BOB WEST ON GOLF: Whitfall follows albatross, ace with best score

Published 12:06 am Wednesday, March 8, 2017

For the second consecutive week, Gary Whitfill of Port Arthur created the biggest golf news at Babe Zaharias.

A week after making his first hole in one, which also happened to be an albatross (double eagle) since it came on the par 4, 11th hole, Whitfill unleashed a birdie/eagle barrage that resulted in his best ever round of 64.

Overshadowed by Whitfill’s fireworks were two other players — John House and Don Duplan — who also authored their best ever rounds while playing in the DogFight. House fired an even par 72, while Duplan walked away with a 75.

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House and Duplan, however, did manage to outdo Whitfill in the team competition. Paired together with Cap Hollier and Tommy Duhnon, they won the DogFight with 18 points. Whitfill’s team, which included Rick Pritchett, Gene Hardy and Harold Wilkinson, placed second with 17 points.

Closest to the pin winners were Jim Cooper (No. 2), Bob West (No. 7), Hollier (No. 12) and Jeff Rinehart (No. 15). …

CHIP SHOTS

It was another good week for Port Neches-Groves ex Braden Bailey and the No. 6 ranked Baylor golf team. In the Querencia Cabo Collegiate in Los Cabos, Bailey finished tied for 21st on rounds of 73-72-67 (212) to help the Bears finish second.

Oklahoma State won with an 823 total, which was 10 shots better than Baylor’s 833. Texas was fifth at 846, while No. 1 ranked Vanderbilt was sixth at 853.

Format for the Nederland Heritage Festival tournament Saturday at Zaharias was a two-person scramble. The duo of Cody Metts-Lonnie Labove won First Flight with a 65, finishing two shots clear of Sam Nelson-Justin Lopez.

In Second Flight, Johnny Krautz-Mike Krautz claimed a 5-shot victory over Tony Thibodeaux-Wendell Meaux with a 64. Harrell Guidry-Railie Guidry took Third Flight by one-stroke over Howard Fabre-Erik Shaw with a 69.

Closest to the pin winners were Seth Corkran (No. 2), Shaw (No. 7), Buster Stelly (No. 12) and Metts (No. 15) . . .

PNG’s Josh Elmore, who has been dominating in high school tournaments, struggled a bit over the weekend in a Legends Junior Tour event at BlackHorse Golf Club outside Houston. With the weather a factor, especially on Sunday, Elmore shot rounds of 82-79 for a 161 total that was good for a T34 in Boys 15-18.

Brendan Powers of Mansfield won with a 144 (73-71). …

Monday’s Senior 50 Plus Game at Babe Zaharias was limited to nine holes because of rain. Winning the front in minus 6 was the team of Benny Sharpe, Bobby Wactor, Lee Bertrand, Harrell Guidry and Roger Baumer. …

The Saturday Super Senior two-ball game at Zaharias resulted in a sweep for the foursome of Javier Torres, Gary Fontenot, Charlie Leard and Bertrand. They finished minus-6 on the front and minus-2 on the back.

In the Friday two-ball at Zaharias, there was a two-way tie on the front and a three-way tie on the week. Posting minus 1 on the front was the team of Bob Byerly, Tom LeTourneau, Bertrand and Paul Duplantis and the team of Hollier, Adam Noel, Gary Hanan and a ghost player.

On the back the team of Sharpe, Metts, Leard and Hardy, the foursome of Joe Gongora, Prtichett, Don MacNeil and James Trahan and the team of Bill Hammond, Trevino, Gerald Huebel and a ghost all finished minus-2.

The Thursday Senior 55 Plus Game at Zaharias was played in a four-man scramble format. Winning with minus 10 was the team of Mike Lansford, Huebel, Art Miller and Duplantis. Second at minus 9 was the foursome of Adam Noel, Hanan, Bim Morrow and John Ourland.

Closest to the pin winners were Mike Hollier (No. 2) and Duhon (No. 12).

Golf news should be mailed to rdwest@usa.net.