Unless Belle Oaks Golf Club floats away from the heavy rains being forecast for Friday, the once postponed Bryan Jackson Benefit tournament will be played Saturday in temperatures that are not expected to climb higher than the mid 40s.
Because the event’s headline celebrity Chris Stroud said he’s willing to brave the frigid temperatures, the tournament committee did want to go through another postponement. Getting another date workable for Stroud, and when no other tournaments were on tap in the area is problematic, so contestants are going to have to deal with the elements.
The one concession being made to the cold is moving the starting time back an hour to 11 a.m. Saturday. A field of 27 teams — four players and one celebrity/good player/sports editor who got roped in — will compete in a scramble format.
Although some of the celebrity players were lost due to the date change, there are some interesting replacements. Included in that group are Johnny Preston of “Running Bear” fame, former TJ football great Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, who is in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, and the top five players on the Lamar University golf team.
Still in are the likes of Stroud, two-time Adams Winter Tour winner Michael Arnaud, former Houston Astros manager Larry Dierker, former Texas Rangers pitcher David Clyde, Florida Marlins pitcher Brian Sanches, Lamar football coach Ray Woodard and LU baseball coach Jim Gilligan.
The celebrities will be auctioned off at a Friday evening party at the Nederland Eagles Club that starts at 7 o’clock. Some of the celebs will be put up in a live auction and others will be available through a silent auction.
There will also be a silent auction for Tony Romo and Jamaal Charles signed footballs, numerous golf packages and many other special items that have been donated. The complete list can be found elsewhere on this page. It is not necessary to be in the tournament field to bid on a silent auction item.
Raffle tickets will also be sold on a golf cart that will be given away after the completion of play Saturday afternoon.
Each player in the tournament will have a shot at automobile from Philpott Motors that goes to the first hole in one on No. 8. After the award presentations Saturday afternoon, Stroud is going to conduct a clinic and sign autographs for kids who participate in the Port Arthur First Tee program.
CHIP SHOTS: In a case of erroneous reporting last week, David English of Fannett got beat out of his first ever hole in one. The ace credited to Mitch Priddy of LaBelle on the 125-yard, 8th hole on the Links Course at Bayou Din, was actually authored by English, who used an 8-iron. Witness were Bill Hanley, Tom Terrell and Jimmy Thompson. Sorry about that, David . . . Zaccary Weatherford fired a 71 at Bayou Din to win Boys 16-18 in the season’s opening event on the Southeast Texas Junior Winter Tour. Other flight winners included Tyler Rawson (84 in Boys 14-15), Michael Glover (73 in Boys 12-130, Felicia Sauceda in Girls 15-18, Bryce Shaver (50 in Boys 10-11, 9 holes), Brynna Bailey (44 in Girls 10-11, 9 holes) and Carson Gautreaux (29 in Boys 8-9, 6 hole, modified tees). Pros Ed Campbell and Clint Martin were pleased that all 53 players who pre-registered showed up. This Saturday’s stop is at Idylwild Golf Club . . . Paced by Trent Boudoin’s 75, which placed second in medal play, Port Neches-Groves won the Barbers Hill Invitational Monday at Eagle Pointe with a 317 total. The Indians Jarrod Brown was the No. 3 medalist with a 78. Other PN-G score were Drake Hernandez 80, Lonnie LaBove 84 and Cody Feemster 90 . . . Norm Shannon won the Monday Seniors at Belle Oaks with plus 7 points. Barry Jackson was second at 0, followed by Jerald Hurrell and Harrell Guidry at minus 2. Guidry (No. 8) and Rufus Mier (No. 15) were closest to the pin winners . . . Jackson won the Friday Seniors at Belle Oaks with plus four, finishing ahead of Mike Barnett (2) and Larry Guidry (1). Barnett was closest to the pin winner on No. 15 . . . The Bayou Din DogFight finished in a two-way tie, with the team of Hillario Padia, Dale Parmley, Gary Anderson and David Sturgal posting 13&4 and the team of Hollis Whorton, David English, Buddy Silcox and Jack Anderson getting 13&4 . . . In the Babe Zaharias DogFight, there was also a tie for first. The team of Glenn Judice, Carl Hudman, Dennis Shaw and Don Duplan finished 14&3, while the fivesome of Buddy Sepeda, Steve Picou, Gary Anderson, Dave Martin and Paul Bailey was 14&2. Closest to the hole winners were Jim Cooper (No. 2), Duplan (No. 7), Butch Landry (No. 12) and Judice (No. 15).
Golf news should be faxed to 724-6854 or e-mailed to rdwest@usa.net
BRYAN JACKSON AUCTION ITEMS
1. $450.00 Ping Certificate toward Custom Fit Driver
2 Autographed Tony Romo NFL football
3. Autographed Jamaal Charles # 25 Kansas City jersey
4. Autographed NFL football by Jamaal Charles
5. Autographed Louisville Slugger bat from Jay Bruce
6. 1 hour video lesson w/DVD from Marty Fleckman @ Blackhorse
7. Autographed Jimmy Johnson Super Bowl Ring poster
8. Autographed Jimmy Johnson 'Texas Sports Hall of Fame' poster, Ltd Ed
9. 2 Duck Hunting Prints by Jerry Newman...40" x 32" valued @ $185 ea.
10 . 2 - 1?4 page ads in PA News w/3 month subscription...value @ $654.25 each
11. Ben Hogan picture donated by Ed Campbell
12. Lawn Mower donated by Fred Miller...valued at $350.00
13. Scotty Cameron putter valued at $500
14. Golf for 4 @ TPC San Antonio (Valero Texas Open)
15. Golf for 4 @ Redstone Member Course...valued @ $500.00
16. Golf for 4 @ Redstone Tournament Course...valued @ $600.00
17. Golf & Lodging at South Shore Harbor....valued at $500
18. Golf for 4 @ Beaumont CC
19. Golf for 4 @ Brentwood CC
20. Golf for 4 @ Bay Forrest Golf Club (w/o carts)
21. Golf for 4 @ Timber Creek (w/o carts)
22. Golf for 2 @ Evergreen Point
23. Golf for 4 @ National Golf Club of Louisiana
24. Callaway 2009 FTiQ driver...valued at $399.
25. Callaway staff bag......valued at $399.
26. 6 Dozen Callaway HX Hot Bite balls . . . valued at $30 dozen
27. Remington NRA Commemorative Edition .22 rifle
28. Golf Club regrip...Ed Campbell
29. Golf Travel Bag
