Aug. 12, 2019
Jim Jeselnick reports:
On Aug. 10, a beautiful Saturday afternoon at historic South Bend Country Club (SBCC), Bert Coghill from Lemont, Ill., a member of the Golf Heritage Society, continued his dominance of the Michiana Hickory Open by wining for the sixth time in seven years with fine score of 78.
Thirty six golfers, the largest group ever for this event, vied for medals and prizes. In the Open division, Matt Buckman scored First Low Net with a 68; Ken Fry, an SBCC member, shot a 70; and Ben Jones garnered the Bronze medal with a 71. In the Senior division, Jim Hannen shot a 98 for Low Gross while Joe Trefilek, another GHS member, took Low Net with a 79 and Cal Whitman took the Silver with an 85. In the Statesman division, Ed Ronco, the president of The Society of Hickory Golfers, garnered the Low Gross with a 92 while Dennis Kerckhove captured the Silver.
There were five Scramble teams, including two from the host club, seven of whom were new to hickory golf. The resident golf professional, John Fisher, invited four young high school golfers from the Lifestyle Junior tour in Michiana to join the scramble. They proved that youth, agility, and determination would conquer the golf course and shot a fine 66, six shots under par. The member team from SBCC, headed by the Michiana Hickory Open co-chair, Spike Abernathy, shot a fine 67, narrowly edging the other SBCC team’s 68. In addition, Jenny Zimmerman, the director of The First Tee Indiana – Michiana invited Jessica Layman, a coach, and two young golfers to participate and all four had a great time.
Besides his gold medal, Coghill will also have his name added to the wooden championship plaque that hangs in the men’s grill room at SBCC. Closest-to-the-Pin was won by Dr. Fred Ferlic and Long Putt by Kevin Kelly, both of whom were using hickories for the first time. Prior to the event a small trade show took place in the main dining room. Thanks to Gary Wyckoff, who drove from Ohio, and others who brought along their treasures to share. Jim Jeselnick, the event organizer and president of The Golf Heritage Society, thanks the staff at SBCC and all the participants. Special thanks go to past GHS President Bill Reed who delivered several sets of hickory clubs from his home in Des Moines, Iowa.
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- The field of 36 at the 2019 Michiana Hickory Open.
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- Four high school players from the Lifestyle Junior tour who won the Scramble division with a 66. Also in the photo is Janet Whitman, who took several photos of the event.
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- Jim Hannen, left, Ed Ronco, Bert Coghill, Spike Abernathy, and Jim Jeselnick all help congratulate Bert on his 2019 Michian Hickory Open victory.
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- Brad Baird, left, Calvin Whitman, Bill Reed, and Spike Abernathy at the 2019 Michiana Hickory Open.
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- Jim Jeselnick, organizer of the Michiana Hickory Open, with Janet Whitman.
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- The South Bend Country Club offered a great spot for the 2019 outing.
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- Stone marker tells a little of the history of the South Bend Country Club.
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- Clubhouse of the South Bend Country Club.
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- The trade show at the 2019 Michiana Hickory Open.
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- No, Bill Reed is not portraying an invalid. In fact, the hickory golf champion is repairing a wounded golf club. Bill supplied several sets of hickories for the event.