BEDLAM CUP QUICKLY BECOMING POPULAR....

The third edition of the Great Plains National Bank Bedlam Cup went as planned and without weather interruption that some had feared before the weekend when the weather forecast predicted rain during  the tournament. The rain came and left before the tournament started at 8:45 a.m. in the morning. I even had come calls from a former member here who captained one of the visiting teams, who was fearful that his team was dissolving because of the threat of rain. It took our friend "Thumper", a lot of effort, emails, phone calls and text messages to keep his friends from Clinton together in order to not cancel and make us re-do pairings. Good job Thumper!

On our side, the first two persons who I need to give credit are Robert Garton, president at the GPN Bank's Mangum branch and Ed Hughes, our golf course superintendent. Robert because with his able and smiley assistant Erika Elston, was the person who contacted and kept in touch with all of the visiting cities (including Shamrock, who first contacted me) with the exception of Clinton, and without whom, this friendly challenge match would not happen; and Ed because he worked so hard to present our course in the best possible shape, even after an all night rain. Then, I also want to personally thank Ann Cowan and Shawn Wilson for helping me with the pairings, phone calls, ideas, pairing ideas and for helping me deal with the constant changes up to the last minute before the tournament started! I couldn't have done any of this alone, nor without the help of my best friend, Mona! who no one notices because she is always behind the scenes!

That one of our teams ("Black") won is totally secondary to the enthusiasm and sportsmanship with which our golfers on both teams, and our membership in general, embrace the format and the spirit of this weekend, so, as well, THANK YOU all who participated and hosted players from seven other cities: James Ainsworth, Justin Brown, Matt Brown, Bryce Butcher, Damon Butcher, Cole Bynum, Mike Clinton, Ann Cowan, Eddie Davis, Greg Dodson, Jeff Donaghey, Tim Ellison, Jeremy Gray, Joby Gray, Bob Griffith, Keith Hulen, Aaron Kauk, Grady Lantz, Rod Little, Craig Martin, Craig Phelps, David Poole, Jorey Price, Jeff Rule, Casey Smith, Ronnie Smith, Russ Smith, Brandon Thomas, Bobby Wechsler, Jordan Williamson, Shawn Wilson, Tyler Windsor and Randall Wright.

It all adds to the the fact that we had a record nine teams participating: Clinton, Cordell, Mangum, Sayre, Hollis, Shamrock, Wellington and two local teams, "Black" and "White" (shall we change it to "Brown" and "White"?) and to fulfill the original spirit of this friendly match which is to reach to sister communities and make new contacts and friends; so, during the 27 holes (three nines), we try to pair cities with different cities, in this case, each city played with at least five different cities during the day, if not six. In addition, the entry fee is totally symbolic... $20 per person is all that participants pay, all of which -and more- goes to the Relay for Life fund, as GPN Bank takes care of all course fees, small gifts for the players (in this case Titleist Prov1 balls), lunch and other expenses!! Here are the results of this year's matches:

(1 point per match won in Low Ball and Scramble, 2 points per match won in Alternate Shots)
1. 117 1/2 Points, Elk City Black (30 Low Ball, 29 1/2 Scramble, 58 Alternate Shots)
2. 95 Points, Mangum (24 1/4, 23 1/2, 47)
3. 85 1/2 Points, Elk City White (25 1/2, 20, 40)
4. 85 Points, Clinton (21, 27, 38)
5. 68 1/2 Points, Sayre, (16 1/2, 11, 41)

Elk City Black took a large lead of 11 1/2 points after the first 18 holes where a 34 tied the best score of the day for Low Ball and a 29 was the lowest score anyone did in scramble. In the afternoon, there were some big moves in the Alternate shots format, first, Mangum scored 47 points (2nd highest) to stay in second place, and Elk City White, thanks to a 34 turned in by EC-Wht-8, ended up beating powerhouse Clinton by 1/2 point in the total for third place! Great Job guys!

The format will be "tweeked" for next year. One o the changes that organizers are speaking about is to have different flights by age group, with certain number of points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. in each flight, and the Cup going to the club with the most points (even if no flight was won by the winning club). The main thing that organizers are trying to accomplish is a true friendly match where everyone enjoys and where everyone feels they have a chance to do well.

Below the scoreboard's picture, you will find links to pictures and team's members' names.

CLICK FOR TEAMS' PICTURES

BEDLAM TEAM PLAYERS' NAMES (CLICK ON THE TEAM'S NAME TO SEE PLAYER'S NAMES)

MANGUM
WELLINGTON
SHAMROCK 

TOTAL SUCCESS IN THE 2nd ANNUAL LOVE'S-LINN CHILDREN;S MIRACLE HOSPITALS BENEFIT

Jonathan Press saves his team!

