FIRECRACKER OPEN RESULTS

This year's Firecracker Open drew 101 players who were divided in 7 flights. To date from 2011, it is the biggest field we've had for this tournament. But unlike other years, this year we had the best competition in the "A" flight, where the top three players were separated by a single shot.

Cory Smith, who never seems to lose form, no matter how little he plays, beat his brother's record of 57 in this same tournament, three years ago, by one shot when he finished with a great round of 56. Minutes later, when Joby Gray came in, he kidded the current club champion, "you better go get some more birdies before you turn your scorecard". He didn't need to, he had just matched Cory's low score. Still on the course was Weatherford's pride who attends OU, Quade Cummins, who ended up just one shot short of the playoff with a 57 (which tied the previous record held by Dustin Gunkel and Rus Smith).


The playoff started on hole #1, and ended on #4 when Joby Gray holed out for eagle from about six feet to beat Cory's birdie. Both players parred the first three holes in a tense playoff. In the end, as I have always known him, Cory had that trademark soft smile when he congratulated Joby, for his win and leaving Quade in third place.

All ties in all other flights were also broken by playoff. In the "B" Flight, there were three scores of 63 and the players played three playoff holes, with all three players tying the first two holes (#1 and #9), their third hole was #11 as they jumped in front of a large playoff group on #10). It all ended there, with Ann Cowan winning with a birdie, Garrett Smith from Weatherford came in second with a par, and Craig Martin, who took a risky shot that did not pay off, came in third with a bogey.

In the "C" flight there were three 67's! After yet, another playoff, Drew Spitzer came up in first place, Ricky Nagle in second and Greg Dodson in third.

And yes, you guessed it, the "D" flight had three scores of 70 who went to a playoff, where our defending Super Senior Champion, Tom Gilliland defeated Quint Nichols (2nd) and Corbin Dyson (3rd).

Again, the"D" flight was decided by a playoff (three players had a 73). It took Brian Busby eight holes to defeat Chris Martin from Clinton to take first place. Back in third, eliminated after three holes was Frank Mendez.

The "E" flight had two players tied for first at 77. and three at 78. Blake Brewer defeated Larry Hudgens for first place, and Rick Womack defeated Tori Windsor, Larry Johnson, Grady Lantz and Brian Carnes for third place.

The "F" Flight was the one flight that did not have a single playoff. Charlie Kauk won first place with a 82, Gaylan Edwars was second with an 83 and Mike Stout was third with an 84.

Congratulations to all, and I hope you had a good time!