On Thursday, December 12, the 18-hole women’s golf club wrapped up the golf season with the annual Holiday Party. Over 76 golfers gathered at the Event Center for the festivities which started with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a delicious buffet lunch. Everyone brought unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program run by the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve to help those in need.
Following lunch, Captain of the 18ers, Toni Snyder greeted everyone and recognized past Captains in attendance and the outgoing executive board members, MaryJean Kidd, Treasurer; Judy Moran, Secretary; and Mirna Wong, Co-Captain. She also thanked players for making 2024 a banner year with over 1900 rounds of golf and tournament payouts of $5,050. Special thanks went to the Holiday Committee who organized the event including Linda Ingalls, Kidd, Laura Kim and Snyder. The Pro Shop was also recognized for their assistance throughout the year. Head Golf Pro, Jacque Vigil, and Director of Golf PGA Professional, Mark Heptig were in attendance.
Outgoing tournament Chair, Marsha Jennings, presented the 2024 awards. First up were the Eclectic winners. During the year, there are six Thursdays designated as Eclectic play. On each of these days, the 18ers try to improve their scores on each hole from the previous Eclectic round. This year’s top cumulative winners showing the most improvement on each hole from the first to the last round of play were Claudia Terry with the lowest gross score for the season and Nancy Park and Liz James tied with the lowest net scores. Here are the individual Eclectic winners in each flight. Flight One: low gross, Theresa Kim and low net, Karla Witte. Flight Two: Sophia Kim, Joan Binnings and Cindy Sonstelie tied for low gross and Daisy SooHoo won low net. Flight Three: Agnes Shin won low gross and Lauralee Barbaria won low net. Flight Four: Ki Hee Lee won low gross and Mei Reinhart and Jennings took low net. Flight Five: Jacky Dunn had low gross and Lee Shaffer had low net. Flight Six: Teddi Swanson scored low gross and Bari Mantel won low net.
Soo Hoo, the Handicap Chair, presented the Most Improved Player Award. This year, Karyl Toms won the award shaving 7.6 points off her handicap, lowering it to an impressive 15.4 from 23. She also recognized the Club Champion, Terry and Club Handicap Champion, Sue Yoon. Snyder introduced the incoming executive board for 2025, Wong, Captain; Andrea Alpine, Treasurer; Joel Jackson, Secretary; and Lee Shaffer, Co-Captain. Wong then presented a special gift to Snyder and thanked her for an outstanding year.
To conclude the event, Gayl Westendorf led members of the Ashmolean Singers including Joanne Brennan of the 18ers in a lively rendition of Winter Wonderland followed by a sing along of Let it Snow and Frosty the Snowman, providing a joyful ending to a successful year.