What 14 months ago seemed unattainable, became not only possible and a reality, but a success, two times over. Last year, sometime in early August, we were approached by Love's to see if we could host a fundraising tournament during their September drive. The proceeds would go the to the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Love's wanted to raise at least $10,000, an amount that seemed pretty difficult to achieve considering we had 6 weeks for the tournament.

Enter a golfer by the name of Curt Hayes who works for Linn Energy Services. Curt strongly believed in the cause, approached the company he works for and persuaded upper management to get involved, and "involve" they did. They became the title sponsor of the event, where it became a "Love's-Linn" benefit event, and where even a year later, when people call the shop, they ask if the Linn scramble still has openings. I

am sure Love's does not mind, why? ... simply because in the first year, the tournament raised $28,000 for the worthy cause, and this year, it is approaching $40,000+!!!

Congratulations!!

As far as the tournament, the week began with the threat of rain during the event, however, on tournament day, the weather was perfect for golf, a little overcast, temperatures in the the upper 70's and low 80's, and a nice breeze. Hardly a day to regret at a golf course, and hardly anyone not having fun, even in those teams where the golf score was not in the 50's.

Because of the large field (192 players forming 48 teams), the short day and only one shotgun start (somebody joked that we were about to find out what a "Chinese Fire Drill" looks like), the committee decided to make various adjustments to the original rules, including "pre-flighting" the event into four flights randomly placing 1/4 of the field in each instead of using the usual method of doing it by scores after all scores are in; using "par" as your friend (no more than par would be scored in any hole); and, the "duck game" devised by Curt Hayes, where you could earn a birdie or even a "hole in one" before teeing off, the tournament went pretty fast and smooth, finishing in about 5 hours! Not bad for so many players!

Before the prizes were presented and the drawings took place, Dustin Smith and Shawn Wilson shared a couple of inspiring stories concerning the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals which summarized the dedication of all personnel at these hospitals and the worthy cause for which the players donated to.

In addition to the tournament, the prizes, the drawings, etc., we also had a popular visitor who went around signing autographs or pictures, and taking pictures with different teams and people: Marcus Dupree, former #22 at OU and "co-defending" champion of this event with Sooner Oil Services last year, once more, made the visit to Elk City! Thank you!

The results in each flight were as follows:

RED FLIGHT:
1.- (52) C-3 Inspection
2.- (54) Redback Oil Services
3.- (54) Rockwater Energy
4.- (54) N&W Construction

WHITE FLIGHT:
1.- (58) Flowtech Services
2,- (58) Gicon Services
3.- (58) Pro-Petro
4.- (60) Linn Energy

BLUE FLIGHT:
1.- (49) Anadarko Dozer
2.- (52) Impact Casing
3.- (54) Lone Star West
4.- (54) Greg Dodson Construction

STARS & STRIPES
1.- (50) Thru Tubing
2.- (52) Gallagheer Welding
3.- (54) W & W Tank
4.- (56) Jet Specialty




For all results, here is the scoreboard:

A QUICK NINE.....

- On Friday the 13th, we hosted one more of our Steak Dinners. Almost 50 members took part, and if you missed... well, you missed a delicious steak cooked by Brad Gilbert, Paul Gunkel and company. It was also an "Employee Appreciation" night where the Rusty Wilson, our president, recognized all of the employees who attended... which brings me to the next item!!:

Ron (#12) and Charlene, pose with some of their Elk City friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Ron Richardson, our assistant superintendent, is leaving us after 8 years of work here. Ron and wife Charlene will be moving to the state of Washington where she is scheduled to go further chemotherapy and radiation treatments close to their family. Our gratitude goes for Ron and his hard work and dedication, and our prayers will go for him and his family. I will certainly miss him, he was usually the first person I ever saw early in the morning when I cam to work. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN A "BEST WISHES CARD, PLEASE DO SO AT THE PRO-SHOP. 

 - Final Tournaments of the year:
               Sept. 20, LOVES-LINN Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Benefit (Full)
               Sept. 21, KIWANIS - Call Roy Garrison at 580-210-96-84 (Mon-Fri, 9:00 to 5:00)
               Sept. 28, GPN Bedlam Cup. We are hosting 6 teams.

- The 2013 Loves-Linn Benefit Tournament (for Children's Network Hospitals) deserves its own little description: Thanks to the hard work of Billie McGowan from Loves and Curt Hayes from Linn Energy, the tournament is up to 46 teams, all of which will tee off at 8:30 next Friday, September 20. If you want to know if your company or team is in, click in the link: Loves-Linn Teams. Last year this event raised over $25,000 for the nearest Children's Miracle Network Hospital, and this year it looks better!

