This tourney is a PDGA “B” tier event held once a year offering 7 different age or skill level Amateur categories. The tourney is played on a closed course and included lunch, free drawing and a “mondo” contest where all the players get a single putt for a free portable basket. Trophy plaques, framed certificates and prizes are earned by the top 40% of each category.
This year’s Spring Fling was run a little later in the year than usual which allowed us to play under the fully blooming Jacaranda’s. The morning dawned with June gloom dampening the course before play began but fortunately it was dry by mid morning. The afternoon round actually saw some sun and a little wind came up as well.
Play was closely contested in each category. Smiling Willie Grenis’s steady putting style won the day in the Advanced division. Willie shot a -7 in the first round which gave him a tourney best 1009 player rating. Willie followed that up with -6 on the shorter and easier second round course to win by 2 strokes over his daily playing mate Drake Avila.
The intermediate division saw local Hugo Lopez stepping back a division to dominate by two strokes over Darren Ziegler and a field of 21 players.
The Recreational division was our largest at 23 players and our most hotly contested division ending in a sudden death play off lasting over 30 minutes and eventually being won by Eric Eller over stalwart Numer Licardo.
The Am Masters for men over 40 was won by long time competitor Mike Lamb over first round leader Tommy Tom Millard.
The Am Grandmaster division played by men over 50 was won by Hans Degner. This was Hans’s first “B” tier PDGA victory. Hans won over the most tenured player in the event Allen Risley. This was Allen’s third heart breaking 2nd place finish in this event.
The Juniors category also ended in a tie with Xaelen Nash prevailing over his good buddy and neighbor in the playoff Kai Barrios.
Finally, in the Womens category pre tourney favorite local Allie Robles won over newcomer Charlotte Towle by a comfortable 4 strokes. Allie also won the Women’s CTP in the first round on hole 8 sponsored by Madden Construction.
Of special note Jay Welchans had the only ace in the tourney. He bagged hole 3 in the second round. Bobby Martin and Mike Ballestas had the best second round scores in the tourney at -8 which was rated with a 975 player rating. Ever happy Don Burdette won the Men’s division CTP.
The entire event ran relatively smoothly and on time. This year’s sponsors Innova Champion Discs, Dynamic Distribution, Discraft Discs, Gateway Discs, Legacy Discs, and MVP Discs donated discs and clothing items for the free drawing and some of the player prize packages. Hole sponsor’s Mark Madden from Madden Construction Co, Timothy Simons of Nitro Monkey Coffee, and Alex Pierson from Amplified Ale Works were hole sponsors.
All are to be thanked for their generous donations for this event.
As always I have to thank my staff: All the guys (and gal) in the shop as well as Mac, Eric, EJ, Jesse, Clint, Charlie, Oscar, Joanne and Chris Parker for their help setting up and running this event. This makes 39 years running that Mac has been assisting me here with events…yikes.
Everyone in the shop was really happy for Willy’s victory as he truly represents “the most fun wins” attitude.
Till next year,
Z ya