A STRONG CONTINGENT of North Olympic Peninsula golfers recently made the trek down to Clark County for a golf competition.
Nope, not Vancouver . . . Las Vegas.
Amateur players Gary Kettel and Sid Krumpe and pros Bill Shea and Jeff Lindsey of Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim and Sequim’s SunLand Golf & Country Club members Brad Littlefield and Jay Tomlin, and pro Tyler Sweet all ventured down to compete in the 2011 ESPN National Golf Challenge at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.
The two-person better ball event crowns “America’s Best 2-Some” in gross, net and senior divisions.
On the professional side, players face off in stroke play.
Both amateur teams finished in the middle of the pack of their divisions, with Kettel and Krumpe shooting 70 and 67, respectively, to finish 10 strokes out of first with a total of 137 in the gross division and Littlefield and Tomlin scoring 64 and 67, respectively, to score 131 and finish 12 shots back of the leaders.
In the club pro contest, SunLand’s Sweet was your leader in the clubhouse after day one with a 64 but he came back to Earth a bit on day two and finished with a 73 and a two-day total of 137.
Sweet finished two back of winner Ryan Polzin of Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston.
The day 2 tumble didn’t appear to hurt Sweet’s feelings as he raved about the event to ESPN.
“Once again ESPN put on a first-class event for club professionals and the amateurs,” Sweet said.
“The treatment from your staff and sponsors was top-notch. It looks like the event is growing with all the new faces in Vegas this year, and I am sure we will see more next year. The location and timing of the event is perfect with many seasons winding down and before the Florida courses begin the busy season.”
OctoberFest 666 golf
Port Townsend Golf Club will host its OctoberFest 666 tournament, consisting of six holes of Chapman play, six of scramble and six of best-ball play on Saturday.
The tournament is $30 per player and will tee off at 9 a.m.
Course staffers report that the fairways are dry and getting a lot of roll and the greens have recovered nicely after being aerated in September.
To sign up, phone the Port Townsend pro shop at 360-385-4547 or visit the course.
Cedars Golftoberfest
Sign-ups are underway for Cedars at Dungeness’ Golftoberfest on Friday, Nov. 11.
Two-person teams will compete in nine holes of scramble, nine of best ball and nine of alternate shot beginning with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.
There will be three divisions: gross, net and Callaway.
Participants will receive a German-style lunch (I can taste the wurst and schnitzel!), cigars, range balls, carts, KPs, beer on every third hole and green fees for $70.
Organizers also promise fun side games and $1,500 in prizes based on a field of 100 players.
Entry forms are available at http://tinyurl.com/3grtyxb, by phoning the golf course at 360-683-6344, or by stopping in at the pro shop.
SunLand lowers fees
With the leaves turning and falling, and wood smoke curling in the air, it is time for winter rates.
SunLand in Sequim is the first course to pass along word that they have switched to winter rates.
The club is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday and greens fees are now $25 for 18 holes.
Phone the SunLand pro shop at 360-683-6800, ext. 13.
Peninsula awards
The lady golfers of Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles recently held their 2011 Awards Luncheon and election of 2012 officers and managed to fit in a nine hole scramble last week.
The 2012 officers are:
■ President: Ruth Thomson
■ Vice President: Gloria Andrus
■ Secretary/Treasurer: Chris Anderson
■ TOP Captain: Doris Sparks
■ 18-hole Captain: Sherry Henderson
■ 9-hole Captain: Donna Willenberg.
Award winners for 2011 included Gray Cup Winner Sherry Henderson; Commemorative Tournament: Denise Clarke; Club Championship Winner 18-Hole Gross: Dolly Burnett; 18-Hole Low Net Winner, Ruth Thomson; Nine-Hole Champion: Dona Scarcia; Nine-Hole Low Net: Sandy Granger; 18-Hole Best Ball Partners: Gloria Andrus and Deb Jacobs; 9-Hole Best Ball Winners: Barb Thompson and Donna Willenberg; Captain’s Choice 18-Hole Winners: Doris Sparks and Linda Bruch; Nine-Hole Winners: Barb Thompson and Donna Willenberg; Birdie Tree Winner: Doris Sparks; Hole In One award: Deb Jacobs; and Most Improved Lady Golfer: Helen Arnold.
The ladies will continue playing at 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. through October and begin winter golf in November at 10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
For information, phone Sherry Henderson at 360-457-4295.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.