Event host Rob Keeling reports:
Thank you to all the participants who journeyed to The Fields in Lagrange, Ga. The Alabama and Mississippi Hickory Golfers sincerely appreciate everyone who joined us for the second year of the Classic and for the 24th playing of the Southern Hickory Four-Ball Championship. Your support, fellowship and enthusiasm for the game of hickory golf continue to make this event special. We are grateful to have each of you as a part of this tradition and look forward to seeing everyone again next year for the 25th anniversary.
This year, in the Old Tom Morris flight of the 4 ball, there was a tie between the team of Dave Weaver and Wesley Ker-Fox, and Rodney Martin and Mike O’Donnell. Using a scorecard playoff of the last three-hole aggregate, David and Wesley prevailed by 1 shot to be the 2026 4-Ball champions.
In the James Braid Flight, brothers Andy and Bob Gardenhire were the champions. In the final JH Taylor Flight, Eric Johnson and Robert Nelson prevailed for the victory.
The Woody Individual, which is also flighted in the Bobby Jones Flight, Rodney Martin captured first place with a two-day total of 149. In the Ted Ray flight, Wesley Ker-Fox won with a score of 156. In the Gene Sarazen flight, our own Tad Moore won with 165. In the Walter Hagen flight it was Nelson Ford with a score of 177. In the winners circle for the First Time Hickory Players for the Helen Hicks flight, Barb Matteson won with a score of 165 and an unbelievable first round 79. It was also her first time playing The Fields, which adds another dimension to that amazing score.
In the Max Hollon Gutty Buddy event, this year’s winner was Jeff VanArsdale with a score of 33. We only do nine holes in this event, so this was a stellar performance. As well, we introduced another seven players to the gutty game. Max himself discovered hickory golf at the Foxburg Hickory Championship during the playing of that annual gutty event in Pennsylvania.
Congratulations again to all our participants. We truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm for the game of hickory golf and are already looking ahead to next year’s event and will have information posted on the calendar early as the full committee comes together later this year to begin planning. Look for the new Tournament page on Facebook where all the images will be added.
Thank you for your participation and have a wonderful hickory golf summer.
Rob Keeling
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- The field at the 2026 Southern Hickory Classic.
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- The legend…Mr. Tad Moore.
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- 2026 Southern Hickory 4-Ball champions David Weaver, left, and Wesley Ker-Fox, right, are presented their trophy by Tad Moore.
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- A foursome of players at the 2026 Southern Hickory Classic.
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- A foursome of players at the 2026 Southern Hickory Classic.
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- A foursome of players at the 2026 Southern Hickory Classic.