- "FINAL EXAMS". As you all know, on Tuesdays and Thursdays late afternoons, we host unique scrambles, on Tuesday, it is a men's scramble, on Thursday, it is a couples scramble. Both will have their finals soon:
                Thursday Night Final will be on Sunday Sept. 29 at 12:30 p.m.;
                Tuesday Night Final will be on Saturday,Oct. 5, 9:00 a.m. (this event will include other side                              contests including long drive, chipping and putting.

- Joby Gray, the only high school graduate of 2013 who went on to play golf in college, has been busy and playing well. In his first official tournament in Nebraska, he had a top teo finish with scores of 72-71-76 for a three over par 219. Keegan Hall (2012 graduate) also played in the event, and scored 75-83-74. Central Ok. University placed 5th, and Joby beat all of his teammates. We'll keep an eye on all the "kids" (even those who did not pursue college golf.

- Our greens have been aerieted and sanded for the end of the season. As expected, these become a little rough for a week or so, but be patient!! It is a necessary process to make these to look nice and roll well during the season!! Only twice a year, two weeks a year, and everything else is great! PLEASE, PLEASE!!!... FIX BALL MARKS!!

- Jim Furyk shoots the sixth 59 in PGA Tour history. It was the first with a bogey in the card (three-putt bogey) and it was his lowest round by three shots. On Saturday, he shot 69 and starts Sunday's round one ahead. Will he get it done with Tiger, Striker, Zach and other proven winner around? Who knows. Perhaps there a little incentive in his mind since he was not chosen for the President's Cup because he has not been able to "close the deal", which is about the same pressure as playing match play in a team.

- Golf is Just a Game. Listen folks, it doesn't do any good to get mad at golf... why, golf doesn't care! It is good to be competitive and care if you make bad shots, but it doesn't do any good to get mad at your clubs, yourself, and most of all, the greens! From time to time I see a divot -not ball mark- on a green caused by an angry golfer who obviously missed a putt, in the end, who hit the shot?

GUNKEL, GUNKEL, HUGHES & GAYLEAN WIN ELKS

As it is tradition in Elk City in most tournaments, any tie is played off with sticks and balls, on the grass... a sudden death playoff!

No matter who is in a playoff... in Elk City there is always a gallery!

This year, three flights had to settle paying places anywhere from 1st to 3rd place in various sudden death playoffs, the latest of which started, as the sun was setting down in the west, this was the playoff that would settle 1st and 2nd place in the "C" flight as two teams had tied with 61.

Previously, the "A" flight had been settled without a playoff as Dustin Gunkel, Paul Gunkel, former member Alfred Gaylean and Clint Highes, took care of business with an eighteen under 53 that won first place overall by three shots.

As far as In these playoffs, a team starts the first hole with a complete team, if the tie persists, each team drops one player of their choice to start the second hole. If the tie persists, the procedure is repeated until only one player is representing the team. Even though these playoffs sometimes take a long time, this procedure helps settle them quicker.

The first and shortest playoff was to settle 2nd and 3rd in the "A" Flight, where four septuagenarian (Grady Lantz, Randall Wright, Gaylan Edwards & Rick Rex) golfers - in fact, closer to their 80's than 70's -, beat a bunch of "kids" in their 30's and 40's (Jorey Price, Ricky Nagle, David Dyson and Brian) in the first playoff hole with a birdie:

This year, the longest playoff was actually the one that started the latest... it went 3 holes (10, 11, 18) with the winning team, Greg Dodson Construction (Greg Dodson, Brandon Thomas, Jason Fritx and Kim Jordan) scoring a birdie 4 on hole #18.

Whether it is because of the inevitable playoffs every year, and a variety of other reasons, including the format and chance to donate to a local club that does a number of good deeds for children around the USA, the Elks Tournament is a local favorite.

A special thanks to Ann Cowan, who worked tirelessly to ensure that all went well and that all had fun, from the minute it started, to the lunch and snack served to the players afterwards, to the music to be played, to the prizes, and of course, to phone calls to all teams and sponsors!

Most everyone stayed late, to either see a playoff or to watch the scoreboard as the results were being posted, and,to everyone's enjoyment, it all went well. The tournament ended up with 6 more teams than last year (28) and many more sponsors as well, so everyone, from winning players to Elks Lodge, got well rewarded. 

