing 72. Goodman also led Christian Heritage to a 61-shot victory over Oklahoma Christian in the team race. In Class 2A at Earlywine Golf Course in Oklahoma City, Dominic Stevens of Crescent closed with a 70 to win by four shots over Connor Cryer of Tipton. Stevens is bound for Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. Walters finished 36 shots ahead of Cashion for the team title.

Ben Stoller

Dominic Stevens

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

H IGH SCHOOL CH A M PIONSH I PS SPONSOR ED BY FI R ST OK L A HOM A BA N K

Haley Blevins

Olivia Coit

Jenni Roller

Maddi Kamas

Mikaela Karanja

Brooklyn Benn

Blevins adds name to top state juniors

o the list of familiar names who earned the title of state champion in 2021, add Haley Blevins. Competing for the first time in the state championship due to the 2020 cancellations due to Covid, the transfer from Huntsville, Ala., led Edmond North to the Class 6A team title while winning the individual crown at Broken Arrow Golf & Athletic Club. It was also the first state championship for new coach Greg Bloyd, who for 17 years previous was the baseball coach at North. “This has been amazing,” said Bloyd who agreed to take the job partly because he had several of the players in class and liked and respected them already. “It was really an up-and-down two days but they all played well. Haley was really special down the stretch.” Blevins won the event for the Huskies with consecutive birdies on holes 17 and 18. She hit her second shot to about 8 feet on the par-4 17th and drained it, then hit her third on the par-5 18th hole to 12 feet and calmly rolled the breaking putt in the center of the cup. That gave her a round of 74 for a 146 total after her opening 72. She finished four shots clear of Lily Stanton of Jenks (76-74) and six ahead of Olivia Coit of Edmond Memorial (79-73). Coit closed with a 73 as Edmond Memorial shot a solid 312 in the second round. Memorial had a one-shot lead over North to start the day, but the Huskies’ 42

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

310 total nudged them in front. Durant defended its title in the class 5A state championship, which was held at Chickasaw Pointe golf club in Kingston. Durant ended the two-day event with a total score of 678, winning by 16 strokes. Durant’s Mikaela Karanja won as an individual as well, shooting rounds of 70-73. “These young ladies worked so hard, we started in January, and never really took a day off,” said Durant head coach Tanner Dupree. “They pushed themselves to the limits everyday, they’re very coachable, they do what they’re told to do, plus some. They’ve earned this state championship. It’s a great reward for them.” In Class 2A, Jenni Roller, a junior from Regent Prep in Tulsa, fired a final-round 3-under 67 on her way to a seven shot victory over the Jaci Hartman of Turner. Led by the freshman Hartman, Turner won the team championship with a score of 654, seven shots clear of Christian Heritage, which boasted the fourth and fifthplace finishers in Layne Miller (70-73) and Sarah Sherrard (72-76). Third place was claimed by Raychel Nelke of Pocolo (7170). Turner started three freshmen and two sophomores. Roller, who has committed to play at the University of Tulsa under coach Annie Young, put on a ball-striking clinic at Cimmaron National. Maddi Kamas dominated the Class 4A race at Buffalo Rock Golf Club in Cush-

ing, shooting a 4-under 136 to win the title by 20 shots. The senior at Kingfisher birdied her final two holes to shoot a final round 3-under 67, but more importantly, it vaulted Kingfisher into a tie with Hilldale to force a playoff for the team championship. Hilldale won the playoff on the second hole. Kamas was the only golfer to shoot under par in either round, and she did it both days. “It was amazing,” Kamas said. “I’m just glad we had the opportunity to play. This experience was amazing. The team has come so far.” Kamas’ sophomore year, she bogeyed the final hole to lose by one stroke at state. This year, she finished strong to win her seventh tournament of the year and final one of her high school career. No one in any class was better than Brooklyn Benn of Oklahoma Christian in the final round of the Class 3A state championship at Westwood Park in Norman. She finished the 36 holes at 8-under 132, good for a 10-shot victory over Drew Faires of Mount St. Mary. Reagan Chaney was another shot back in third, but she did lead Plainview to a victory in the team championship, its fourth consecutive state title. “I’m honestly very surprised of the lead I had,” Benn said. “There are some really good golfers in this tournament. I’m happy obviously that I won by that many, but I know that these girls are really good.” W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

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From not yet to overbooked, golf travel still sorting itself out

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake. by dan vukelich

tching to book some golf travel now that you’ve been vaxxed? Maybe the Old Course at St. Andrews or Muirfield? Well, there’s no way to sugar-coat it: Consider looking at other destinations. When the pandemic unfolded in early 2020, the St. Andrews Links Trust, the body that operates the Old Course, pushed that year’s tee times into 2021. Then, as pandemic lockdowns dragged on, both the 2021 tee times and 2020 reservations were pushed into 2022. That’s left little to no room for new reservations until 2023 or even 2024, or whenever the bulge in the reservation pipeline finally clears, travel experts said. “I’ve been in the business for 40 years and I’ve seen it all, but this is the worst,” said Jim Mills, owner of Fore Golf of Bartlesville, who books custom U.K. and Irish golf tours. Because of COVID, his $3 million in 2019 bookings dropped to zero in 2020. “I’d say forget [the Old Course] for 2021. Other U.K. courses have 2021 tee times available, but the Old Course isn’t open except by the ballot,” he said. “The ballot” is an online lottery for a small share of each day’s tee times. It’s held two days prior – a system that’s really only useful for players willing to hang out in St. Andrews for a couple days with no guarantee of getting on. The other option is to stand in line at the Old Course starter’s shack well before dawn each day you’re there in the hope of snagging one of the cancellations for that day. Gordon Dalgleish, president of Perry 44

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

Golf, a luxury golf tour operator with access to Old Course tee times, suggests U.S. golfers instead consider Northwest Ireland, Northern Scotland or Northwest England. “One area is the Lancastershire Coast of England,” Dalgleish said. “There are three Open courses there that, for one reason or another, have been overlooked by golf travelers: Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool. “They’re all in one place, so you can stay in one hotel and play some Open courses, plus five or six other quality courses,” he said. The one upside to the panedmic, if there is one, Dalgleish said, is that some aging hotels around those courses used the shutdown to upgrade their properties. Domestically, there’s both good and bad news for players hoping to travel. Air fares were up 21% in April and another 4% in May. That will likely continue climbing as broad demand returns, NBC News reported. And rental-car prices nearly doubled after companies sold off portions of their fleets early in the pandemic. Also, due to pent-up demand from 2020, many popular domestic destinations such as Bandon Dunes booked their entire summers up quickly. Demand is still incredible for the new Tiger Woods course at Big Cedar. Places such as the Prairie Club in Nebraska were overwhelmed with demand from both members and travelers. That was the case for popular destinations across the country. But the news isn’t all bad. Keep your eyes peeled for some spectacular golf-travel deals popping up as both destinations and carriers ramp up to full capacity. For starters, subscribe to travel-deal alerts from websites

