Golf notebook: New date for County Seniors
- Updated: September 25, 2015
Minter reaches one of Sharps’ semifinals, Hamilton scores hole-in-one at Cane Creek
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
The Sharps match play championship at Cider Ridge is taking on the same type feel as the Calhoun County Match Play Championship.
Austin Minter defeated defending champion Landon Winfrey 2&1 Thursday to set up one of the tournament semifinals. He will play Lance Evans, who just returned from a big final round at the Golf Channel Am Tour national championship.
That winner awaits the completion of the other side of the bracket. Rob Davie meets the winner between Eric Cannington and Timmy Woodard in the other semifinal.
In the County Match Play, Caleb McKinney won two matches in two days this week, defeating Billy Thompson to land a spot in the finals. He awaits the completion of two matches to learn his title-match opponent.
In the Sharps, only three holes were halved in the Minter-Winfrey match. Minter was 2up early, but it was all-square through 12. Minter won 13 and 15 to regain his 2up lead and this time maintained it.
ACE IN THE CROWD: John Hamilton scored a hole-in-one Tuesday at Cane Creek Golf Course. The 79-year-old Weaver resident aced No. 6 from the forward tees with an 8-iron. He was playing with Bob Schaffer.
“We don’t have a whole lot of get up and go, but when we got to No. 6 he said ‘Put it in the hole,” Hamilton said. “I got my 8-iron out and hit the prettiest shot I ever hit. It hit a little right of the pin and went in.”
It was the second ace for the retired Air Force recruiter and postal worker. He made his first 10 years ago on the Guntersville State Park course.
He and Schaffer are both going through some health issues and don’t hit the links as much as they’d like, but when they do they have a good time. Hamilton recounted with great delight a recent tournament round he played with top local players Jeremy McGatha and Matt Rogers.
“We haven’t been able to play much because of everything … but we just have a good time, the best time we can,” he said. “I guess I can say people like us make the golf world click.
“We’re just staying active, trying to stay alive. What it is if you give up it’s all over. I didn’t get to do much for a while, but the doctor told me do what you want to do.”
COUNTY SENIOR RESET: The Calhoun County Senior Championship has been rescheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Pine Hill Country Club. Entry fee is $60 per player. Call the pro shop (237-2633) for details.
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