Marty Fleckman, who will be the guest speaker at the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Junior Golf Awards next Wednesday at the Montagne Center, is going to be the subject of a Golf Channel feature during the June 15-18 U.S. Open week.

The profile of the Port Arthur great is in recognition of this being the 50th anniversary of him stunning the golf world by leading the 1967 Open after the first and third rounds. An amateur at the time, Fleckman held his own against the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino.

The feature will be much more than old black and white highlights. Golf Channel reporters plan to talk with Marty at BlackHorse Golf Club in Houston and are searching for sources familiar with his early days in golf. Two of those who will be interviewed for Fleckman stories are Bruce Lietzke and Dennis Walsh.

Meanwhile, Andrew Landry, who authored a Cinderella story similar to Fleckman’s during last year’s U.S. Open, will be trying to make it back during 36-hole sectional qualifying next Monday in Memphis. Also trying to earn a spot through the Memphis sectional will be Chris Stroud.

Stroud is coming off a solid showing in the Dean and Deluca Invitational at Colonial. After making the cut on the number by grinding out pars on the final three holes, he shot 69-69 on the weekend to finished tied for 40th. It earned him a check for $24,150 and advanced him two spots in FedEx standings.

While Landry and Stroud are trying to make it though Open qualifying in Memphis, a third Port Neches-Groves ex, Braden Bailey, will be playing in the Monday sectional at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas. Bailey advanced through the first stage of qualifying two weeks ago at Wolfdancer Golf Club in Bastrop.

CHIP SHOTS

Wes McDonald of Port Neches used a near hole-in-one in the 260-yard, par 4, fourth hole as the springboard to besting his previous low round by five shots Saturday at Babe Zaharias. McDonald’s drive on the fourth landed at the front of the green, rolled over the edge of the cup and stopped a foot away.

Following up a birdie at the par 5, third, he tapped in for eagle, then birdied the par 4, fifth. Ultimately, he would sign off on a 71 that included two penalty shots.

McDonald’s strong play helped his team of Rick Pritchett, Wes McGuire and Bob West tie for first on both sides in the Super Saturday two-ball game.

Matching their minus 6 on the front and minus 1 on the back was the foursome of Joe Gongora, Cap Hollier, Don MacNeil and Pete Reobri. …

Congratulations are in order for former Nederland golfer Shelbi Vincent.

The senior at the University of Houston-Victoria was recently named a Daktronics-NAIA Women’s Golf Scholar Athlete. She became only the second UHV athlete to win the award.

To be selected, a player must have at least a 3.5 grade average on a 4.0 scale and be at least a junior in academic status. A total of 174 NAIA women’s golfers were selected for the honor.

In the Tuesday Twister two-ball at Zaharias, the team of Benny Sharpe, Larry Thompson, Gary Fontenot and Paul Duplantis won the front with minus 5 and tied the back at minus 2. Also minus 2 on the back was the foursome of Larry Reece, Cap Hollier, Larry Johnson and Roger Baumer.

Noteworthy about the Tuesday Twister was the end of Pritchett’s
unprecedented week-long streak of being on a winning team in every format.

The Monday Senior 50 Plus two-ball at Zaharias saw the team of Bucth Pittman, Earl Richard, John House and Gene Hardy win the front in minus 1. On the back, Tony Trevino, Rick Pritchett and Gene Hardy, with the help of a ghost player, won with minus 2.
In the Friday two-ball at Zaharias, the team of Trevino, Pritchett, MacNeil and Reobri won the front with minus 6. On the back, the team of Butch Pitman, Tom LeTourneau, Ed Hetzel and Paul Duplantis placed first with 6 under. …

The Thursday Senior 55 Plus Game at Zaharias was played in a 9/9 2-man flighted format. In first flight, the duo of Mike Lansford-Gary Hanan won with a 66, edging Adam Noel-Bim Morris by three strokes.

In second flight, Pritchett-Dan Flood prevailed with a 68, finishing three shots clear of Butch Landry-Ron Mistrot. Mike Hollier-Harold Wilkinson shot 76 in third flight to tie the team of Duplantis-Paul Brown.

Closest to the pin winners were Roddy Weatherly (No. 2), Stedman Tahaney (No. 7), Mistrot (No. 12) and Larry Thompson (No. 15). …

The Wednesday Babe Zaharias DogFight was won with 17 points by the team of Pritchett, Hetzel. Dave Sturgall and Bud Aufforth.

Placing second with 16 points was the foursome of Hollier, Raymond Darbonne, Ralph Childress and Jimmy Thompson.

Closest to the pin winners were Flood (No. 2), Childress (No. 7), Gary Fontenot (No. 12) and Pritchett (No. 15).

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