such as Scott’s Cheap Flights, Travel Zoo or Triphound. They send out bulletins on travel deals almost daily. Recent examples: a fully refundable roundtrip business-class airfare from New York to Barcelona for $999; a three-night stay at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic with a round on Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog course for $395, also fully refundable; and $379 for three nights at the Westin Resort and Spa in Puerto Vallarta, also fully refundable. Joe Bracatelli, who runs JoeSentMe.com, a subscriber-supported website for frequent business travelers, warns that during volatile times as these, leisure travelers shouldn’t fixate on prices, which are likely to stay high for rental cars and hotels for some time to come. “Stop looking for the cheapest air fares, hotel rates and car rentals. Find the fairest rates – and book them if you want to go. You can rarely beat the market anyway, so why waste hours and hours trying to find the lowest rate. Find a price that works for you and then decide if you'll do it.” We reached out to representatives of some popular U.S. golf destinations in North America and asked them for their recommendations. While pent-up demand is squelching deals at some of the big-name destinations, we found a couple bright spots. Shane Sharp of Southbound 4, a marketing company that represents Pinehurst, the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Hilton Head, recommended Pinehurst’s Donald Ross package, which features two nights and three rounds on Pinehurst courses, including No. 2, for $1,129.

See TRAVEL on page 47 W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

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The Anchor opens to rave reviews at Shangri-La

The Anchor is a wonderland of fun for visitors to Shangri-La Resort

hangri-La Resort, located at the tip of Monkey Island on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, has opened a $12-million indoor/outdoor activity park, “The Anchor.” Best known for its 27 holes of championship golf and a luxury 119-room resort hotel, Shangri-La is continuing to expand its amenities. The 11,000-square foot indoor facility features Hologate state-of-the-art virtual reality games, Trackman golf simulators, LaserShot shooting simulators, CXC driving and flight simulators, escape room games, arcade games, pop-

GM Barry Willingham, owner Eddy Gibbs 46

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

a-shot basketball, billiards and ping-pong tables, shuffleboard, darts, a plethora of sporting event video screens, and an inviting indoor-outdoor bar and lounge on Grand Lake. The Trackman Golf Simulators include the ability for golfers to play all 27 holes of Shangri-La’s legendary course. Longtime Shangri-La Lead Assistant Golf Professional Ryan Dalton takes on a new role at The Anchor as an on-premises Player Development and Fitting Specialist. The new activity park includes a new racquet club facility with four outdoor tennis courts, six pickleball courts, basket-

Putting the replica anchor in.

ball, sand volleyball, fire pits, a kids fishing pond, an outdoor event area, and a miniFenway Park for Wiffle ball. Another important outdoor feature is the inspiration for the faciity’s name - a replica of one of the original anchors from the USS Oklahoma battleship which is proudly displayed across from the new facility and displays the names of the 429 personnel who died on the vessel when it was attacked at Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Activity Park construction brings the total investment of the resort facility to almost $90 million since Eddy Gibbs purchased the property in 2010.

Crowds fill the bar and lounge after June opening. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Travel continued from page 44 Chris King, who books trips into Myrtle Beach through myrtlebeachgolf.net, said competition from the area’s 90 courses has kept Myrtle Beach prices stable since travel resumed in late spring. “`The Rewards Package,’ a four-night, four-round deal, is as good as almost any in golf travel, seriously,” King said. Depending on the courses selected, the price can range from $425 and $600 double occupancy, with lodging at the Myrtlewood Villas included. It also comes with a $100 gift card for each player. The Pueblo Bonito resorts in Los Cabos and Mazatlan, Mexico – are offering 45% off for all-inclusive one- to five-night stays between November 2021 and April 2022, providing bookings are made before June 30. Stay six nights and the discount is 50%. The Los Cabos resort features a dramatic Jack Nicklaus design, Quivira Golf Club, overlooking the confluence of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The Mazatlan resort features the Robert Trent Jones Jr.designed Estrella del Mar Golf Club. Dan Vukelich is a freelance golf and golftravel writer who lives in Albuquerque. He is the editor of newmexicogolfnews.com and the online editor of alabamagolfnews.com.

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918.832.5544 JONESPLAN is replacing over 50 acres of sod at area courses that sustained ‘20 - ’21 winter damage.

Keep your course in great shape.

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

I NST RUC T ION

Golf GPS (grip, posture, stance)

o you rem e m b e r how we found driving directions before GPS? Handwritten notes. Printed out from the internet. Thank goodness we Maggie Roller have apps and satellites that map our course. I personally know my marriage is better off with GPS navigation in the car. In golf, similarily, our golf ball won’t find its way directionally if we don’t have a good GPS (Grip Posture Stance). If you want to improve your score quickly, focus on the fundamentals for success. The most important and overlooked fullswing fundamental is the set up. It writes the script for the swing and, all too often, amateurs and professionals struggle due to poor position at address. Jack Nicklaus once said, “If you set up correctly, there is a good chance you’ll hit a reasonable shot, even if you make a mediocre swing. If you set up to the ball poorly, you’ll hit a lousy shot even if you make the greatest swing in the world.” A good set up involves three important objectives in the swing: 1) Proper Posture and foot placement. This allows you to maintain balance

Center shaft in place to check iron ball position. 48

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

throughout the swing. All great players are balanced from the address position to the finish position, which allows them to hit the ball squarely in the center of the club face. Many of my students struggle with balance and centeredness of contact. 2) The set up directly affects all elements of the swing. A good set up helps you create power and control in direction of the shot. Pre-swing elements such as ball position, body alignment and grip, create conditions that lead to control or, without them, lack of it. The body angle that you create at address directly influences the path and angle on which you swing the club and directly affects positions and movements during the swing. 3) All great players pre-set themselves. They pre-set themselves to create at impact. In other words, the golf set up, grip posture, and stance puts you in a position of advantage if correctly done — making a fundamentally sound swing possible. The swing evolves from the set up. If you want good impact position, simply set up with impact in mind. Here are a few practical tips to help improve your set up: • Use alignment sticks for target line, then parallel for stance line. • Use mirrors to check shoulder-hip-feet alignment. • On the range switch targets frequently

so as to realign yourself often. For example, a typical golf course has 14 fairways. Take 14 balls and imagine 14 fairways to align yourself with the driver. I use the many flag sticks at Cedar Ridge to do this with students, but you can be creative with clouds, trees, telephone poles, houses, etc. Keep your percentage of fairways hit in practice and work to improve it. Don’t just “hit”, choose specific targets, this will enhance your alignment and strengthen your set up practice routines. In conclusion, simply pay more attention to your set up at address. Make sure you have your body in a position that enhances your golf swing once you take your stance. These three pre-shot adjustments will help you attain three crucial objectives: • Maintain your balance through the swing. • Create power and control the direction of shot. • Increases dramatically the odds of a sound golf swing. A good set up stacks the deck in your favor and places you in positions of advantage. And the best part, set up thoughts are not swing thoughts, so you won’t be thinking of 10 different adjustments while you’re swinging the club. Maggie Roller is the director of instruction at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow.

