Another great turnout for the Columbus Golfweek Tour at Heritage Golf Club today resulted in low scores and a great competitive atmosphere. Our first tournament of the year at Jefferson resulted in a single shotgun record number of players for the Columbus Tour. Records are meant to be broken and that is just what happened at Heritage. 128 of Ohio’s best amateur golfers played in near perfect conditions, on a course that was in fantastic shape. A special thanks goes out to the staff at Heritage for their hospitality, and excellent preparation of the golf course.
The Columbus Champ flight is getting better each and every year. Today was a testament to that with overall great scores, and players bunched together at the top of the leader board. Doug Smith was playing in his first Columbus event at Heritage today and started off a little slow. Being four over after three holes wasn’t exactly the start he had envisioned but after a string of 6 birdies, Doug was right back in the tournament. Finishing with a score of 75 was good enough to put him in a tie with second year player Jeff Thurman. Jeff has one of the most consistent games on tour and at any point can throw up a great score. Due to darkness a scorecard playoff would have to determine the winner. Jeff’s par on the hardest hole would give him his first victory of 2013 and momentum going into our first major on May 11th.
A flight is another one of our flights that is getting stronger each year. Today one of its best showed why he is atop the leader board on a consistent basis each tournament. Dustin Welch has one of the best swings on tour and used it to card four birdies and a solid score of 75 today. Of those four birdies his longest was maybe 10ft. If he continues to knock it close like he did today, he will be in the hunt at each event for the entire year. Jefferson’s winner Emmet Park backed up a great score with another one. His 77 at Heritage gives him second place alone and first place in the overall point standings for the year. On a side note, one of the two super skins on the day worth $400 was won by Kevin Broyer with his chip in birdie on the very first hole! This was the second highest super skin ever paid in Columbus!
B flight had a first time player taste victory. Don Mash was the only player in B flight to break eighty shooting 79 and earning a two stroke victory. Players in Don’s group said he just played steady and never really got into trouble on a notoriously difficult course. Congrats to Don for his first victory on tour! Second place goes to tour stalwart Brad Herpolsheimer. Brad played very good all day shooting 81. Brad has the all around game to compete with best of them and is looking forward to the first major at Darby Creek. Tour sponsor Don Welling with Equitable Mortgage also played excellent today with a score of 82. "I left 77 out there today" said Don after the round. A few more made putts and Don will be hoisting the trophy in B flight in no time. The other $400 super skin was won by B flight player Christopher Dearth on hole 2.
C flight was definitely the story of the tournament. Last year’s overall C flight champion Kevin Brown has some high expectations and goals for the tour this year. He is a step closer to one of those goals after today. Kevin’s hard work in the off season is starting to pay off. His career Golfweek Tour low round of 78 today gave him a ten stroke victory! He’s got the length to play with anybody and now the rest of the game to compete in B flight, where he will be playing in his first major of the year. Congratulations on the great score and flight promotion Kevin! Second place with a score of 88 goes to Leon Bilderback. Leon was happy with his score after the round saying "I’m glad to be out here competing with these guys" When Leon starts making putts, he is someone to be reckoned with in C flight. I look forward to seeing how C flight shapes up throughout the season. John Kline with another strong finish shoots 89 and takes third.
D flight had another great story. Second year member Chuck Dozier lit up the course and ran away with the tournament shooting 89. His four stroke victory was very impressive as his play has consistently gotten better each tournament. He now moves on to C flight to test his game even more. Finishing in second place, Les Crossfield with a 93 earned some much needed points for the season long race. Newcomer Jonathan Meenach finishes third with 94.
I want to thank everyone for participating in the tournament at Heritage today, it was a great turnout. I look forward to seeing everyone at our next tournament at Darby Creek where we will crown our Masters champions.