New players test “Old Sticks” in Seattle

The Seattle Old Sticks Hickory Classic field

Tournament report by Brian Giboney
 
   On Saturday March 21, more than 20 hickory golfers braved the rain and wind to compete in the Seattle Old Sticks Hickory Classic at Jefferson Park Golf Course. The venue was selected by the tournament director, Durel Billy, to celebrate Jefferson’s centennial anniversary (1915-2015).
 
   Gerald Boyd won the Open division with an impressive 77, Frank Horton won the Novice Division, Jerry Olson won the Senior Division, and Grayson Giboney won the Junior Division.

   Several notable people in the golf industry participated in their first hickory event. These included Bob and Kathy Marlatt, owners of Inside Golf Newspaper; Frank Horton, past president of the Washington State Golf Association and current WSGA board member (the WSGA has 60,000 members); Chris Goodman, general manager of Meadow Park Golf Course (est. 1915, which now stocks McIntyre golf balls); and Josh Immordino, winner of the 2005 Seattle Open, the 2006 Washington Open, the 2007 Oregon Open, and an alternate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

   Immordino recorded his first ever hickory birdie en route to a second place finish with a gross (and net) score of 79. A new father, Immordino doesn’t get to play as much golf as he would like these days, but will be making time for hickory golf because with limited time to prep he can still go have fun with his new hickory friends.
 
   To our knowledge the first ever Seattle area Junior Hickory Division was contested when good friends Tyler Aamold and Grayson Giboney went head to head. Tyler, playing in his first hickory event, made several beautiful pars to score an impressive 87 in very difficult conditions. He had so much fun he is now putting together his own set of hickories.
 
   A local camera crew was on hand, interviewing hickory golfers and recording golf shots for a documentary they are doing on hickory golf.

   All of these accomplishments are due the hard work and dedication to grow hickory golf shown by Durel Billy, chairman of the AP National Hickory Players and current board member of the WSGA. Billy was also the organizing force behind the upcoming Chambers Bay Hickory Championship, set for May. That event is fully booked with 54 contestants and a waiting list.

 

A dapper Gerald Boyd collects his hardware after an impressive 77 gross.

Josh Immordino, left, and juniors Tyler Aamold and Grayson Giboney enjoy the sunshine after the wind blew away the rain clouds.

The camera crew interviewing Washington State Hickory champion Grayson Giboney on why he plays hickory golf rain or shine.