Alignment stick for feet, hips, and shoulders alignment too . The one closest to the feet. on the PGA Tour.

Two parallel shaft sticks . One for Feet just left of target and club and one for ball on target on the PGA Tour. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

GOL F FI TN E SS

Is working out during golf season a good idea or no?

he long wi nter is finalClint Howard Golf Fitness Systems ly over…we just had the Senior PGA event here in Tulsa . . . and golf season is in full effect! We all know that working out and staying fit is a huge part of the success of PGA Tour players and it’s very obvious. Koepka, DJ, Bryson, Rory, the younger guys, and even the older guys like Phil who are working more on their fitness and defining age….. and pretty much all of the top players in today’s game are strong, fit, athletic, hit it long, and work out hard and religiously. It has just become part of what you must do to be successful. So now that golf season is in full swing, you definitely don’t want to neglect your golf fitness program during this time of year. I’d even argue that it’s more important now than during the off season. You want to keep your body strong and balanced through the playing season. The golf swing creates imbalances in our body which can cause misalignments and potentially lead to pain and/or injury. These can also cause poor swing mechanics, loss of distance and poor playing performance. Professional golfers spend a lot of money to have their fitness trainers with them at tournaments and they train hard during the season. Even though you aren’t playing golf as a career for millions of dollars,

in-season golf fitness is still important to anyone who takes golf seriously and wants to improve their game and overall health and fitness. Don’t stop working out because you’re playing golf and use the excuse that you are too busy. You might not have as much time with the addition of playing a few rounds each week, but stay consistent with your workouts and make it a priority. Go a little lighter on the weights or don’t do heavy strength training the day or two before you play. Corrective exercises, mobility/stretching, warm-up drills and core work on the other hand, should be emphasized and remain consistent year round. If you’re a weekend golfer you could do your harder/heavier strength training and higher intensity workouts early in the week and taper off towards the weekend. You do want to feel rested and fresh and ready to go when you tee it up. A main goal should always be to maintain your strength and ideally continue getting stronger. We know that if you don’t use it… you lose it. We all want to increase speed and distance right? In-season training is a great time to work on swing speed training. Using lighter weights, light bands, light medicine/dynamax balls, plyometrics/ballistics, superspeed clubs and other light implements during the season allows you to train speed and train your nervous system to learn to fire faster. Training your Type II fast-twitch explosive muscle fibers will

help you develop more power and speed, which will increase your power and driving distance. With that said, make sure you’re aware of signs of overtraining. Some of these include: fatigue/lack of energy, restless sleep, constant soreness, and muscle/joint pain. The key is listen to your body and gauge your frequency, duration and intensity accordingly. It’s always a good idea to consult with your certified golf fitness trainer as to the best plan for you. If you’re not currently working out on a golf fitness program, it’s a great time to get started. I get asked a lot about this so I know some people are reluctant to start a workout program in the middle of the playing season for fear of messing up their swing. Along with your workouts, I always recommend getting lessons with your local teaching professional and this shouldn’t be any issue at all. Make it a healthy and successful golf season and unleash your swing! Clint Howard is the Owner/Director of Golf Fitness Systems and is recognized as one of the only 2X 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

Bo Van Pelt knows fitness is key to his comeback on the PGA Tour. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

JUNE/JULY 2021 • GOLF OKL AHOMA

SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT SOUTHERN HILLS CC, TULSA (PAR-70) MAY 27-30 1, Alex Cejka 67-70-68-67 – 272 ($585,000); 2, Tim Petrovic 72-69-68-67 – 276 ($347,000); 3 (tie), Retief Goosen 69-72-70-66 – 277 and K.J. Choi 68-70-71-68 – 277 ($182,500); 5 (tie), John Riegger 68-73-71-67 – 279, Bob Sowards 67-7570-67 – 279 and Mike Weir 68-65-74-72 – 279 ($106,000); 8 (tie), Miguel Angel Jimenez 6873-71-68 – 280, Jerry Kelly 75-66-69-70 – 280 and Duffy Waldorf 71-72-70-67 – 280 ($84,033); 11 (tie), Woody Austin 73-79-71-68 – 281, Steve Stricker 69-68-67-77 – 281 and Stephen Leaney 70-69-71-71 – 281 ($69,967); 14 (tie), Billy Andrade 71-72-71-68 – 282 and Joakim Haeggman 70-74-71-67 – 282 ($59,250); 16 (tie), Ernie Els 73-70-72-68 – 283, Jim Furyk 71-72-69-71 – 283, Kenny Perry 69-71-71-72 – 283 and Brett Quigley 69-71-72-71 – 283 ($48,250); 20 (tie), Dicky Pride 73-72-69-70 – 284, Wes Short Jr. 70-70-75-69 – 284 and Rod Pampling 74-71-7069 – 284 ($38,167); 23 (tie), Glen Day 73-69-7668 – 286, Jeff Sluman 74-70-73-69 – 286, Rocco Mediate 68-69-78-71 – 286, Thongchai Jaidee 70-71-74-71 – 286, Larry Mize 69-75-70-72 – 286, Paul Stankowski 72-69-72-73 – 286 and Robert Karlsson 71-75-71-69 – 286 ($29,357); 30 (tie), Billy Mayfair 72-74-73-68 – 287, Vijay Singh 7174-73-69 – 287, Doug Barron 72-71-74-70 – 287 and Joe Durant 74-70-74-69 – 287 ($22,025); 34 (tie), Stephen Ames 73-70-72-73 – 288, Brandt Jobe 71-73-70-74 – 288, Willie Wood 73-71-73-71 – 288, Tom Pernice Jr. 71-72-74-71 – 288, Scott McCarron 71-74-71-72 – 288 and Tom Gillis 7470-71-73 – 288 ($16,550). SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION SENIOR PRO CHAMPIONSHIP AT SAND CREEK STATION, NEWTON, KAN. (PAR-72) JUNE 8 1, Tim Fleming 67-71 – 138; 2 (tie), Jim Young 72-68 – 140 and Tracy Phillips 70-70 – 140; 4, Cary Cozby 71-76 – 147; 5 (tie), Jeff Tucker 72-76 – 148 and Tim Graves 75-73 – 148; 7, Mark Meacham 74-76 – 150; 8, James Kane 78-73 – 151; 9 (tie), Brent Cryer 75-78 – 153, Doug Atherly 76-77 – 153 and JJ Johnson 77-76 – 153; 12, Brent Wilcoxen 76-78 – 154. COLLEGE MEN NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP AT GRAYHAWK GC, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (PAR-70) MAY 25-JUNE 2 Stroke play Team leaders: 1, Arizona State 284-278-280275 – 275; 2, Oklahoma State 280-274-274-292 – 1,120; 3, Pepperdine 279-286-289-271 – 1,125; 4, Oklahoma 280-279-282-289 – 1,130; 5, Illinois 287-279-282-289 – 1,130; 6, Florida State 281294-274-287 – 1,136; 7, Vanderbilt 293-280-280-291 – 1,144; 8, North Carolina 288-278-287-292 – 1,145. 9 (tie), Louisville 289-288-287-288 – 1,152 and Sam Houston State 278-292-288-294 – 1,152; 11 (tie), Arkansas 287-293-288-285 – 1,153 and Texas Tech 276-304-288-285 – 1,153; 13 (tie), Clemson 287-284-285-300 – 1,156 and Wake Forest 287-284-282-303 – 1,156; 15, Georgia Tech 289-288-295-297 – 1,169. Individual leaders: 1, Turk Pettit (Clemson) 6867-68-70 – 273; 2, Bo Jin (OSU) 67-65-69-73 – 274; 3, Ryggs Johnson (ASU) 72-63-71-69 – 275; 4, Michael Feagles (Ill.) 72-67-67-70 – 276; 5, John Pak (FS) 68-72-68-69 – 277; 6 (tie), Jonathan Brightwell (OU) 68-69-69-72 – 278 and Quade Cummins (OU) 69-68-68-73 – 278; 8 (tie), Eugen Lopez-Chacarra (OSU) 70-69-6872 – 279, Ludvig Aberg (TT) 68-76-69-66 – 279, William Holcomb (SHS) 67-71-69-72 – 279; 12, Ricky Castillo (Fla.) 68-71-72-69 – 280. Other scores: Austin Eckroat (OSU) 74-69-67-73 – 283, Logan McAlister (OU) 72-71-70-70 – 283, Aman Gupta (OSU) 73-73-70-74 – 290, Brian Stark (OSU) 70-71-74-74 – 292, Ben Lorenz (OU) 71-71-77-74 – 293, Garett Reband (OU) 76-75-7580 – 306. MATCH PLAY QUARTERFINALS OU 3, Illinois 2 Jonathan Brightwell (OU) def. Giovanni Tadiotto 3 and 1; Adr Dumont De Chassa (I) def. Patrick Welch 8 and 6; Logan McAllister (OU) def. Jerry Ji 2 and 1; Quade Cummins (OU) def. Tommy Kuhl 2 and 1; Michael Feagles (I) def. Ben Lorenz 4 and 3. 50

