Left to right: Bud Held, Harvey Winn and Jerry Monk
2017 Club Champion, left to right: Jason Whitehill, Jack Schafer (Club Champion) and Ronnie Decker
2017 Club Champ Flight Winners, back row left to right: Gregg Clymer, Frank Simons, Dave Modderman and Lloyd Chilton; front row: Wayne Fleming and Jim Tratz; not pictured Bill Koehn
Howie Tiger
The PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association crowned Jack Schafer as their 2017 Club Champion. Jack won this championship for a record-setting fifth time with a new low score of 214 (two under par). The tournament was held on February 9, 15 and 16. The course rotation was Eagle’s Nest, Palms/Lakes and then back to Eagle’s Nest.
Jack’s previous wins were in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. He said this year was the best he’s ever played in this event. He played very solid in the first round making four birdies and one bogey for a score of 69. His best shot of the day came on hole No. 6. He short-sided his second shot to a middle pin and ended up on top of the hill just right of the green. With the pin tucked far right, he hit a magical chip down the hill leaving himself just a two-footer for par.
Jack’s nearest competitor after the first round was former club champion Bill Volm who shot 72.
In windy conditions, Jack extended his lead in the second round with another solid even-par 72, the best round of the day. He had three birdies and three bogies to stretch his lead to 11 shots.
In the final round, “conservative” was the name of the game for Jack. Even while playing cautiously, he finished with three birdies and four bogies for a round of 73; again the best round of the day. He ended up winning by an astounding 16 shots! Congratulations, Jack!
A total of 128 players competed in five separate flights. The Championship Flight played from the Black/Blue mixed tees. There were two flights that played from the Blue tees and two flights that played from the White tees. This was the largest field for this event in many years.
Low Gross Winners:
Championship Flight – 1st place Jack Schafer, 2nd place Bill Volm and 3rd place Rick Horst
Blue Tee Flight 1 – 1st place William Koehn* and 2nd place (tied) Bob Richards and Doug Ginter
Blue Tee Flight 2 – 1st place Gregg Clymer, 2nd place Wolf Penz and 3rd place Brian Rosenbloom
*Won card playoff
Low Net Winners:
Championship Flight – 1st place Wayne Fleming and 2nd place Brian Maine
Blue Tee Flight 1 – 1st place Jim Tratz, 2nd place Lou Romano and 3rd place Jerry Treece
Blue Tee Flight 2 – 1st place Frank Simons, 2nd place Andy Banister and 3rd place (tied) Bill Baxter and Ed Neel
White Tee Flight 1 – 1st place Lloyd Chilton, 2nd place Marty Schlotthauer and 3rd place Ken Robinson
White Tee Flight 2 – 1st place Dave Modderman, 2nd place Cliff Truax and 3rd place Rodney Suttles
Many thanks to Jason Whitehill, Ronnie Decker and Dave Vader for handling the scoring. Many players said the course conditions were the best they have ever seen, so a huge thank you to our Course Superintendents Jeff Lebo and Joe Miller and their staffs. Thanks to the Food and Beverage folks for a great dinner.
Congrats to all the winners!