Port Arthuran Bryan Jackson, who enhanced a growing reputation as a magician at improving and taking care of greens during a stint at Wildwood Golf Club from 2000 to 2006, is returning as course superintendent for the layout just north of Kountze.

Out of the golf business for several years while battling cancer, Jackson is elated at the opportunity to return to a profession he dearly loves. Today is his first day back and he is promising to soon have Wildwood in pristine condition.

“I am so excited about this opportunity,” said Jackson. “I have not had a chance to look at the golf course yet but I understand it needs some work. My health and stamina have gotten better and I am ready to go.”

Jackson, a former Thomas Jefferson High School football player who once weighed 430 pounds, currently tips the scales at 245. Most of the weight loss was by design rather than from his struggles with a series of cancers that originally started as breast cancer nearly a decade ago.

He has beaten some form of cancer in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018. His most recent cancers were in his left hip, right pelvis, right shoulder blade and the C2 and C3 vertebrae. Throw in a couple of motorcycle accidents and it’s remarkable he is alive and kicking.

“It has been rough. I have undergone intensive radiation but I am feeling much better,” he said. “Things are under control. Cancer can’t touch this old man. My goal is to be at Wildwood six days a week.”

Jackson, 54, began his career as a course superintendent at Port Arthur Country Club in 1995. He left for Wildwood in 2000, moved to Brentwood CC in 2006 and was there until getting involved with Johnnie Barlow Sr., Johnnie Barlow Jr. and Ronnie Pfleider in construction of the spectacular but ill-fated Palms at Pleasure Island.

Area golfers raved about The Palms, especially Jackson’s greens, but two hurricanes and assorted other problems drove it into extinction. Jackson’s final job as head pro and course superintendent came at Belle Oaks Golf Club. He was at what had once been known as Port Arthur CC from 2008-2013.

Belle Oaks, which started going downhill after Jackson left, no longer exists.

CHIP SHOTS: Brian Vincent of Nederland earned the distinction of making the final hole in one of 2018 at Babe Zaharias. Vincent, a former Port Arthur News photographer who had never made an ace, scored his first by sinking an 8-iron from 146-yards on the 7th hole.

The shot was witnessed by his cousin, Chris Guidry of Port Neches.

“I have been playing over 40 years and had stopped thinking about ever making a hole in one,” said Vincent. “It was a thrill. We both saw the ball roll in. The thing is, we almost didn’t play. It was cold, hardly ideal golf weather and we were debating about whether to go. I sure am glad we did.”

Vincent’s Saturday ace was the second within 24 hours on Zaharias’ 7th. Paul Blackburn of Beaumont recorded what was also his first hole in one with a 7-iron from 155 yards. Cey Grimmell of Groves was the witness . . .

Andrew Landry cashes in one of the bonuses of winning the Valero Texas Open when he tees it up Thursday in the opening round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Landry is one of seven first timers in the winner’s-only field tackling the roller coaster-like par 73 Plantation Course in Maui.

Thirty-four players who won tournaments in 2018, headed by defending champ Dustin Johnson, are in the field for the no-cut event. Three players who were eligible — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose — are not participating.

Landry will be following fellow PN-G ex Chris Stroud at the TOC. Stroud tied for 11th last year after shooting rounds of 72-66-72-72 on the Ben Crenshaw-Bill Coore designed layout. The tourney will be televised from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday on the Golf Channel.

Saturday’s third around airs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on NBC, then moves to the Golf Channel . . .

In the Super Saturday Senior 2 ball at Zaharias, the team of John Williams, Tom LeTourneau, Cole Lee and ghost player Cap Hollier won the front with minus 2.

The back ended in a tie at even par between the team of Kenny Robbins, Danny Robbins, Charles Leard and Pete Reobroi and the foursome of Kaycee Begaman, Joe Gongora, Calvin Landry and Charles Perez . . .

The Wednesday Babe Zaharias DogFight also ended in a two-way tie. Posting 14 points was the team of Bill Hanley, Rick Pritchett, Roy Martinez and Paul Brown and the foursome of Adam Noel, Earl Richard, Landry and John Veillion.

Closest to the pin winners were Hollier (No. 2), Ed Holley (No. 7) and Richard (No. 12) . . .

The Monday, Dec. 24, Senior 50 plus 2 ball at Zaharias saw the team of Kenny Robbins, Danny Robbins, Don MacNeil and Paul Duplantis win the front with minus 2. On the back, the foursome of Craig Geoffroy, Hollier, Roddy Richards and Larry Foster prevailed at minus 3.

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