BY HOWARD WARD: Golf Writer

The golfers came from as far away as San Diego, Calif., and Great Britain, but the winner lived just across Midland Road.

The great attraction was the second annual Mid Pines Hickory Open Championship, and it drew a field of more than 60 players from several states as well as England and Scotland. The clubs were fitted with hickory shafts, and the dress was early 1900s. The scores were as outstanding as the costumes.

Dan MacLellan of Chagrin Falls Ohio, and John Mullock of England, U.K.

Kelly Miller, president and CEO of Pine Needles and Mid Pines Resorts, handled the throwback game better than anyone else over the 36-hole event last weekend, posting scores of 78-76 for a 154 total that was two strokes better than runner-ups Mark Wehring of Houston and Rob Pilewski, head professional of Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club. Wehring took second in a scorecard playoff.

“This was a little better,” Miller, sporting a Scottish tam, a long-sleeved shirt and tie, said. “I was terrible last year and shot 86-80.”

Like the other contestants, Miller enjoyed the challenge of using the hickory-shafted clubs and found a putter that he may want to keep.

“The biggest thing is getting to know the clubs and getting comfortable with them,” he said. “Actually, I putted pretty well, too.”

The putting was somewhat of a surprise as Miller, one of the top amateur players in the area, uses a belly putter when he’s playing his normal game.

“It just didn’t seem right using a belly putter with these clubs,” he said. “But the way I putted, I might consider keeping this hickory shaft for my bag.”

Mid Pines is a Donald Ross-designed course that opened in 1921 and was the perfect site for the old clubs as it has retained the character of its original layout.

“It’s great fun playing with these clubs,” Miller said. “You can see the integrity of the course and the design. There are a lot of neat holes, and you can hit some neat shots with them. This is about as pristine a Donald Ross course as you’re going to find.”

Sonny Chappie of Port Huron, Mich., won the Net Division with 137, followed by Gary Briggs of Carthage with 145 and Scott Patrick of Scotland, Ted Kopec of Niceville, Fla., and Andy Moye of Maury with 146.

Barbara Kopec and Simone MacLellan of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, combined for a score of 126 to win the Ladies Division, while Louise Burton of Pinehurst and Nancy O’Connell of Whispering Pines were second with 131.

Chuck McMullin of Williamsburg, Va., won the Senior Open Division with 162, with Jay Harris of Pinehurst taking second with 163.

Tad Moore of LaGrange, Ga., shot 147 to win the Senior Net Division. Bill Engleson of Pinehurst was second with 148, followed by Ken Holtz of Appleton, Wisc., with 149.

Tom and Bryan Stewart of Pinehurst posted a 71 to win the gross title in the Father-Son Division, while the net winners were Pat and Anthony Corso with 61. Tom Stewart shot 75 on his own ball.

Kathy Chappie of Port Huron, Mich., won the award for best dressed woman golfer, while Charles Mitchell of Lexington, Ky., claimed that distinction for the men.

Reprinted with permission from The Pilot