March 5, 2020
Sun City West, Arizona, USA
Kent Holtz reports:
A record 90+ players, sporting 100-year-old clubs with wooden shafts and donning attire of knickers, argyle socks, woolen caps and vintage outfits, found their way to Sun City West, Grandview & Pebblebrook Golf Courses for the 2020 Arizona Desert Hickory Tournament, Feb. 29-March 1.
Players came from across the USA, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Arizona communities of Sun City West, Tatum Ranch, Buckeye, Pebblecreek, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Surprise and Goodyear. The tournament supported a field for Championship, Senior, New To Hickory, Super Senior, and a Division of Lady Players.
The weather was outstanding and complimented the excellent course conditions. The out-of-town players thoroughly enjoyed their get-away from winter to our beautiful community. Players and guests enjoyed the golf, hospitality, weather, prizes and fun!
The scoring provided some spectacular performances with 36 rounds posted in the 70s during the two-day competition.
Click here to see the full tournament score board and photos. Included is a list of all competitor performances and our Net winners and runner ups.
In the Championship Division, our very own David “Digger” Johnson of Sun City West was our overall Tournament Champion, shooting a fine two-day performance of 75/74, and John Kienle of Rio Rancho, N.M., took second, posting 78/73.
Our Senior division winner was Bill “Ernie” Ernst from Sun City West, Ariz., shooting a two below par 70 on the first day and 75 on day two. Jim Von Lossow of Spokane, Wash., came in second shooting 78/78.
The New To Hickory Division winner was Keegan Ketterlin of Littleton, Colo., with 82/87 and the New To Hickory Runner Up was David Culberson of Sun City West with 86 / 86 and our Super Senior Division was won by Dennis Scott of Auburn, Wash., with 80/79. Runner Up in Super Super Senior was Joe Bradshaw of Cave Creek, Ariz., shooting 81/79.
The Ladies Division produced some spectacular performances. Our winner was Banet P. Flores of Litchfield Park, Ariz., shooting 75/77 and our Runner Up was Fran Zinger of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, with 92/98. Special mention goes to Rylee Stovall of Litchfield Park, Ariz. Rylee recorded 77/79 securing 1st place net.
We are very proud to recognize our 2020 “Willie Noble” Hickory
Humanitarian Award Honoree – Bill “Ernie” Ernst of Sun City West and Neenah, Wisc. Ernie was recognized for his support and leadership to promote the hickory golf experience.
Special thanks to the tournament committee, the Sun City
West Golf Operational staff; Todd Patty the greens and grounds Superintendent; and to the support of all the players. A personal thank you to Janet Whitman of Rio, Ill. for providing our photography. Finally, Saturday night’s tournament hospitality was celebrated with special entertainment from Tim Polizzi’s Beatles-themed group, “With A Little Help From Our Friends.”
Dates for the 2021 tournament are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday the last weekend in February. For information about the tournament, please contact Ken Holtz k.holtz2430@gmail.com.