Kelly MacKinnon came in with a score of 76 to win overall low gross in the Bidwell Women's Golf Club 3-Day, Eclectic Format Spring Tournament at Bidwell Park Golf Course. \
Gail Johnson took the overall low net title, albeit via the card-off process over Sandy Sample, with a score of 61.
First flight low gross: Becky Callas, 78. Net winners: 1, Betty Linzy, 63, card-off; 2, Linda Jones, 63; 3, Karla Dreiss, 64, card-off. Second flight low gross: Pam Coleman, 90. Net: 1, Sample, 61; 2, Jolene Nixon, 62; 3, Diana Lotspeich, 66, card-off. Third flight low gross; Melodie Johnson, 97, card-off. Net: 1, Eleanor Calvert, 63, card-off; 2, Deena Cooper, 63; 3, Sue Blizman, 66, card-off. Closest to the pin first day on hole No. 4: Helen Deatsch. Second day on hole No. 7: Deatsch. Third day on hole No. 16: Nobody, but it probably would have been Deatsch.
The El Rancho Chico Golf Club held a 4-Player, 1+1=1 format tournament last week. The field of 56 players was divided into two flights. The team of Rio Gates, Orval Hughes, Russell Olivey and Jon Rettig won the white tee flight with a team score of 130.2. Taking second with a score of 131.4 was the team of Shawn Anderson, Matt Long, Matt Odman and Jason Roberts. Rounding the payout for third was the team of Adam Almand, Chas Gower, Ron Serna and Jimmy Smith at 133.4.
Gold tee flight: 1, Randy Cook, Lloyd Hightower, Tod Kimmelshue and Rob Sylvester, 126; 2, Don Beck, Greg Eastman, Craig Fellner and Vic Mitchel, 128.4; 3, Bill Allen, Bob Bell, Mike Bell and George Laver, 132.4. Closest to the pin winners: No. 2, Dennis Lundy; No. 4: Long; No. 7, Art Gausemel; No. 12, Andy Godsill; No. 16, Kimmelshue.
Canyon Oaks Country Club: The Canyon Oaks Senior Men's Golf Club monthly sweeps tournament was an individual medal play, net score format, but using only 4 clubs and a putter. First flight: 1, Mark Block, 72; 2, Terry Taylor, 73; 3, George Morris, 76; Second flight: 1, Tom Peppas, 72; 2, Gayland Taylor, 75; 3, tie, Rick Barrett and Bob Kromer, 77. Closest to the pin winners: Hole No. 3, Peppas; Hole No. 6, Paul Mcintosh; Hole No. 11, Paul Zastrow; Hole No. 14, Mike Myatt.
The previous week the Canyon Oaks Women's Golf Club held a Two-Woman, 666 Eclectic Tournament, with a twist. On holes 1-6 the format was best ball; on holes 7-12 the format was alternate shot and on holes 13-18 it was a scramble. 1, Cathy Edgar and Bonnie Seely, 60.35; 2, Susan McVicker Wever and Lori Rainwater, 61.69; 3, Sally Pearson and Melinda Self, 61.74; 4, Gina Davis and Karen Escott, 63.35; 5, Karen Olson and Sue Osterholt, 63.65.
Closest to pin on hole No. 3 on Saturday: 1, Seely; 2, Gina Snider; 3, Pearson. Sunday on hole No. 14: 1, Escott; 2, Olson; 3, Nancy Taylor.
This past week the game was "ONES," scoring on the holes beginning with those letters. Sophia Magana was low gross over the field with a nice round of 83. Evie Spring also had a good day and was low net at 66. Game: 1, Spring, 31; 2, Linda Arellano, 32.5; 3, Cathy Edgar, 34; 4, Lori Rainwater, 34.5. Closest to pin: 1, Nancy Vieira; 2, Edgar; 3, Arellano.