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

OSU 4, Vanderbilt 1 Reid Davenport (V) def. Aman Gupta 1-up; Brian Stark (OSU) def. Cole Sherwood 3 and 1; Eugen Lopez-Chacarra (OSU) def. Michael Shears 2 and 1; Austin Eckroat (OSU) def. William Moll 3 and 2; Bo Jin (OSU) def. Matthew Riedel 1-up. Others: Pepperdine def. Florida State 3.5-1.5; Arizona State def. North Carolina 3.5-1.5. SEMIFINALS OU 3, Arizona State 2 Brightwell (OU) def. David Puig 1-up; Chan An Yu (ASU) def. Reband 5 and 4; Ryggs Johnston (ASU) def. Lorenz 3 and 2; McAllister (OU) def. Mason Andersen 4 and 3; Cummins (OU) def. Cameron Sisk 2 and 1. Pepperdine 4, OSU 1 Joe Highsmith (P) def. Gupta 1-up; Clay Feagler (P) def. Eckroat 2 and 1; Lopez-Chacarra (OSU) half Joey Vrzich; Dylan Menante (P) def. Stark 3 and 2; Jin (OSU) half William Mouw. FINAL Pepperdine 3, OU 2 Brightwell (OU) def. Menante 1-up; Highsmith (P) def. Reband 4 and 3; Feagler (P) def. Lorenz 1-up; McAllister (OU) def. Vrzich 1-up; Mouw (P) def. Cummins 4 and 3. NCAA STILLWATER REGIONAL AT KARSTEN CREEK, STILLWATER (PAR-72) MAY 17-19 Team scores: 1, Oklahoma State 288-271-277 – 836; 2, Illinois 286-275-289 – 850; 3, SMU 293-277-294 – 864; 4, Sam Houston State 295285-295 – 875; 5, Little Rock 290-295-294 – 879; 6 (tie), Auburn 287-294-299 – 880 and Baylor 290-286-304 –- 880; 8, Notre Dame 301-294289 – 884; 9, Northwestern 286-293-310 – 889; 10, Mississippi 297-298-296 – 891; 11, College of Charleston 304-292-305 – 901; 12, Middle Tennessee 304-294-305 – 893; 13, Alabama 310294-301 – 905. Individual leaders: 1, Noah Goodwin (SMU) 6667-68 – 201; 2, Bo Jin (OSU) 74-65-68 – 207; 3 (tie), Eugen Lopez-Chacarra (OSU) 71-70-70 – 211, AJ Ott (CSU) 70-70-71 – 211, Adr Dumont de Chassa (Ill.) 73-67-71 – 211 and Michael Feagles (Ill.) 72-68-71 – 211; 7, Austin Eckroat (OSU) 7071-71 – 212; 8 (tie), Jerry Ji (Ill.) 70-71-72 – 213 and Ryan Grider (Baylor) 71-69-73 – 213; 10 (tie), Anton Albers (LR) 68-76-71 – 215 and Logan Sowell (Charleston) 70-71-74 – 215. Other scores: Aman Gupta (OSU) 73-71-73 – 217, Jackson Howes (Oral Roberts) 72-76-79 – 227. SAC CHAMPIONSHIP AT DORNICK HILLS CC, ARDMORE (PAR-70) APRIL 26-27 Team scores: 1, Oklahoma City 281-281-289 – 851; 3, SW Christian 294-289-281 – 864; 3, Wayland Baptist 294-298-289 – 881; 4, Texas Wesleyan 298-306-293 – 897; 5, USAO 310-301-292 – 903; 6, Central Christian 318-344-316 – 978. Individual leaders: 1, Mason Mikeska (OCU) 6666-76 – 208; 2, Dalton Daniel (OCU) 68-69-72 – 209; 3, David Meyers (OCU) 70-72-69 – 211; 4 (tie), Julian Alanis (SWC) 72-70-70 – 212, Emiel Van Geet (SWC) 74-71-67 – 212 and Joshua Smedema (WB) 74-70-68 – 212. WOMEN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP AT GRAYHAWK GC, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (PAR-72) MAY 21-24 Stroke play Team leaders: 1, Stanford 291-278-277-296 – 1,142; 2, Duke 292-281-293-289 – 1,155; 3, Oklahoma State 297-289-282-289 – 1,155; 4, Mississippi 296-291-288-284 – 1,159; 5, Texas 289288-293-291 – 1,161; 6, Auburn 305-299-288-278 – 1,170; 7 (tie), Arizona 292-298-292-291 – 1,173 and Arizona State 300-291-286-296 – 1,173; 9 (tie), Florida State 298-285-298-293 – 1,174 and Louisiana State 296-292-296-290 – 1,174; 11, Oregon 290-300-293-292 – 1,175; 12, Wake Forest 292-293-295-298 – 1,178; 13, South Carolina 312288-287-293 – 1,180; 14, Baylor 308-293-290-291 – 1,182; 15, UCLA 302-293-300-294 – 1,189. Individual leaders: 1. Rachel Heck (Stanford) 6967-70-74 – 280; 2, Emma Spitz (UCLA) 72-70-7168 – 281; 3, Angelina Ye (Stanford) 77-69-65-71 – 282; 4, Ashley Menne (ASU) 76-72-65-72 – 285; 5 (tie), Gina Kim (Duke) 74-67-72-73 – 286, Hailey Borja (Mich.) 75-71-72-68 – 286, Julia Johnson (Miss.) 73-71-71-71 – 286 and Phoebe Brinker (Duke) 73-70-72-71 – 286; 9 (tie), Beth Lillie (Va.) 72-74-72-70 – 288, Beatrice Wallin (Fla. St.) 73-71-76-68 – 288 and Anna Zanusso (Denver)

