RMGC’S 2017 STROKE PLAY AND DIRECTOR’S CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND PRODUCES TWO CHAMPIONS
On Wednesday, June 21 seven players in the Stroke Play Championship, and 41 in the Director’s Cup competition, teed it up to determine who was going have their name on the respective trophy. In the end the local favorite, Curtis Mitchell, who has rehabbed his way back from neck surgery in January, showed why he is the man to beat when golf is played with no handicap in an RMGC event. Mitchell fired a blistering 75 in the first round in the difficult heat of last Saturday, and then culminated his win with a solid 77 again in the heat of this valley course. This is Mitchell’s Fourth Stroke Play championship and he proved his dominance in this event by outdistancing his nearest competitor by nine strokes over the two rounds. Finishing second, was Tom Snyder, followed in third place by Brent Atkins.
MARK HEPTIG PRESENTS CURTIS MITCHELL WITH HIS FOURTH RMGC STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
It was quite another story in the Director’s Cup which is a net competition. Everyone was watching the scoreboards as the scores slowly appeared as the players finished their final round. Nearly all the scores had been posted and it appeared there was a four-way tie that would require a playoff. Golfs handicapping system allows players of all levels to compete with each other on a fair playing field. RMGC President Chuck Leong, 12 handicap, Jae Shinn, 20 handicap, Pang Man, 19 handicap and Ed Logwood, 24 handicap, all stood tied at a net score of 139. Then a shock spread across the Creekside Fairway room, Kerry Smith’s score of 138 was posted and a new Director’s Cup Champion was crowned. Smith told the room his interesting story leading up to its culmination in his winning the Director’s Cup. He had come to a lesson with Head Pro Mark Heptig a week before saying that he was so frustrated with this game he wanted to quit golf altogether. Mark listened patiently then started to recommend some basic adjustments that hopefully would improve Smith’s game. The results of course reached far beyond the expectations either of the two could have ever hoped. Smith, whose handicap is 26, shot a net 70 on Saturday and a very strong 68 to finish at 138 and win the trophy.
MARK HEPTIG PRESENTS THE RMGC DIRECTOR’S CUP TROPHY TO KERRY SMITH. THE CULMINATION OF THEIR EFFORTS TO REVIVE KERRY SMITH’S GOLF GAME.
RMGC President Chuck Leong pictured above, won the 1st flight with Won Woo finishing second, followed by Bart Moore and J. J. Lee tied in third place.
Darrell Webb pictured above, won the 2nd flight, with James Soohoo finishing second and Rich Wheeler, third.
In the 3rd flight, Pang Man, pictured above and Jae Shin finished in a tie with Pang Man taking first place after a card match of the final nine holes. Both Pang Man and Jae Shin were two of the four players tied at 139 before Smith posted his 138. Dick Attiyeh came in third.
In the 4th Flight Director’s Cup winner Kerry Smith finished first, with Ed Logwood second, who was one of the four players tied at 139 before Smith posted his 138. John Benshoff and Don Loustalet tied for third.
In the 5th Flight Dick Hurley, pictured above was first, with Jerry Weinstein second and Bill Moisson and Bob McIvor tied for third.