Table Mountain Golf Course: The Table Mountain Women's Golf Club decided to forgo its weekly Thursday golf tournament, because of a conflict with the monthly Team Match Play at Rolling Hills. However, several of its members participated in the Peach Tree Ladies, Two-Day Invitational Tournament last week and fared well. The team of Linda Porter, Tracie Cvitkovich, Sharyl Messick and Sherry Sue took first in the first flight with a two best-ball score of 252. The team of Margaret Taylor, Janett Ott, Kris McGee and Pam Weichert finished third in the third flight with a score of 263. Cvitkovich and Sue teamed up to finish second in the horse race following the first day of play.
North Valley Ladies Team Match Play: The monthly North Valley Ladies Team Match Play was hosted by Rolling Hills Golf Links in Corning last week. After two rounds of matches, Canyon Oaks finds itself in first place by the slimmest of margins. The current point standings are: 1, Canyon Oaks, 99; 2, Butte Creek, 98.5 3, Bidwell, 94.5; 4, Gold Hills, 81; 5, Table Mountain, 80; 6, Wilcox Oaks 48.5; 7, Rolling Hills, 38.5. Wilcox Oaks and Rolling Hills hosted the first two matches and therefore have only played one match, because the host team does not compete on its home course. Canyon Oaks will host the matches next month on June 4th.
Junior Golf: Nine-year-old Livy Woodward has apparently decided that the competition in her age bracket is lacking, since she wins all the time, so she moved up to the 12-14 age division. In a recent First Tee Optimist Qualifier at Haggin Oaks GC, playing at a yardage of 5,539 yards, she tied for 13th with a score of 83. Amazing!
Significant achievement: Art Gausemel had a lifetime best round of 69 at Butte Creek last Friday playing with the senior group. Gausemel's fantastic stellar round was also 11 strokes under his age. Appreciating his great performance and graciously accepting the payout from their opposing team as a result of it, were his playing partners, Pete Lana, John Olsen and Denny Varley. Awesome round, Art. Congratulations!
Spectacular shots: Rich Utterback scored his first hole-in-one at Bidwell last week. Utterback holed out a perfect 9-iron, 97-yard tee shot on the 4th hole while in the company of Kyle Utterback, Robert Dunlap and Nick Hanna.
Beyond Golf Chico update: I had the privilege of hitting a few shots Sunday on the 9-hole course being constructed at the Bill Rich Memorial Junior Golf Course adjacent to DeGarmo Park on the Esplanade, at the invitation of its developer, Grant Hornbeak. This uniquely designed layout will definitely improve your short game. Once the Beyond Golf Chico facility is completely built out, including a teaching facility, 18-hole putting course and a state of the art virtual driving range, you can rest assured that the junior players in Chico and the surrounding area will enjoy a luxury unprecedented anywhere by young upcoming players, especially considering the fact that it will be essentially free to juniors.
Upcoming tournaments: As a reminder, the Annual El Rancho Chico Golf Club Chico Open Two-Man Tournament is scheduled for June 8. Entry fee for the 8 a.m. shotgun start is $80 per team. All players must have a current NCGA handicap. A senior division yellow tee flight will be included for players 60 years and older. The format is a Two Player Best-Ball on the front nine and a Modified Shamble on the back nine. The entry fee also includes lunch at the Bidwell Bar & Grill. The deadline for entry applications is June 1, and are available at the golf shop. Call the Bidwell Golf Course golf shop, 891-8417, ext. 2 for more details.
The 3rd Annual Omega Nu Foundation Scramble Tournament is coming up in a couple of weeks on Friday, June 13 at the Bidwell Park Golf Course. The registration fee for the 8:00 A. M. shotgun start is $125 per person and includes, golf, cart, awards and lunch. As in the past, there will be a lot of great raffle prizes donated by local merchants and organizations. The Beta Chapter of Omega Nu Foundation uses the proceeds to support many local charities and worthwhile causes that make a lasting impact on our community. Contact Alicia Ahlswede, 530-625-5000, for more tournament information on how to register, to donate a raffle prize, or to become a sponsor.