On Friday, July 12th, 14 two man “shamble” teams took to the Cypress nine at the Country Club of Jackson for some of the hottest hickory golf ever witnessed by this seasoned reporter. Yes, the Mississippi temperatures were sweltering but the scores were absolutely scorching! Surprisingly, some of the lowest rounds were played by newcomers to the hickory arena.
Net shamble honors went to Dr. Eric Wegener and Chip Walker with an astounding 29 on the 3009 yard layout. Runners up Steven Kruger and Charlie Molpus (31) beat out Don Noblitt and Jimmy Jernigan in a scorecard playoff. Eric and Steven were both participating in “hickory” for the first time. More on those two to come.
Individual net winner Jimmy Jernigan’s (31) handicap is under official review by the committee after handily nabbing his second straight hickory net event. Individual gross winner Dr. Eric Wegener nipped another rookie, Kip Crawford, with a 34 over Kip’s 35. Several even par rounds were notched to no avail in this group of hotshots.
Novice Stephen Kruger (36) won the “longest drive” contest with his first hickory play in competition ever with a shot in the 260 range. The oft-mentioned rookie Eric Wegener took “closest to hole” by sticking a 125-yard mashie niblick 2 feet from the hole on No. 2. Kip Crawford, yet another player in his inaugural event, sank a 29-foot bomb to take “longest putt made” competition on No. 4.
Twenty-eight CCJ members participated in the summer shamble this year with at least half a dozen regulars off on vacation and unavailable to play. The group continues to grow with each event.
Next on the agenda for CCJ-HGA is the Hickory Fall Classic set for 10/4/13.