For complete results, please see below:
 
"A" Flight:
53 - Dustin Gunkel, Paul Gunkel, Clint Hughes, Thumper Gaylean
56 (*) - Randall Wright, Gaylan Edwards, Grady Lantz, Rick Rex
56 - Ricky Nagle, David Dyson, Jorey Price, Brian
(*) Won Playoff





"B" Flight:
57 - James Ainsworth, Billy Jennings, Jason Wood, Ricky Marr
58 - Craig Martin, Rusty Wilson, Aaron Kauk, Bret matlock
59 (*) - Conley Ernst, Steve Welch, Ron Shephard, Zack Nulik
59 - Gary Scott, Jeannette Scott, Mick Kendall, Lilly Kendall
(*) Won Playoff




"C" Flight:
61 (*) - Greg Dodson, Brandon Thomas, Jason Fritz, Kim Jordan
61 - Rick Womack, Michael Womack, Robert Lakey, Kelly Smith
62 - Ann Cowan, Michael Cowan, Joe Wynn, Jerry Eden
(*) Won Playoff

"D" Flight:
67 - Scott Brown, R. Hilger, Justin Flaming, Bobby Wechsler
68 - Brad Gilbert, Vera Gilbert, Blake Brewer, Amber Brewer
70 - Jackie Carnes, Lynn Bailey, Chuck Cook, B.J. Barnett





SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

COWAN-COWAN WIN LABOR DAY TOURNAMENT BY FIVE

With less than 40 entries by Thursday, the Annual Labor Day Tournament did not look as it would draw many players this year, however, by the morning of tournament day, we had 82, and before the players started at 8:30, we ended up with 98 players divided in 49 teams.

The field was divided into four flights ("A", "B", "C", "D") in the following manner: scores equal or lower than 71 made the "A" flight, scores of 72-75, made the "B" flight, scores of 76-79 made the "C" flight and scores of 80 and over made up the "D" flight. The format was the usual 6-6-6 where teams play holes 1-6 in a Low Ball format, holes 7-12 in an Alternate Shot format, and holes 13-18 in a scramble format. As you all realize, the Alternate Shot format becomes the most important of all, as there is only one ball in play and you don't want to put your partner where he can't play the next shot.

Ann Cowan and son Sean Cowan though, had no difficulties in any of the formats as they ended up with a score of 61, winning by five shots over Brock Kauk and Brett Nichols who has given Elk City someone to cheer for in national competitions as this year he qualified for the United States Amateur and the United States Mid Amateur (in the U.S. Amateur, Brertt could not recover from an opening 78 and did not qualify for the Match Play finals, the U.S. Mid Amateur is yet to be played. In third place was the team of Mark Fairchild and Cole Bynum who managed a 67, and with a 69, in fourth were Jordan Williamson and Brad O'Hara.

In the "B" Flight, a playoff was necessary as 6 teams toed for low score with a 72: Casey & Whitney Marshall, Rusty Ridling & Jack Coody, Brad & Dayva Spitzer, Leon Stuart & Tyler Windsor, Larry Hudgens & Jeff Rule, Quint Nichols & David Graham. As per the established rules, first place would be determined by a sudden death playoff starting on #10 and using the Alternate Shot format, and all other ties would be settled by a scorecard playoff starting on hole #7.

Thinking that their score would not be good enough to place, Rusty and Jack had left and only the remaining five teams went on to have a playoff. In the first hole, Larry & Jeff and Casey & Whitney were eliminated with bogeys with Casey-Whitney winning the scorecard playoff for 4th place. The other three teams went on to #11, where Brad & Dayva made a two-putt birdie from the fringe for a win. The scorecard playoff gave Leon & Tyler second place, leaving Quint & David in 3rd place.

The "C" Flight had seven teams tied for 1st place at 76: brothers Greg & Ronnie Newton, Mike Clinton & Mark Trotter, Greg Dodson & Lynn Bailey, Riley Ridling & Jake Coody (who, along with dads Rusty and Jack, had also left), Damon Butcher and son Bryce (they also left before the playoff started), Mark Flavin & Mike Gimeson and Jamie Allison with Warren Mayfield: Allison & Mayfiield won first place in the second playoff hole over Flavin & Gimeson, Dodson & Bailey won 3rd place and Clinton & Trotter won 4th.

The "D" Flight was won by Shane Wilcox & Scott Herron (80) who defeated Balne Eagan & Chad Parkhurst in the first playoff hole. In third with 81 was the team of Jesse Sharp & Terry Stone and in fourth was the team of Tim Ellison and Josh Ellison.

For all the shots I witnessed while taking pictures, the best one had to be the second shot by Sheri Stover on hole #10 during regulation play; husband Pete hit a "hosel rocket" to the driving range, from where Sheri used a fairway wood for her approach, which ended up a couple of feet from the hole for an easy tap-in for par.... way to go Sheri!

The season is closing on us with a busy schedule in September and first week of October: Elks Lodge Tournament is coming this weekend (Saturday, Sept. 7), Loves-Linn Chidlren's Miracle Network Hospitals (Set. 20), Kiwanis (Sept. 21), GPN Bank Bedlam Cup (Sept. 28) and the Tuesday Night Scramble's final in Saturday, Oct. 5th