Newly renamed as the Johnny Goodman River City Hickory Championship, this event of the Nebraska Hickory Golfers Association was held at the Happy Hollow Country Club on Oct. 15.
In conjunction with the event, the NEHGA inaugurated a Hickory Hall of Fame, inducting as its first three honorees Alexander Findlay, Johnny Goodman, and Randy Jensen.
Twenty players in the 2016 field included two from Iowa, one from Kansas, and one from Washington state. 2015 champion Kevin Cawley successfully defended his title. (Results below.)
“When we formed the NEHGA we reorganized all of the tournaments and I think our first year in operation has been quite successful,” Cawley says.
He also said the Hickory Hall of Fame was created to recognize those individuals who have promoted the game of golf in Nebraska.
“Findlay is the father of golf in the U.S. and laid out the first golf course in Nebraska,” he says. “Interestingly the initial
Bill Reed, right, congratulates Randy Jensen on his induction into the Nebraska Hickory Golf Hall of Fame.
Happy Hollow CC, built in another city location by Findlay, was the founding course for our current Happy Hollow CC. Johnny Goodman the best amateur golfer next to Bobby Jones and, of course, the ‘Tiger Woods of Hickory Golf’ – Randy Jensen.”
Players came from a half dozen states for the festivities. This was a combined effort of the Society of Hickory Golfers, the Golf Collectors Society, the Hickory Golf Association, the Nebraska Hickory Golf Association and other regional players of hickory golf. Thanks to the members of the Happy Hollow Club for their efforts in planning and promoting what will be an annual event.
At the dinner and celebration following the championship, players and guests heard from Rex Schultz, who was one of the contributors to the 2006 book, The King of Swings: Johnny Goodman, The Last Amateur to Beat the Pros at Their Own Game, by Michael Blaine (Mariner Books).
Cawley said that Durel Billy, who traveled from Washington state for the tournament, was deprived of his luggage and clubs, victims of the cruel air travel luggage crap shoot. However, says Cawley, “Dave Brown fitted Durel with clubs and knickers….not one complaint. Impressive!”
Cawley says the Nebraska Hickory Golfers is planning for 2017 and hopes to field a big group for the U.S. Hickory Open at the Del Monte GC in Monterey, Calif.
From left: Senior winner Griff Evans; Nebraska Hickory Hall of Fame inductee Randy Jensen; John Ausen, retiring superintendent of the Hyperion Field Club; and GCS past president Bill Reed.
Hap Pocras, left, Durel Billy, Kevin Cawley, and David Brown at the Johnny Goodman River City Hickory Championship.
Cheers!
Tournament results.