KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- A couple of Sunflower Hills tournament veterans, Bill Palmer and John Smotherman, took top honors in the 30th annual Wyandotte County Senior Championships Oct. 4 but it was the tourney’s oldest entrant who had the shot of the day.
“Nobody saw it,” said one of Todd’s playing companions, Dr. Charles Nichols. “We were all looking for the ball and finally found it in the hole.” Todd’s other playing partners were Herschel McWilliams and Gene Walker. Todd’s hole-in-one came just after John Smarekar had hit a tee shot to within six inches.
Palmer took low gross honors, winning a scorecard playoff over Berwyn Sasek after both had fired one-over par 73’s. It was the second Senior title for Palmer, who won in his first appearance in the tourney after moving to the Kansas City area 13 years ago.
“I was just real consistent,” said Palmer, whose personal best at Sunflower is 66
Smotherman had the day’s low net round of 61. “I’ve been playing this tournament for many years and this is the best round I’ve ever had,” said Smotherman, who lives in Basehor.
Palmer, 74, and 84-year-old Gene Reynolds, who shot 83, each were one shot off shooting their age.
On Sept. 18, 68-year-old Bill Fenton shot his age with five birdies and one bogey. Ironically, on Sept. 18, 1965, Fenton completed his first pass as the starting quarterback for the University of Kansas, a pass that went 97 yards for a touchdown, a KU record at the time.
30th WyCo Senior Championships Oct. 5 at Sunflower Hills
LOW GROSS – Bill Palmer, 73; LOW NET – John Smotherman, 61.
Flight winners
KIDS (55-59) - 1. Berwyn Sasek, 73; 2. Rick Egnatic, 77; 3. (tie) Ed McFadden, Glenn Rice, 78. NET – 1. Jerry Verbeck, 69; 2. Jay Sutera, 790; 3. Phil Jones, 71; 4. Greg Loethen, 72.
FRESHMEN (60-63) – 1. Bob Chatterton, 75; 2. Randy O’Shea, 77; 3. T.J. Beecroft, 79; 4. Don McCann, 82. NET – 1. Ted McClellan, 65; 2. Allen Stapleton, 66. 3. (tie) Conrad Vega, Ton Kovach, 69.
SOPHOMORES (64-67) – 1. Jerry Reid, 76; 2. Jim Lahmann, 78; 3. Roger DeLong, 81; 4. (tie) Bill Oxler, Doug Oxler, 86. NET – 1. Ron Medley, 68; 2. (tie) Tom Boeding, Dave Palcher, Dave Shipley, 69.
JUNIORS (68-70) – 1. Jorge Prieto, 76; 2. Dave Klein, 81; 3. (tie) Jim Powell, Keith Marr, 64. NET – 1. Ralph Butler, 64; 2. Paul Buchmann, 66; 3. Dan Sexton, 67; 4. Joe Denk, 69.
ADULTS (71-76) – 1. Dennis McWilliams, 76; 2. Paul Palmer, 80; 3. Dale Moore, 82; 4. (tie) John Stewart, Joe Wohletz, 85, NET – 1. Richard Johnson, 68; 2. Bob Smith, 69; 3. Larry Werner, 73; 4. (tie) Dave Davis, Jerry Prince, 74.
SENIORS (77 & over) – 1. Bob Hartman, 81; 2. (tie) Gene Reynolds, John Smarekar, 83; 4. (tie) Clarence Nigh, Bob Stephan, 85. NET – 1. Armando Diaz, 69; 2. Bob Pokrwyka, 69; 3. Bob Buckman, 71; 4. Joe Paduch, 72.
PROXIMIITY PRIZES – Closest to hole: George Todd, No. 4; Emmitt Hightower, No. 8; Dave Palcher, No. 13; Craig McKinley, No. 16. Closest second shot – T.J. Beecroft, No. 10; Dale Moore, No. 18. Longest putt – Jim Powell, No. 9. Closest score to age – Bill Palmer, Gene Reynolds
PHOTO: Bill Palmer (left) took low gross honors and John Smotherman low net honors in the 30th annual Wyandotte County Senior Golf Championships at Sunflower Hills Oct. 4. (Photo by Alan Hoskins)
