Alabama is sweet home for Southern 4-Ball winners

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The field at the 2016 Southern Hickory 4-Ball Championship

Sweet Home Alabama it was for Cliff Martin of Los Angeles and Bain Hanning of Birmingham, Ala. The two set a new scoring record at the 2016 Southern Hickory 4-Ball with a two-day total of 127 – an amazing 62-65 and the lowest score ever for this classic Championship Series event.

Host Tad Moore reports that 56 players, many new-to-hickory, were in the field on the Highland Park Golf Course in Birmingham. The second event in the 2015-16 Championship Series of the SoHG, the Southern 4-Ball is as much revered for its southern hospitality as it is for the level of golf, which by all accounts is getting better all the time. Even Tad, who has never previously placed at the event in all the years he has played, managed a second place net finish, thanks to his canny pairing with hickory stalwart Barbara Kopec of Niceville, Fla. And this despite an upcoming foot surgery for Barb and a torn rotator cuff for Tad. “The walking wounded played fantastic golf,” Tad said. Barb was using Tad’s new replica Jack White driver. “Bewared the wounded,” Tad said.

Other than a brief shower on Thursday and a quick burst on Friday, the weather was just right. The opening Thursday night party had everyone in great spirits. Mike Just was there, too, visiting from Louisville to watch nephew Andy Just compete. Andy, by the way, came in third overall with partner Jason Kronenberger of Dayton, Ohio.

Click here for a PDF of the final scores. Check out the photos below.

Congratulations to Tad for another great Southern 4-Ball and all the players who remind us again how much fun it is to play hickory golf with good friends.

Next year’s tournament is set for April 20-22.

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Bain Hanning, left, and Cliff Martin, right, were the overall winners at the 2016 Southern 4-Ball. They flank host Tad Moore who holds the Open division trophy.

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Ben Hollerbach, left, and his dad, Joe, right, were the second place overall winners.

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The Gardenhire brothers – Andy, left, and Bob, center – captured first place in the Senior Net category.

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Tad Moore and Barb Kopec were the second place Senior Net champs.

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Tony Smarrelli, left, and Jim Rohr, center, were the victors in the Senior Gross category.