76-72-70-70 – 288; 12 (tie), Maja Stark (OSU) 78-69-68-74 – 289, Rina Tatematsu (OSU) 7673-70-70 – 289 and Lauren Hartlage (Louisville) 73-68-75-73 – 289. Other scores: Madd Hinson-Tolchard (OSU) 72-7870-70 – 290, Lianna Bailey (OSU) 74-69-74-80 – 297, Isabella Fierro (OSU) 75-79-74-75 – 303. MATCH PLAY QUARTERFINALS OSU 4, Auburn 1 Maja Stark (OSU) def. Kaleigh Teifer 2 and 1; Isabella Fierro (OSU) def. Megan Schofill 1-up (19); Lianna Bailey (OSU) def. Anna Foster 3 and 2; Rina Tatematsu (OSU) def. Mychael O’Berry 3 and 2; Elena Hualde (A) def. Madd HinsonTolchard 2 and 1. Others: Duke def. Arizona State 3.5-1.5; Arizona def. Stanford 3-2; Mississippi def. Texas 3-2. SEMIFINALS OSU 5, Duke 0 Stark def. Gina Kim 4 and 3; Fierro def. Erica Shepherd 2 and 1; Bailey def. Anne Chen 1-up; Tatematsu def. Phoebe Brinker 3 and 2; HinsonTolchard def. Jaravee Boonchant 1-up. Others: Mississippi def. Arizona 3-2. FINAL Mississippi 4, OSU 1 Kennedy Swann (M) def. Stark 2 and 1; Andrea Lignell (M) def. Fierro 2 and 1; Chiara Tamburlini (M) def. Bailey 6 and 5; Julia Johnson (M) def. Tatematsu 4 and 3; Hinson-Tolchard (O) def. Sonderby 4 and 3. NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROSE CREEK GC, EDMOND (PAR-72) MAY 25-28 Team leaders: 1, Keiser 289-293-305-297 – 1,184; 2, Taylor 294-300-305-304 – 1,203; 3, Southeastern 298-304-307-295 – 1,205; 4 (tie), Oklahoma City 294-303-309-395 – 1,211 and Dalton State 298-303-310-300 – 1,211; 6, SCAD-Savannah 298-304-305-306 – 1,213; 7, Loyola-New Orleans 301-309-301-308 – 1,219; 8, Embry-Riddle 308-301-313-301 – 1,223; 9, Ottawa (Arizona) 309-299-313-303 – 1,224; 10 (tie), Milligan 305-312-306-303 – 1,226 and Morningside 305-304-313-304 – 1,226; 12, William Carey 309314-303-302 – 1,228. Individual leaders: 1, Gracie Parrott (Campbellsville) 69-73-75-70 – 287; 2, Gurman Kaur-Knight (William Jessup) 69-73-76-72 – 290; 3, Nichakor Prapsripoom (William Carey) 70-70-78-73 – 291; 4 (tie), Serra Evrengil (Keiser) 70-72-76-74 – 292 and Alessia Avanzo (SCAD-Sav) 76-70-76-70 – 292; 6 (tie), Ana Uribe (SE) 72-75-76-71 – 294, Danielle Owens (SE) 69-75-78-72 – 294 and Payton Canon (Oregon Tech) 78-73-75-68 – 294; 9, Natalie Gough (OCU) 75-74-73-73 – 295; 10, Taylor French (Taylor) 69-73-73-81 – 296 and Michaela Tran (Keiser) 73-73-74-76 – 296. Other OCU scores: McKenzie McCoy 73-75-7676 – 300, Rachel Eckert 75-74-79-74 – 302; Lauren Behnken 71-81-81-82 – 315, Arianna Medina 76-80 – DNF, Clair Hill x-x-81-82. SUSIE MAXWELL BERNING CLASSIC AT LINCOLN PARK GC, OKLA. CITY (PAR-70) APRIL 12-13 Team leaders: 1, Oklahoma City 300-299 – 599; 2, Redlands 310-290 – 600; 3, Texas Wesleyan 301-301 – 602; 4, Iowa Western 300-303 – 603; 5, Wayland Baptist 307-299 – 606; 6, William Penn 312-304 – 616. Individual leaders: 1, Marvelyn Kartika (Redlands) 75-67 – 142; 2 (tie), Natalie Gough (OCU) 72-73 – 145 and Seira Kubo (IW) 73-72 – 145. HIGH SCHOOLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BOYS MAY 10-11 CLASS 6A (Rain-shortened to 36 holes) At Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow (par-71) Team scores: 1, Edmond North 299-294 – 593; 2, Jenks 316-291 – 607; 3, Broken Arrow 309-303 – 612; 4 (tie), Stillwater 299-319 – 618 and Norman 311-307 – 618; 6, Bixby 307-314 – 621; 7, Norman North 316-312 – 628; 8, Edmond Santa Fe 317320 – 637; 9, Edmond Memorial 328-319 – 647; 10, 332-318 – 650; 11, Choctaw 323-329 – 662; 12, Edmond Deer Creek 343-323 – 666. Individual leaders: 1, Ben Stoller (Owasso) 7070 – 140; 2, Jordan Wilson (EN) 71-70 – 141; 3, Dylan Teeter (Bixby) 72-71 – 143; 4, Mesa Falleur (Muskogee) 74-70 – 144; 5, Carson Wright (Norman) 73-75 – 148; 6, Bo Burton (Edmond North) W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org 74-75 – 149; 7 (tie), Tyler Collier (BA) 75-75 – 150, Sam Morris 78-72 – 150, Jamen Parsons (Jenks) 79-71 – 150, Shane Herlihy (EN) 77-73 – 150, Bennett Baldwin (Stillwater) 71-79 – 150, Grant Gudgel (Stillwater) 72-78 – 150 and Josh Stuart (NN) 79-71 – 150. CLASS 5A AT MEADOWBROOK CC, TULSA (PAR-71) Team scores: 1, Bishop Kelley 307-300-321 – 928; 2, Duncan 303-317-337 – 957; 3, Guthrie 318-324349 – 991; 4, Bishop McGuinness 335-340-358 – 1,033; 5, Altus 355-367-373 – 1,095; 6, Collinsville 363-370-371 – 1,104; 7, Glenpool 376-357-379 – 1,112; 8, Durant 363-377-379 – 1,119; 9, Piedmont 384-361-378 – 1,123; 10, Tahlequah 373-373-380 – 1,126; 11, Ardmore 382-377-372 – 1,131; 12, Carl Albert 373-380-399 – 1,152. Individual leaders: 1, Parker Payne (Noble) 7066-75 – 211; 2, Will Hennessee (BK) 69-72-75 – 216; 3, Gus Fritz (Shawnee) 72-75-76 – 223; 4, Matt Barlow (BK) 73-80-78 – 231; 5, Brady Hirzel (Guthrie) 73-78-83 – 234; 6 (tie), Isaac White (Duncan) 75-77-84 – 236 and Trevor Lorenz (Noble) 78-80-78 – 236; 8, Caden Stevens (Durant) 82-79-77 – 238; 9, Cason Keel (Durant) 77-79-82 – 238; 10, Brandon Aikins (Glenpool) 80-78-84 – 242 11 (tie), Max McGinty (BK) 85-7583 – 243, Carson Lee (McGuinness) 79-78-86 – 243 and Bryce Carr (Duncan) 76-76-91 – 243. CLASS 4A At Winter Creek G&CC, Blanchard (par-72) Team scores: 1, Cascia Hall 302-296-310 – 908; 2, Elk City 303-298-327 – 927; 3, Holland Hall 325-314-318 – 952; 4, Heritage Hall 324-317336 – 977; 5, Ada 338-308-332 – 978; 6, Grove 365-349-336 – 1,050; 7, Cushing 346-351-358 – 1,055; 8, Tuttle 356-354-363 – 1,073; 9, Oologah 367-350-363 – 1,080; 10, Broken Bow 387-365376 – 1,128; 11, Poteau 360-393-390 – 1,143; 12, Bethany 387-390-410 – 1,187; 13, Cache 423-407416 – 1,246. Individual leaders: 1, Tres Hill (Elk City) 69-67-71 – 207; 2, Will Sides (CH) 68-68-72 – 208; 3, Drew Mabrey (Holland Hall) 75-70-72 – 217; 4 (tie), Zach Decker (Grove) 81-73-73 – 227, Carson Newton (Seminole) 78-72-77 and Mack Weems

GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2021

(Ada) 76-72-79 – 227; 7 (tie), Jake Dukes (CH) 78-77-75 – 230 and Kolby Legg (Cushing) 73-7978 – 230; 9, Max Garza (Mt. St. Mary) 80-77-75 – 232; 10 (tie), Jack Gero (CH) 76-76-82 – 234 and Henry Hooten (Heritage Hall) 75-80-79 – 234; 12, Nathan Womack (Elk City) 75-76-84 – 235. CLASS 3A At Buffalo Rock GC, Cushing (par-70) Team scores: 1, Christian Heritage 296-294-301 – 893; 2, Oklahoma Christian 311-313-330 – 954; 3, Lincoln Christian 333-322-342 – 997; 4, Crossings Christian 327-333-339 – 999; 5, Lone Grove 326-331-343 – 1,000; 6, Lindsay 339-330-338 – 1,007; 7 (tie), Inola 341-323-349 – 1,013 and Perkins-Tryon 338-319-356 – 1,013; 9, Atoka 348337-352 – 1,037; 10, Washington 333-348-362 – 1,043; 11, Marlow 344-337-372 – 1,053; 12, Victory Christian 356-340-375 – 1,071. Individual leaders: 1, Drew Goodman (Chr. Her.) 67-66-66 – 199; 2, Ryder Cowan (Okla. Chr.) 6867-71 – 206; 3, Bryant Polhill (Okla. Chr.) 66-7272 – 210; 4, Cooper Hardison (Atoka) 73-69-76 –218; 5, Mason Hill (VC) 71-72-76 – 219; 6, Christian Johnson (Chr. Her.) 75-73-73 – 221; 7, Jax Brewer (Washington) 75-72-80 – 227; 8 (tie), Kaden Risenhoover (Stigler) 79-74-75 – 228 and Seth Tucker (Lindsay) 72-76-80 – 228; 10 (tie), Reese Atkins (Cr. Chr.) 77-77-78 – 232 and Evan Gwin (Chandler) 232; 12 (tie), Wesley Burns (Metro Chr.) 77-76-80 – 233 and Bo Gentry (North Rock Creek) 77-75-81 – 233. CLASS 2A At Earlywine GC, Okla. City (par-70) Team scores: 1, Walters 307-319-323 – 949; 2, Cashion 328-322-336 – 986; 3, Latta 334-331-324 – 989; 4, Perry 333-331-328 – 992; 5, Tishomingo 338-344-325 – 1,007; 6, Community Christian 336-332-344 – 1,012; 7, Nowata 343-330-356 – 1,029; 8, Crescent 361-343-361 – 1,065; 9, Keys Park Hill 357-349-362 – 1,068; 10, Velma-Alma 356-358-367 – 1,081; 11, Pawnee 404-383-376 – 1,163; 12, Rejoice Christian 402-376-404 – 1,182. Individual leaders: 1, Dominic Stevens (Crescent) 65-65-70 – 200; 2, Conner Cryer (Tipton) 71-72-71 – 214; 3, Bren Dunlap (Oktaha) 72-74-72 – 218; 4, Cash Clark (Comm. Chr.) 74-72-73 – 219;

