The Columbus Golfweek Amateur Tour played its fourth tournament of the 2011 season today at Bent Tree Golf Club. With picture perfect weather, 60 players set out to show off their skills and challenge a course that was in great shape considering the amount of rain we have had.
The Rich Campbell show continues here on the Golfweek Tour. Rich shot four over on the front, then started getting hot on the back nine with a 36 including three birdies. His 76 gave him the one stroke victory over second place scorecard playoff winner Jeff Pontius (77). Kevin Dick rounds out the top three. Both Jeff and Kevin are new to the tour. It was a great start for both of them.
Eric Croker takes home the victory today in the A flight. Shooting a solid 77 in tough course conditions was no easy task. His fairways and greens golf game is showing why he is one of the front runners to win A flight this year. Coming in second place today is Chase Hardwick. Shooting his best round of the year and only two strokes back, Chase’s 79 was very impressive. Another new player to the tour, Kevin Lazor shot a solid 81 giving him third place alone. The A flight is shaping up to be a very tight points race this year.
B flight saw the return of Dennis Henderson today. His return was in style, shooting 77 to run away from the field. This is his first win this year.Our raffle winner at the last tournament for a free entry fee to Bent Tree was Patrick Flannery. He made the best of his round shooting 81. Pete Koumas also turned in his card with an 81. The #1 handicap par 5 sixth hole starts with a demanding tee shot, and a narrow approach to a sand trap guarded green. Patrick’s par was enough to win second place on the scorecard playoff. The B flight scores are getting more and more competitive. This will be a fun flight to watch.
When this tour started five years ago there were a total of nine players in our first tournament at Cooks Creek. One of those players was Howard Pavlofsky. Shooting one of his best rounds ever on tour (82) made Howard the leader in the clubhouse today at Bent Tree. That was until Leon Bilderback came in with the same score. Off to number one for a sudden death playoff. Howard’s par gives him his well deserved victory. His first in three years. Lance Happenny shoots a solid 84 to round out the top three.
Today we had one of the biggest D flight fields we have ever had. The result was the same that it has been all year. Larry Aleshire wins his fourth in a row, as the only golfer in D flight to break 100. We have had some pretty good scores in the D flight this year, so this shows how tough Bent Tree was playing today. Kyle Dowell shoots a 101 to finish second, with Joeysgolf.com co-founder Brandon Fedor finishing in third.
I want to thank everyone for coming out and playing today, we had a great time. I also want to thank Joe and Brandon from Joeys Golf for the goodie bag donations. Our next event is a two day major at Foxfire and Players Club. This will be a double points and double payout tournament. Sign up soon to reserve your spot.