Mid Pines Hickory Open
The third year of the Mid Pines Hickory Open featured nearly 80 entries. Play was conducted over four days with practice rounds on Thursday for the foursomes event at Pine Needles; Friday was the foursomes competition as well as the Mid Pines practice round; and Saturday and Sunday featured the Open Championship. The weather was cold but beautiful with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 50's. It was great playing weather, although a little too cool for some southern golfers! There were frost delays on both days of the championship, and the frost was particularly severe on Sunday.
The foursomes competition was played at Pine Needles, the site of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Pine Needles is a Donald Ross gem, although over the years changes have been made, including smaller greens and some changes to the bunkers. The Bell family has been determined to restore Pine Needles to its original form and Pine Needles president Kelly Millar, a son-in-law of Peggy Bell and chairman of the 2007 US Women’s Open, has spearheaded the restoration. Golf course architect, John Fought of Scottsdale has restored the course to its original glory.
Fittingly the winner of the foursomes was Kelly Millar and his partner Chris Dalrymple. They posted a fine 78, a very good score on this difficult track. Runners up were David Ellis and William "Tanner" Stewart from Zanesville, OH. A fine birdie on the 18th allowed Gary Briggs of Cameron, NC and Charles Mitchell of Lexington, KY to take third place honors. As Kelly Millar put it, "If you can't win on your home course, where can you win?"
The Open at Mid Pines was fiercely contested. Repeat winner was Wynn Solle, who also won the inaugural event. He had excellent scores of 78, 76 – 154, despite the difficulty of the greens. To highlight how difficult many found them we have to go no further than 3rd place finisher Jay Harris who had over 80 putts in his 81, 81 - 162. He made almost every green in regulation! The other results were as follows.
LOW GROSS
- 1st, Wynn Solle - 78,76 - 154
- 2nd, Craig Stroup - 83,74 - 157
- 3rd, Jay Harris - 81,81 - 162
LOW NET
- 1st, Ronny Holmes - 144
- 2nd, Tom Irvin - 147
SENIOR DIVISION (60+) LOW GROSS
- 1st, Rusty Wells - 82,75 - 157
- 2nd, Tad Moore - 86,82 - 168
LOW NET
- 1st, Charles Mitchell -146
- 2nd, Frank Boumphrey - 146
- 3rd, Bill Engelson - 147
LADIES
- 1st, Barb Kopec
- 2nd, Judy Cooke
FATHER/SON
- 1st, Tom and Bryan Stewart
Full results can be found at www.midpineshickory.com
Numerous excellent social events surrounded the event. Many players had arrived at the beginning of the week, and by the time the official festivities started they were in full party mode! Bill and Donna Engelson entertained many out-of-town early arrivals on Thursday night at their home. Bill is the Captain of the Carolina Hickory Golf Association which welcomes hickory players from all over the world.
The official festivities got under way on Friday night when the Hansen’s entertained at Dornoch Cottage, the former home of Donald Ross. On display was the Hansen’s magnificent collection of golf memorabilia. There was an excellent buffet and bar provided by Mid Pines.
Saturday night featured a collector's fair and the Art of Golf exhibits at Pine Needles.
Sunday started with a sunrise service at Mid Pines, and then golf. The festivities were rounded out by a magnificent prize-giving luncheon. Tom Stewart auctioned off several items, including a Donald Ross iron, for the benefit of the First Tee, and several thousand dollars were raised for this worthy cause.
The entire tournament was a great success. Rob Pilewski has done a wonderful job of bringing this tournament to the fore as one of the Hickory 'Majors' of the year.