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On Dec. 3, the Florida Hickory Golfers concluded their Five Stage Tour Championship with a visit to the Scotland Yards course in Dade City, Fla. The tour began in August at Babe Zaharias in Tampa, followed by Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club in September, Glen Lakes Golf Club in Weeki Wachee in October, Royal St. Cloud in St. Cloud in November, and Scotland Yards in Dade City. A total of 27 golfers took place in at least one event. Points were accumulated at each stop, and point amounts were determined on the place you finished at the stops. Two-time NHC champion Mike Stevens took home the inaugural title, follow by Glen Lakes pro Tom McCrary, and FHG founder Kody Kirchhoff.
Here are the finishing totals for all golfers:
1) Mike Stevens 543.1
2) Tom McCrary 452.75
3) Kody Kirchhoff 248
Steve Powell 240
Mark Chea 211
Brian Schumann 200
Tony Zinno 192.55
Max Hollon 198.6
Dave Ellis 170
Mike Henderson 170
Richard Bullock 152.1
Rich Schmidt 140
Scott Bowles 120
Chris Deinlein 110
Rich Grula 108
Ted Kopec 99.15
Hamp Munsey 95
Bill Geisler 91
Jim Delong 80
Bill Engelson 65
Barb Kopec 51.8
Jay Mickle 50
Hal Shaw 37
Tom Clements 30
Jim Garrison 28
Scott Daves 28
Karen Daves 28
Jason Eccleston 20
Cliff Brown 12.5
Florida/Carolina hickory players at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, Dec. 4-5.
FHG takes inaugural Challenge Match with CHGA
Over the weekend of Dec. 4-5, a first-ever Challenge Match between the Florida Hickory Golfers and the Carolina Hickory Golf Association took place at the1922 Bendelow Design of Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Fla.
A truly pristine hickory course, authentic and pristine to the date, Temple Terrace is the home of Florida Hickory Golf. A 6,100-yard course with rolling hills, and historic tree lined fairways, and home of the 1925 and 1926 Florida Open, Temple Terrace is also home to resident pro emeritus and four-time major winner "Long" Jim Barnes. The course sets up perfectly for hickory, as every shot into the green offers options along the ground and through the air. It's an al- around true hickory golf experience.
Teams were set with 11 players from the CHGA and 11 players from the FHG. Play began Sunday afternoon Dec. 4, as both teams set out using the new McIntyre "Victor" ball. The first 9-hole matches were four-ball match play, followed by 9-hole singles matches. Each match was worth 1 point for each hole, halved holes were worth a half point for each person, and the match winner received a bonus point, for a max total of 10 points for each 9-hole match.
After day one, and 17 matches, the CHGA was in the lead by a mere point, 85 1/2 to 84 1/2. Day two would truly be spectacular.
In the evening of day one, contestants enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club ballroom, hosted by the FHG and the Temple Terrace Preservation Society (TTPS). Grant Rimbey and Tim Lancaster of the TTPS shared a great presentation of the history of golf at Temple Terrace, which was one of the first golf resorts in the country. The TTPS is on the verge of finalizing Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club to be the 31st golf course in America to be listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
On the second day of the Match, the program was 9-hole Chapmans Alternate shot, followed by another 9hole singles matches. The FHG came on fire, defeating the CHGA 91 to 79, securing the win by a two-day total of 175 1/2 to 164 1/2.
The FHG will travel to the CHGA's home soil of Pine Needles and Mid Pines the weekend of Sept. 21-23, 2012, for the second chapter in the Challenge. A great rivalry has started! Thank you to all the contestants!
For the CHGA: Jim Delong, Mike Henderson, Rich Schmidt, Bill Engelson, Hamp Munsey, Chris Deinlein, Dave Ellis, Tom Clements, Jay Mickle , Brian Schuman and Rich Grula
For the FHG: Kody Kirchhoff, Mike Stevens, Max Hollon, Richard Bullock, Scott Bowles, Tony Zinno, Steve Powell, Tom McCrary, Jim Garrison, Ted Kopec, Jason Eccelston