Early in the going Inwood, N.Y. looked like it would present a rainy prospect and the practice rounds were indeed somewhat drizzly; but the skies cleared and all was well for the 16th U.S. Hickory Open.
This year, 100 years later, the sounds of hickory clubs echoed again over the storied course on which Bobby Jones outlasted Bobby Cruickshank in 1923 for his first U.S. Open title.
In 2023, it would be a young assistant pro from The Greenbrier in White Suphur Springs, W. VA. who would take the title. Matthew Hoffman’s two-day total of 146 (73-73) was eight clear of his next competitor, Grant Raffel of Palo Alto, Calif. In 1923, Jones was tied with Cruickshank after regulation play, and beat the Scotsman by two strokes in a playoff the following day, largely on the strength of a miracle shot on the 18th hole.
On the net side of things in the current competition, Richard Boggs of Sanford, Fla., secured the Open Division Net title with a net 138. James Ciganek, the 2022 USHO champion from the Mission Inn in Florida, followed him with a net 141. Ciganek’s gross score of 153 won him the John Fischer Low Amateur award.
Jane Pohlman of Omaha, Neb., took the women’s USHO title with a 162 to nip Rylee Stovall (Litchfield Park. Ariz.), the 2022 champion, by one stroke. Betty Hayden of Middleburg, Fla., was the net champ with a 140 (178 gross).
Mike Callahan of Michigan is the Senior Division winner. Callahan is coming off an elbow injury and a rather lackluster performance at the Michiana Hickory Open just a couple weeks ago, so it is good to see him back in form. His 151 (76-75) was four clear of Canadian Hugh Cameron. The Senior Net victor was Michael O’Donnell of Newtown, Pa., with 125 (169 gross); followed by Richard Schmidt of N. Kingston, R.I. with 136 (170 gross).
In the Super Senior Division it was the SoHG’s own David Brown of Omaha, Neb., who posted 166 (81-85) for the title. It was a monumental effort by Dave who not only helped to organize and host the tournament, but as recently as a week ago helped U.S. members of the British Golf Collectors Society beat their European counterparts in the bi-annual Hickory Grail, a home-and-home Ryder Cup-style tournament of the BGCS. And just days before that, he was battling a severe flu. So, congratulations Dave on your title and a super effort to make this USHO a success.
Following Dave in the Super Senior Division was Ron Perlman of Port Monmouth, N.J. with a 178. The Super Senior net champs were Steve Alger in first with 139 (167 gross) and Bill Martin of Perrineville, N.J., with 140 (182 gross). Bill was one of the Metropolitan Hickory Society members to help with the 2023 USHO.
By all accounts, the course was in superb condition and the players could not say enough good things about the Inwood staff, the delicious food and the first-class treatment they experienced. The field was also happy to welcome players from Japan who were led by Hitoshi Asanuma with a 179 in the Open Division.
During the Monday banquet, SoHG President Joe Hollerbach delieved an emotional presention of the annual Mike Brown Award, which this was given posthumously to Dr. Jay Harris. Dr. Harris was a Pinehurst, N.C., resident who was a legend of hickory golf in the Carolinas and widely know for his club expertise and knowledge of the game. He was also the the winner of the first USHO in 2008 at the Mimosa Hills CC in Morgantonm N.C., holding off the great Hickory Tiger Randy Jensen for the title. Dr. Harris’ medal will be given to one of his children and his name added to the Mike Brown Award plaque which is displayed in the clubhouse at Mid Pine GC in Southern Pines, N.C.
Perhaps the only sour note was the absence of a few players who were forced to cancel at the last minute because of a rash of airline cancellations.
Posted below are the few photos we have at this early stage. We will be pleased to add more as we receive them. (If some of the players look a little casual in their shorts it is because many of them had already changed into their traveling clothes.)
Click on any photo in the gallery to bring up full-size images.
-
- 2023 USHO Champion Matthew Hoffman is flanked by SoHG USHO Chair David Brown, left, and SoHG President Joe Hollerbach, right. With Matthew is his girlfriend, and caddie, Hannah.
-
- The 2023 USHO Women’s champion Jane Pohlman accepts the trophy from Dave Brown.
-
- 2023 USHO Senior Champion Mike Callahan, right, with Dave Brown.
-
- Dr. Dave Brown gets his own trophy and the 2023 USHO Super Senior title.
-
- The field for the 16th USHO at the Inwood CC.
-
- 2023 USHO Open Divison Scores.
-
- Second page of 2023 USHO Open Division scores. (Richard Boggs score was a typo. It was actually 138 net.)
-
- 2023 USHO Women’s Division scores.
-
- 2023 USHO Senior Division scores.
-
- 2023 USHO Super Senior Scores.
-
- Bill Martin took the second place title in the Super Seniors Net Division.
-
- Grant Raffel, center, was the runner-up in the Open Division for the 2023 title. He is flanked by Dave Brown, left, and Joe Hollerbach.
-
- Hugh Cameron, center took second place in the Senior Division.
-
- James Ciganek, center, won the John Fischer Low Amateur Award for 2023 with his 153 gross score.
-
- Michael O’Donnell, center, was the Senior Division’s net division winner.
-
- Richard Schmidt, center, was the runner-up in the Senior Net Division. He is flanked by Dave Brown, left, and Joe Hollerbach, current SoHG president.
-
- Richard Boggs was the net champion in the Open Division, with a 138.
-
- Ron Perlman, right, was runner-up in the Super Seniors division to Dave Brown, left. Dave is the Society’s U.S. Hickory Open Committee Chairman.
-
- Steve Alger, right, won the net title in the Super Seniors Division. He is with Dave Brown.