Golf

Local Golf Notebook, May 21: Butlers win Father-Child event

By STEPHEN FASTENAU - sfastenau@beaufortgazette.com
Weston Butler, left, and his father, Drew Butler, pose with the framed print they won in the inaugural Hilton Head Island Amateur Golf Association Father-Child tournament on Sunday. The Butlers shot 76 in the championship flight to edge two teams by a stroke. Derek and Conrad Gall won the first flight with a 57.
Weston Butler, left, and his father, Drew Butler, pose with the framed print they won in the inaugural Hilton Head Island Amateur Golf Association Father-Child tournament on Sunday. The Butlers shot 76 in the championship flight to edge two teams by a stroke. Derek and Conrad Gall won the first flight with a 57. Submitted photo

Longtime Hilton Head Island resident Drew Butler knows the bond golf can forge between fathers and their children.

A a teenager, he won a father-son golf tournament with his father, Don. On Sunday, he got to enjoy the winning feeling again, this time teaming with his son, Weston, to win the inaugural Hilton Head Island Amateur Golf Association Father-Child tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club.

The Butlers took the championship division with a 76. The top flight played 18 holes of modified alternate shot.

Drew Butler said Weston, a Georgia Southern student and former multi-sport athlete at Hilton Head Christian Academy, recently devoted more time to golf and has improved the past year.

"So many of us have had the pleasure of playing with our fathers," Drew Butler said. "It's a treat to be able to do it now with our sons."

The handicapped division played nine holes of alternate shot and nine holes of scramble.

Derek and Conrad Gall fired a 57 to win the handicapped flight by six shots.

Smiling children helped assure HHIAGA director Bob Collar the first event was a success.

"The kids were crazy," he said.

Twenty-two teams played in the inaugural event -- 10 in the championship flight. After the golf, players enjoyed a cookout and awards. The Butlers won a print of Tiger and Earl Woods. The Galls took home a signed Arnold Palmer picture.

The event is open to fathers and their children -- sons or daughters. Collar said no daughters competed this year.

Collar wants future events to fall on Father's Day, with wives and mothers invited.

The HHIAGA's next event will be the Hilton Head Island Amateur held June 21-22 at Bear Creek.

HHIAGA Father-Child tournament

Sunday at Bear Creek Golf Club

Championship flight: Drew and Weston Butler 76, Charlie and Drew Hall 77, P.J. and Trey Testino 77

First flight: Derek and Conrad Gall 57, Terry and James Brady 63, Paul and Johnathan Griz 64, Bob and Sean Engler 64

SMGA ASSOCIATION SEEKING MEMBERS

The Senior Men's Golf Association of Hilton Head Island is accepting applications for new members.

The 39-year-old organization runs events for amateur golfers who are at least age 55, have a handicap index of 24 or less and are golf members of one of the SMGA member golf clubs. Annual dues are $60. The 2014 schedule has 32 events at public and private courses in the Beaufort County area until the beginning of October.

SMGA golf events are based on handicaps and are held in different formats. Cost to enter events averages about $40 plus a $10 fee for prizes.

A frequent players tournament and dinner is held at the end of the season at one of the SMGA member clubs -- Belfair this year. A year-end meeting and celebration is held for members and no charge and includes recognition of tournament winners, door prizes of a round of golf for four at all of the clubs played during the year and $1,000 in gift certificates.

Details: smgahhi.com.

DOUBLE EAGLE AT SUN CITY

John Hencken proved a worthy partner in Sun City's member-member tournament when he landed a double eagle on May 6.

Hencken, playing with partner Raleign Wright, Bob Hinds and David Ohm, laid up off the tee to avoid the fairway bunkers on the par-5 fifth at Sun City's Hidden Cypress course. From his teed-up lie in the rough, he hit a 3-wood from about 240 yards.

He saw his ball go left of the flag and bounce, then he lost sight of it.

"I checked the hole, and it was peeking up at me," Hencken said.

The albatross was Hencken's second. He also made one two years ago on the fourth hole at Okatie Creek.

JPGA STUDENT WINS AT UNC

Karl Vilips, a student at the Junior Players Golf Academy, won the UNC Tarheel Junior Championship this past weekend at Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill, N.C. He shot 65-65 to finish 14 under and win by seven shots.

HOLES-IN-ONE

  • Gary Krynock hit a hole-in-one on May 19 on the 13th hole at Pinecrest Golf Club. He used a 5-iron. Witnesses were Dan Castro, Ray Angel and Bob Hohman.
  • Dr. Edgar Soifer hit a hole-in-one May 16 on the 14th hole at Bear Creek Golf Club. Witnesses were Mike Waller, Jim Beard and Jim Hutchinson.
  • Jim Sokosky hit a hole-in-one May 16 on the seventh hole at Moss Creek's North Course. He used a 6-iron. Witnesses were Dick Klingaman, Charlie Johnson and Jake Jacobson.
  • Ferdinand LaBranche hit a hole-in-one May 11 on the third hole at Okatie Creek Golf Club. He used a 9-hybrid. Witness was Claudette LaBranche.
  • Jim Willard hit a hole-in-one May 10 on the second hole at Bear Creek Golf Club. Witnesses were Paul Lang, Chuck Witte and Bob Smith.

    • Send golf notes to assistant sports editor Stephen Fastenau at sfastenau@beaufortgazette.com.

    This story was originally published May 22, 2014 at 2:15 AM with the headline "Local Golf Notebook, May 21: Butlers win Father-Child event."

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