A fixture in the Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club pro shop since 2005, Jarrett McNeal has his first men’s club championship.
The 22-year-old Fulton grad carded rounds of 70-69 for a 3-under 139 to earn overall low gross under scorching skies last weekend. Jim Arthur claimed overall low net at 131.
“I do hit a long ball, but it was my putter that got the job done for me,” said McNeal, who earned a range pass and a Ping G20 hybrid club.
“Anything within 10 feet that was supposed to go in, I made it.”
In the first flight, Paul Holtom was the low gross winner at 146, with Garth Wells (151), Vince Lewis (153) and Kyle Wiebe (154) rounding out the top four respectively.
Jon Gardner finished with a low net 136, followed by Don Helm (142), Sheldon Kubbernus (148) and Bob Vedan (149).
Doug Kuhn ruled the second flight with a low gross 156. Bob Wager (160), Tyler Galenzoski (163) and Rick Spiller (163) ranked second, third and fourth respectively.
Bob Smith took low net honours at 141, three strokes ahead of Dave Bissell (144), and four ahead of both Pat Lewis and Peter Haines at 145.
Darold Zukowsky produced a 161 to take low gross in the third flight. Gerry O’Brecht was six strokes back for second place, Scott Pisiak shot a 168 for third and Jim Fuhr was fourth at 169.
Fred Soderberg’s 139 earned him low net, followed by Tom Wild at 141, Rodger Bergen at 143 and Art Heale at 144.
A 163 was good enough to earn Jeff Smith low gross in the fourth flight, three strokes ahead of runner-up Dave Saunders. Rod Heide (171) and Louie Siewertsen (174) completed the top four.
Bill Smith collected low net with a 133, with Gus McNeil and Dave Ingram tied at 139 and Dave Gerhardt finishing fourth at 143.
– Shane Bowring, with a 156, and Diane Watts, with a 183, collected the men’s and women’s championships last weekend at The Rise.
Earning overall low net titles were Bob Newman, at 129, and Carla Gibson, at 144.
Rick Higginson, last year’s champion, took the Saturday’s men’s long drive competition, while Watts hit long for the ladies. Bowring and Lorraine James took long drive honours Sunday.
Neil McLean pocketed both men’s KPs, and James and Gibson each had one for the ladies.
– There will be five lucky junior athletes teeing off at the Vernon Vipers’ inaugural golf tournament for KidSport Sunday at The Rise.
Telus stepped up to sponsor a handful of local athletes for the event, which will feature guest celebrities Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens, Jerred Smithson of the Florida Panthers, Aaron Volpatti of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings’ scout Marty Stein.
Nathanael Dubland, a junior at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club who plays on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (and is a huge Price fan); Ethan Hunt, a 13-year-old Kelowna product with a 23 handicap; Brennan Seltzer, an honour roll student at Vernon Christian School and Hillview member; and lifelong friends Gage Kopp and Cole Benjaminsen, both 14-year-old Hillview juniors, all received the invite.
Viper head coach Jason Williamson, and assistant coach and former captain Dave Robinson will join at least 15 of this year’s Viper squad in the charity classic.
There are still a few spots available for the event. Cost is $150, which includes 18 holes with power cart, dinner, tee gift and prizes, as well as a ticket to the Vipers’ Saturday night exhibition game against the Wenatchee Wild at Wesbild Centre.
To register, call The Rise at 503-4535 or the Vipers’ office at 542-6022.