5, Ty Hyatt (Perry) 75-77-72 – 224; 6, Parker Pogue (Latta) 74-77-74 – 225; 7 (tie), Tristan Terpstra (Latta) 75-76-76 – 227 and Triston Wheeler (Hinton) 71-80-76 – 227; 9 (tie), Maddox Bullen (Nowata) 73-78-77 – 228 and Luke O’Dell (Turner) 71-79-78 – 228; 11 (tie), Isaac Latta (Keys) 81-73-75 – 229; 12, Dax Edmonds (Walters) 76-76-79 – 231. GIRLS MAY 5-6 CLASS 6A AT BROKEN ARROW GC (PAR-72) Team scores: 1, Edmond North 318-310 – 628; 2, Edmond Memorial 317-312 – 629; 3, Broken Arrow 321-318 – 639; 4, Jenks 319-325 – 644; 5, Norman North 356-362 – 718; 6, Owasso 366-361 – 727; 7, Union 369-360 – 729; 8, Bixby 372-367 – 739; 9, Westmoore 375-373 – 748; 10, Bartlesville 383-367 – 750; 11, Yukon 383-379 – 762; 12, Norman 411-409 – 820. Individual leaders: 1, Haley Blevins (EN) 72-74 – 146; 2, Lily Stanton (Jenks) 76-74 –150; 3, Olivia Colt (EM) 79-73 – 152; 4 (tie), Avery Clevenger (BA) 77-76– 153 and Jenna Triplett (EN) 77-76– 153; 6, Lilly Whitley (EM) 75-79 – 154; 7, Rylee Roberts (EN) 79-77 – 156; 8, Riley Rinner (BA) 77-80 – 157; 9, Jaeya Mathis (Westmoore) 77-81 – 158; 10 (tie), Brianna Maddux (Owasso) 79-80 – 159 and Gracie Doke (Jenks) 82-77 – 159; 12 (tie), Lauren Hurd (Deer Creek) 80-80 – 160, Carley Haught (Yukon) 83-77 – 160 and Makaylee Cowan (Yukon) 79-81 – 160. CLASS 5A At Chickasaw Pointe GC, Kingston (par-70) Team scores: 1, Durant 333-345 – 678; 2, Carl Albert 353-341 – 694; 3, Bishop Kelley 354-356 – 710; 4, Duncan 381-343 – 724; 5, Altus 381-402 – 783; 6, Sapulpa 403-382 – 786; 7, Claremore 411-390 – 801; 8, Piedmont 426-398 – 824; 9, Guthrie 429-419 – 848; 10, Edison 429-419 – 848; 11, McGuinness 436-432 – 868; 12, Noble 457-423 – 880. Individual leaders: 1, Mikaela Karanja (Durant) 70-73 – 143; 2, Aubrey House (McAlester) 71-75 – 146; 3, Natalie Blonien (Altus) 79-71 – 150; 4 (tie), Peyton Coburn (Kelley) 80-73 – 153 and Kamryn Zuniga (CA) 78-73 – 153; 6, JJ Gregston (Duncan) 83-79 – 162; 7, Gracyn Rains (Pryor) 87-78 – 165; 8, Scarlet Sturch (Durant) 83-83 – 166; 9, Bradi McLemore (Durant) 81-87 – 168; 10, Peyton Black (CA) 87-87 – 174; 11, Gracelynn Nickel (Duncan) 92-83 – 175; 12, Hope Tuttle (Sapulpa) 92-85 – 177. CLASS 4A At Buffalo Rock GC, Cushing (par-70) Team scores: 1, Hilldale 348-371 – 719 (won playoff); 2, Kingfisher 356-363 – 719; 3, Wagoner 368-357 – 725; 4, Cushing 387-379 – 766; 5, Elk City 395-390 – 785; 6, Fort Gibson 402-404 – 806; 7, Tuttle 403-404 – 807; 8, Pauls Valley 404-408 – 812; 9, Weatherford 409-405 – 814; 10, Seminole 438-419 – 857; 11, Muldrow 448-429 – 877; 12, Newcastle 453-440 – 893. Individual leaders: 1, Maddi Kamas (Kingfisher) 69-67 – 136; 2, Layne Ailshie (FG) 77-79 – 156; 3, Emily Vang (Catoosa) 76-81 – 157; 4, Addy Asmus (Hilldale) 82-90 – 172; 5, Aubree Morton (Hilldale) 84-90 – 174; 6, Mechelle Vermillion (Wagoner) 88-87 – 175; 7 (tie), Rylie Spaulding (Wagoner) 92-85 – 177 and Kelsy Douglas (Tuttle) 92-85 – 177; 9 (tie), Caitlyn Henson (Wagoner) 90-88 – 178 and Carly Craig (Blanchard) 88-90 – 178; 11, Morgan Crow (Cushing) 90-92 – 182; 12, Karlie Kirkhart (Hilldale) 91-92 – 183. CLASS 3A At Westwood Park GC, Norman (par-71) Team scores: 1, Plainview 311-317 – 628; 2, Okla. Christian School 319-319 – 638; 3, Perkins-Tryon 327-353 – 680; 4, Marlow 363-374 – 737; 5, Henryetta 367-392 – 759; 6, Lincoln Christian 372-400 – 772; 7, Cascia Hall 402-410 – 812; 8, Dickson 415-405 – 820; 9, Eufaula 422-417 – 839; 10, Chisholm 417-442 – 859; 11, Stigler 438-447 – 885. Individual leaders: 1, Brooklyn Benn (OCS) 68-64 – 132; 2, Reagan Chaney (Plainview) 71-72 – 143; 3, Drew Faires (Mt. St. Mary) 72-70 – 142; 4, Lindyn Ross (Plainview) 75-74 – 149; 5, Alex Peters (OCS) 78-75 – 153; 6, Logan Allen (Perkins-Tryon) 79-77 – 156; 7, Carrie Hutchings (Plainview) 79-77 – 156; 8, Courtney Petersen (Chisholm) 7584 – 159; 9, Gabby Hack (Marlow) 81-80 – 161; 10, Parker Garrett (Dickson) 80-82 – 162; 11, Mariah Shropshire (Perkins-Tryon) 81-82 – 163; 12, Emi Osteen (Kingston) 82-88 – 170. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

