BOB WEST ON GOLF: Reynolds makes ace, repeats it on same hole

Published 5:39 pm Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Don’t try to tell Port Neches attorney Nathan “Buddy” Reynolds that lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. Reynolds knows better after scoring an ace on the same hole in the same pin position twice in less than three weeks.

He even did it with two of the same witnesses — Dr. Jim Arisco and Jay Baklik.

Reynolds first struck April 20th with an 8-iron from 130 yards on No. 17 at Beaumont Country Club. To prove it was skill not luck, he sank his tee shot again May 8 to the identical hole location. Only differences were Jason Landry replacing Ryan Askins as the third witness and the club of choice – a pitching wedge.

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Reynolds, who grew up in Port Arthur, was apparently making up for lost time. A golfer for over 50 years, the 65-year-old Reynolds had a managed a single hole-in-one before April 30. He doubled that total in an 18-day span. …

No. 17 at Beaumont Country Club is apparently a hot spot for aces. On the same day Reynolds repeated, Beaumont attorney Bryan Blevins celebrated his eighth hole in one there. Blevins’ ace was from 160-yards with an 8-iron.

Witnesses were John Adair and Jake Henderson.

CHIP SHOTS

Last week’s column calling out the golf media, golf publications and NY Times for snubbing Babe Zaharias in the “greatest comeback” discussion, got the attention of one of the most influential media people — Jim Nantz of CBS Sports. Here’s what Nantz had to say after I sent him the column:

“Awesome argument, Bob. Thanks for shedding light. I might be able to add more to this discussion next week at the PGA. We have a media event where I should be able to bring it up. And the argument for Presidential Medal of Freedom — should have happened long ago.” …

As Nantz suggested, Zaharias is overdue to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. With him on board, I will be surprised if it doesn’t happen sooner rather than later …

PNG ex Braden Bailey’s hopes of closing out his Baylor career on a high note may depend on the Bears advancing out of the Louisville regional to the NCAA championship. Needing to finish in the top five to advance, the Bears stand third heading to Wednesday’s final 18 holes.

Bailey shot an even par 71 in round one but struggled to a 77 on Tuesday. At the 36-hole mark, his 148 is tied for 48th out of 75 players.

Baylor, with an even par team total, is 15 shots behind front-running Auburn and eight back of defending NCAA champ Oklahoma State.

The Bears are two shots up on fourth place Iowa State and five ahead of Louisville. They have a nine-stroke cushion on sixth place North Florida, are 10 ahead of No. 7 Arizona and 11 clear of West Virginia. …

One of the best partnership tournaments in Southeast Texas is moving off the July 4 weekend for the first time in many, many years. Due to a renovation of greens on the front nine, Wildwood’s Old Glory tourney is being pushed back to an undetermined fall date for this year only …

Also pushed back is the Groves Knights of Columbus/Fetters Center scramble.

Postponed last Saturday because of heavy rains than flooded the area, the event benefiting the Estelle and Allen Fetters Center for physically and mentally challenged adults was rescheduled for Saturday, June 29, at 8 a.m. …

The PNG Indian Golf Camp is set for June 11-14 at Babe Zaharias, with separate sessions for incoming kindergarten through fourth graders and incoming fifth through nine graders. Instruction will be headed up by PNG golf coach Jerry Honza and Zaharias head pro Mitch Duncan.

Registration fee is $125, with the deadline to pre-register Saturday, May 18. There will also be walk-up registration but those who sign up late won’t receive the camp tee shirt. Instruction times are 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for the younger group and 10 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. for fifth through ninth grade.

Anyone with questions should phone Honza at 719-3949 or email jhonz@pngisd.org …

Larry Bodin has the perfect birthday or father’s day gift for somebody who would like to attend the June 13-16 U.S. Open at historic Pebble Beach. Bodin had to cancel his California plans but is looking to sell his two Open tickets for Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16.

Face value for the tickets is $150 each. Bodin is not looking to scalp the tickets and says he’s willing to negotiate on price. He can be reached at 790-9872 or texasbodin@gmail.com …

The Tuesday Senior 2 ball at Babe Zaharias saw the team of Kenny Robbins, Bill Hammond, Rusty Hicks and Roger Koch win the front at minus-2. On the back, the team of Joe Gongora, Rick Pritchett, Butch Cross and Todd Hebert won with minus-5 …

In the Monday Senior 50 Plus 2 ball at Zaharias, the team of Ronnie LaSalle, Russ Gloede, Earl Richard and Eddie Delk scored a sweep. They were five under on both the front and back nines. …

The Wednesday Zaharias DogFight was won with 17 points by the team of Tom LeTourneau, Bim Morrow, John LeBlanc and Dwayne Benoit. Placing second with 13 points was the foursome of Bob West Cap Hollier, Cody Metts and Richard Menchaca.

Closest to the pin winners were Kenny Robbins (No. 2), West (No. 7), Morrow (No. 12) and Ed Holley (No. 15).

Golf news should be emailed to rdwest@usa.net