Things are starting to fall into place for a benefit golf tournament to assist Belle Oaks superintendent/golf pro Bryan Jackson with mounting expenses in his battle against breast cancer.
Organizers have settled on a Saturday, Jan. 9 date at Belle Oaks and a format similar to the old Bob Hope/Bum Phillips Celebrity tournaments that raised thousands of dollars for Hughen School. PGA Tour pro Chris Stroud heads a lineup of golfers and big names from other sports who will be auctioned off to the highest bidding foursomes.
Among other early commitments are Lamar football coach Ray Woodard, LU athletic director Billy Tubbs, Cardinal baseball coach Jim Gilligan and rising golf pro Michael Arnaud. There is also a tentative commitment from former Houston Astros pitching ace and manager Larry Dierker.
Gilligan, who seemingly knows everybody in the baseball world, has promised to try and recruit area major leaguers who make their home in Southeast Texas in the off-season. A handful of players from Brian White’s Lamar men’s and women’s golf teams are also expected to be up for bid.
Other leading area golfers like Lee Comeaux and Giles Kibbe have said they will particpate.
Tentative plans are to have a pro-am type party the night before the tournament for teams to gather and bid on the person they want as their celebrity player. There will also be a silent auction for donated items and a raffle for other items.
Entry fee for a four-person team is $300, with the pre-tournament party and food and beverages during the event included. Each team will be required to have a celebrity. Anyone wishing to enter a team should contact Babe Zaharias head pro Ed Campbell at 722-8286 or Bill Reid at Belle Oaks at 796-1311.
CHIP SHOTS: None of the players with area ties made it through the second stage of PGA Tour school. Former Lamar golfers Shawn Stefani and Casey Clendenon came the closest. Stefani missed by three shots at Deerwood Golf Club in Kingwood, after tying for 37th with a 72-hole score of even par 288. Clendenon was also three strokes off the needed number at Craig Ranch in McKinney, with a 1-under-283. Kellygrad Anthony Broussard finished 43rd at Deerwood with a 289 and West Orange-Stark’s Michael Arnaud was 53rd an the same site with a 293 . . . 73-year-old Vernon Dean of Beaumont scored an ace last Tuesday on the 120-yard, 11th hole at Bayou Din. Dean used an 8-iron for a shot witnessed by Tommy Leon . . . In the Bayou Din DogFight, the team of Larry Stansbury, Butch Cross, David English and Jim Cooper won with 16&3. Second at 14&6 went to the fivesome of Joe Landry, Glen Judice, Wally Stanley, Marshall Rowe and Roger Baumer . . . The team of Mike Lansford, Teddy Davis, Cody Metts and Bobby Hebert won the Babe Zaharias DogFight at 17&9. There was a two-way tie for second between the foursome of Tom Lawton, Cliff Digiovanni, Buddy Silcox and Doc Richard (16&5) and the team of Darrel Dugas, Butch Landry, Jerry LeDoux and Art Miller. Closest to the hole winners were Don Duplant (No. 2), Tommy Ray (No. 7), Derrick Wolfe (No. 12) and Gary Anderson (No. 15) . . . The Belle Oaks DogFight was won at 16&8 by the team of Hilario Padia, Allen Sohoski, John House and Cap Hollier. Second place went to the foursome of Rick Pritchett, Bob Briggs, Jeff Rinehart and Charlie Huckaby at 10&1. Third at 9&3 was claimed by the team or Richard Briggs, Tom Stirling, Gene Harrison and Buddy Silcox. Closest to the pin winners were Bob Briggs (No. 8) and John House (No. 15) . . . Mike Barnett finished at plus 2 points to win the Monday Seniors at Belle Oaks. Twyman Ash, Jimmy Jackson and Dennis Neef tied for second at plus 1. Neef won the closest to the pin on both No. 8 and No. 15. In the Friday Seniors at Belle Oaks, Major Rising won with plus 5 points. Larry Guidry was second at plus 4 and Barnett third at plus 3. Ash won closest to the pin on No. 8, while Guidry was closest on No. 15 . . . The Seniors at The Babe was played in a 2-man scramble format. Art Lecoq-Mike Lansford won 1st Flight at minus 10, with Frank Jackson-Adam Noel and Murphy Demarcy-Larry Johnson tying for second at minus 9. In 2nd Flight there was a tie for the top spot at minus 3 between Teddy Davis-Art Spencer and George Hawkins-Bill Draughon. 3rd Flight was won by Ned Cole-Bernie Johnson at plus 3. Allen Suire-Guy Van Cleve and Paul Brown-Charlie Ingraham tied for second at plus 6. Closest to the pin winners were Draughon (No. 2), Brown (No. 7), E.T. Robicheaux (No. 12) and Suire (No. 15) . . . The Patch Senior 55 game was played in a 2 best ball format, with the team of Charles Heider, R.J. Simon, Gene Harrison and Paul Bailey winning the front at minus seven. On the back, the team of Larry Morris, Mark Simon, Bob Barnes and Malcolm Clark won at minus 5.
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