CLASS 2A At Cimarron National GC, Guthrie (par-70) Team scores: 1, Turner 329-325 – 654; 2, Christian Heritage 332-331 – 663; 3, Regent Prep 353-358 – 711; 4, Okla. Christian 379-375 – 754; 5, Merritt 382-388 – 770; 6, Keys 399-413 – 812; 7, Mooreland 403-415 – 818; 8, Olive 415-405 – 820; 9, Community Christian 413-415 – 828; 10, Crescent 412-421 – 833; 11, Tishomingo 437-432 – 869; 12, Oktaha 447-464 – 911. Individual leaders: 1, Jennie Roller (Regent) 6667 – 133; 2, Jaci Hartman (Turner) 73-67 – 140; 3, Raychel Nelke (Pocola) 71-70 – 141; 4, Layne Miller (CH) 70-73 – 143; 5, Sarah Sherrard (CH) 72-76 – 148; 6, Josey Cavitt (Turner) 75-76 – 151; 7, Avery Haddock (Okla. Chr.) 82-76 – 158; 8, Ramsey Gunter (Okla. Chr.) 79-81 – 160; 9, Sidney Keller (Keys) 84-86 – 170; 10, Audrey Manley (Regent) 87-84 – 171; 11 (tie), Paige Orr (Frederick) 92-84 – 176 and Elle Standlee (Prague) 93-83 – 176. USGA U.S. OPEN LOCAL QUALIFIER AT OAK TREE CC (EAST), EDMOND (PAR-70) MAY 3 Qualifiers: 1, Samuel Stevens 65; 2, a-Mac Murphy 67; 3, a-Brian Stark 68; 4, a-Benjamin McCaslin 69. Alternates: Zach Bauchou 69, a-Garett Reband 69. OGA JUNIOR BOYS AND GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY TAYLOR MOORE AT KICKINGBIRD GC, EDMOND (PAR-70) JUNE 7-10 BOYS 16-18 Stroke play: 1, Drew Goodman 67-64 – 131; 2 (tie), Ben Stoller 70-63 – 133 and Tres Hill 69-64 – 133; 4, Jake Hopper 68-68 – 136; 5, Mesa Falleur 68-70 – 138; 6 (tie), Kyle McLaughlin 72-67 – 139 and Ryder Cowan 69-70 – 139; 8, William Sides 70-70 – 140; 9 (tie), Alex Bloxham 74-69 – 143, Cole Luber 73-70 – 143 and Bryant Polhill 70-73 – 143. Round of 16: Goodman def. Tyler Collier 7 and 6;

W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG

Sides def. Bloxham 1-up (19); Hopper def. Jack Pfister 3 and 2; Falleur def. Jack Hope 5 and 4; Stoller def. Buddy Wehrli 4 and 2; Cowan def. Luber 2 and 1; Matthew Smith def. Hill 1-up; Polhill def. McLaughlin 1-up. Quarterfinals: Goodman def. Sides 1-up; Hopper def. Falleur 1-up; Cowan def. Stoller 3 and 2; Polhill def. Smith 5 and 3. Semifinals: Goodman def. Hopper 2-up; Polhill def. Cowan 1-up (19). Final: Goodman def. Polhill 3 and 1. 14-15 Stroke play: 1, Mack Moore 75-68 – 143; 2, Grant Gudgel 72-72 – 144; 3, Benton Manly 75-72 – 147; 4, Parker Sands 74-73 – 147; 5, Hunter Baumann 74-75 – 149; 6, Samuel Bonoabra 79-71 – 150; 7, Jesse Tandoy 78-74 – 152; 8, Sam Morris 81-72 – 153; 9, Preston Albee 77-76 – 153; 10, Bo Gentry 76-77 – 153. Round of 16: Moore def. Bryce Cale 2 and 1; Albee def. Morris 1-up (19); Sands def. Matthew Kendrick 1-up; Parker Pogue def. Baumann 1-up; Gudgel def. Roger Smith 3 and 2; Tandoy def. Gentry 6 and 5; Manly def. Cameron Surles 5 and 4, Parker Payne def. Bonaobra 1-up Quarterfinals: Albee def. Moore 4 and 3; Pogue def. Sands 1-up (19); Gudgel def. Tandoy 3 and 2; Payne def. Manly 1-up. Semifinals: Albee def. Pogue 2 and 1; Gudgel def. Payne 4 and 3. Final: Gudgel def. Albee 4 and 2. GIRLS Stroke play: 1, Maddi Kamas 69-65 – 134; 2, Raychel Nelke 67-71 – 138; 3, Olivia Coit 69-70 – 139; 4, Jenni Roller 71-74 – 145; 5, Reagan Chaney 76-71 – 147; 6, Meghan Charles 75-76 – 151; 7, Peyton Coburn 82-73 – 155; 8, Aubrey House 8176 – 157; 9, Jaci Hartman 75-83 – 158; 10, Lindyn Ross 79-81 – 160. Round of 16: Kamas def. Ramsey Gunter 6 and 4; Hartman def. House 1-up; Roller def. Jaiden Gregston 1-up; Chaney def. Kamryn Zuniga 6 and 4; Nelke def. Aiden Coffelt 6 and 4; Ross def. Coburn 2-up; Coit def. McKenna Tatum 6 and 4; Charles def. Gracie Doke 1-up (19).

Quarterfinals: Kamas def. Hartman 1-up (19); Roller def. Chaney 1-up (19); Nelke def. Ross 6 and 5; Coit def. Charles 5 and 4. Semifinals: Roller def. Kamas 3 and 2; Coit def. Nelke 3 and 2. Final: Roller def. Coit 3 and 2. WOGA STROKE PLAY AND MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE CLUB AT INDIAN SPRINGS, BROKEN ARROW (PAR-72) June 8 (Rain-shortened) 1, Josie Patterson 76; 2 (tie), Michaela Dierinzo and Rachel Eckert 77; 4, Janet Miller 78; 5 (tie), Taylor Towers, LeeAnn Fairlie and Mollie Pruett 79; 8 (tie), ShaeBug Scarberry and Sara Armstrong 81; 10 (tie), Natalie Gough, Lauren Behnken and Brooklyn Bostick 82. Mid-Amateur: 1, Dierinzo 77; 2, Miller 78; 3, Fairlie 79; 4, Jill Johnson 83; 5, Jennifer Tannehill 85. TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION OJGT SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP AT SHAWNEE CC (PAR-71) MAY 22-23 BOYS 1, Gus Fritz 69-73 – 142 (won playoff); 2 (tie), Parker Sands 72-70 – 142 and Rhett Hughes 71-71 – 142; 4 (tie), Ben Lathrop 70-74 – 144 and Mesa Falleur 69-75 – 144; 6 (tie), Jesse Tandoy 74-71 – 145 and Jack Hope 74-71 – 145; 8, Dominic Stevens 70-76 – 146; 9. Ben Campbell 74-73 – 147; 10, Bo Gentry 74-74 – 148; 11, Jax Brewer 72-77– 149; 12, William Hennessee 78-72 – 150. GIRLS 1, Grace Kilcrease 71-72 – 143; 2, Emerie Schartz 77-75 – 152; 3, Brooklyn Benn 73-83 – 156; 4 (tie), Kinslea Jones 79-78 – 157 and Beans Factor 74-83 – 157; 6, Layne Ailshie 80-79 – 159; 7 (tie), Rylee Roberts 79-85 – 164 and Sophia Lefler 80-84 – 164; 9 (tie), Adrian Piles 86-79 – 165 and Ramsey Gunter 82-83 – 165; 11, Meghan Charles 76-92 – 168.

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