DUNCAN —
While some people enjoy spending time out on the lake, cooking out on their grill or just spending it with family during the Labor Day holiday, some people spent their holiday weekend at the Duncan Elks Golf & Country Club’s 82nd Elks Labor Day Golf Tournament. The tournament will finish up this afternoon as the final round of golfers will tee off at 1:30 p.m.
With over 90 golfers entering this year’s tournament, the course was filled with teams competing for the top spot in their flights. Elks head pro Josh Stewart took on more of an alternative role than he did in last year’s tournament, as he has been participating in the tournament as well as organizing the event.
“I’ve been pleased with how everything worked out and the tournament has been going well,” Stewart said. “It was beautiful weather yesterday (Saturday) and besides it being a little bit windy, we couldn’t ask for any better weather.”
This year’s format is a two-man scramble. On Friday, teams were given a chance to practice and before a horse race was held in the evening.
With changes being made to the course over the summer and because of the high temperatures, Stewart said that the course was somewhat difficult.
“This was the first weekend that hole No. 15 was open as a Par 5,” Stewart said. “It turned out to be a really nice a hole and I didn’t hear any complaints on it, so I think everyone was pretty pleased with it.
“The course was good to play on this weekend, but it could always be better. The greens survived with the hot weather we have had and we have been keeping them watered pretty well, so they were nice to putt on.”
Jay Head played in Flight A and said that he had been having a good weekend after finishing in second in the horse race.
“It has been a great tournament. Everyone seems to be having a great time,” Head said. “We have been shooting well this weekend, finishing second in the horse race and beating out the club pro.”
Leading the way in the Labor Day (Championship) Flight after the second day was the team of Jamie Gray and Aaron Morgan with a 122. Shooting a 123 was the team of Bret Penick and Scott Watson. Finishing the second day in third place was the team of Micah Russell and Matt Heston with a 124. J.J. Russell and Bryan Adams shot a 125 for their two-day total and the team of Aaron Simpson and Chance Vorphal rounded out the top five with a 126.
In Flight A, Danny Mercer and Tony Johnston are sitting at the top with a 124. Tied for second place after Sunday are the team of Joe Morales and Jay Head and the team of Jerry Wilson and Wayne Bardsher. Following them is the team of Rann White and Matt Taylor shooting a 129, and Terry Dittner and Wayne Woods completed the top five with a 130.
Rick Hickenbottom and Brandon Barker are leading the way in Flight B shooting a 132. In second place is Randy Russell and Joe Roberts with a 136. Shane Bryan and Jerry Fine finished out Sunday with total of 139 after two rounds. In a three-way tie for fourth place are the teams of Mike Kreiger and Brian Kreiger, Jamie Mercer and Allen Firestone, and Jason Bagwell and Josh Gardner.
Flights C, D and E had only completed one round as of press time Sunday, therefore, scores from those flights are as of Saturday’s round.
Kyle Lewis and Matt Hall were winning Flight C with a 66. Tied for second at 67 were the team of Otho McHugh and Frank Atwater and the team of Bruce Williams and Mike Shain. Mark and Blake Smith were tied at 68 with Shawn Bateman and Gary Newberry.
Keith Fredrich and Jason Hunt ended the first round for Flight D with a 69. Shooting a 70 was the team of Clark Mitchell and Mike Milton. Tied for third was B.J. Chapman and Ronnie Ladon, and Eric Ambeck and Jason McIntyre. Shooting a 72 were Doug and Jayden Scrock, and Virgil Davis and Tim Johnson.
The final flight had Zach Stewart and Colby Scifres in the lead after one round, shooting a 71. They were followed by Phillip Skinner and Bill Bradley with a 72, and Don and Jeff Henricks with a 73.
— Matt Tillson is a reporter for the Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354 Ext. 143 or via e-mail at matt.tillson@duncanbanner.com.
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