The 2011 National Hickory Championship fielded more than 60 players June 8-9 who enjoyed fine weather and good play on the historic Oakhurst Links in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The course was dry and hard with temperatures in the low 80s (F), reports NHC Director Peter Geordiady.
Bobby Sly of Kingston, Ont., took the Kameika Cup for a second time with a two-day total of 159, two shots clear of perennial challenger and eight-time NHC champ Randy Jensen (Omaha, Neb.) and Jack Busic (Clemmens, N.C.); and three shots clear of Tampa, Fla. pro and two-time NHC winner Mike Stevens. In the Reserve Division, Fred Smeltzer (Camdenton, Mo.) took the trophy with a net 140, six shots ahead of runner-up Hamp Munsey of Greensboro, N.C. Caty Goidel (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) was women’s champ for the eighth time with 141. Chuck Cole (Centerville, Ohio) was Sporting Division champion with 78.
In non-competitive categories, Rob Ahlschwede (Olympia, Wash.) was honored with the Lynah Sherrill Award, the Dundee Prize went to Terry Thompson (White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; the SoHG Bogey Award went to Terry Pitts (Bennet, Neb.); Best Dressed Man was deemed to be Eddie Breeden (Upland, Calif.) and the Best Dressed Lady was Cecilia Haggas (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Lewis Keller Sr. was presented with an elegant boxed medallion at the Championship Dinner. This NHC Lifetime Achievement award honored Keller for his foresight in restoring the Oakhurst Links to its 19th century format and for its availability to the public since 1995.
This 14th NHC had three junior golfers from the First Tee program of the Triad program in North Carolina. The three were given scholarships to attend the NHC based on their playing abilities as well as a written essay. Kendall Dunn, Seth Lomison and Cecilia Haggas acquitted themselves admirably on the tough Oakhurst Links. Their appearance “is part of a community outreach effort by players and patrons of the NHC to educate the upcoming generation on the history of the game through lecture and participation,” according to Georgiady.
One of the non-golf highlights was a huge pot of Louisiana-style gumbo prepared by Chef Bill Picard of Lafayette, La. Picard had hoped to play, but a last-minute ankle injury kept him on the sidelines although, thankfully, not from the kitchen.