The season ending Mid Pines event at Southern Pines, N.C. experienced one of the largest hickory golf fields to date, perhaps a record for this type of event outside earlier GCS nationals which may have come close, if not over. The total was 105 players, and this after a handful of cancellations, some caused by Hurricane Sandy.
SoHG President Chris Deinlein reports that the mornings were cool, but the days were just right for hickory golf. “It was great,” he said. “We had people from all around the country, Canada and from Scotland.”
Rick Woeckener of Fredricksburg, Va., cleared U.S. Hickory Open title holder Tony Smarrelli of Pinehurst by 4 shots to claim the victory. Former SoHG president Ken Holtz of Sun City West, Ariz. took the top Senior honors with a 154 over Rusty Wells of Pinehurst who carded a 159.
Top four finishers in each category are listed below.
Donald Ross Division / Gross Awards
Rick Woeckener 78-72 – 150 Gold Medal (Fredricksburg, Va.)
Tony Smarrelli 79-75 – 154 Silver Medal (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Ben Hollerbach 82–76 – 158 Bronze Medal (Chamblee, Ga.)
Randy Jenson 78–82 – 160 4th Place (Omaha, Neb.)
Julius Boros Division / Net Awards
Ted Kopec 70–68 – 138 Gold Medal (Niceville, Fla.)
Mike Heller 66–76 – 142 Silver Medal (Madison, Wisc.)
Dennis Joy 72–71 – 143 Bronze Medal (Charlevoix, Mich.)
Tim Flynn 72–72 – 144 4th Place (Lexington, Ky.)
Skip Alexander Division / Senior Gross
Ken Holtz 77–77 – 154 Gold Medal (Sun City West, Ariz.)
Rusty Wells 78–71 – 159 Silver Medal (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Glen Davis 80–80 – 160 Bronze Medal (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Jay Harris 81–82 – 163 4th Place (Pinehurst, N.C.)
Old Tom Morris Division / Senior Net
Ron Dunn 65–70 – 135 Gold Medal (Guelph, Onatario, Canada)
Max Hollon 72–64 – 136 Silver Medal (Evansville, Ind.)
James Clawson 65–71 – 136* Bronze Medal (Charlottesville, Va.)
Dale Hallock 66–70 – 136* 4th Place (Omaha, Neb.)
Bobby Jones Divison – Father/Son Awards
Gross Division – Tom Miller/Tommy Miller 155 Gold Medal (London, Ontario, Canada)
Net Division – Dick Heller/Mike Heller 128 Gold Medal (Madison, Wisc.)
Peggy Kirk Bell Divison / Ladies Awards
Barbara Kopec 101–85 = 186 Gold Medal (Niceville, Fla.)