1980's-1990's HIS STORIES OF MGCC by Jeff Gullett

 

Miami Golf and Country club facing the sunrise on the east, and watching as players reach their final hole at 18 green.

I grew up playing Jr. Golf in the 80’s and 90’s at MG&CC.  The Golf Professionals during those times were Don Atchison and Steve Becker.  Our golf crew was comprised of Jason Hill, Charles Haney, Michael Rapp, Brett Vaughn, Greg Smith, and me. Most if not all of us worked and played at MG&CC.  There was nothing better than heading to the Club for the day of golf, pool, and golf again.  We spent countless hours and years developing our skills and even more, our friendship.  It started with us playing Junior Golf and as we progressed it led to Junior tournaments and then the Miami High School Wardog Golf Team. 

As many of you already know the Lady Wardogs had just won a couple of State Championships in the late 80’s.  It was now 1991, and we had finally reached the High School Golf Team.  Our leader was Harley Turner, known as HT.  Coach HT was a very kind, smart, and great man. Probably exactly what we needed at the time.  We knew nothing about team golf, we had just spent the last 8 years trying to beat a Snickers and a Coke from each other in our countless individual matches.  We did our best, but our freshman year was a learning experience.  The 1991 team was composed of Steve Simpson (Senior), Jason Hill (Junior), Charles Haney (Freshman), Michael Rapp (Freshman), and me (Freshman).

I struggled a bit, but the most memorable tournament was the Pryor Invitational.  We had a true Oklahoma Spring Day; sunny, cold, rain, snow, and sleet.  I somehow plowed through this day in a solid 79 (probably the best 79 of my life) and tied for 1^st.  Nervous as could be, I somehow found a way to win the playoff for my first tournament win.  To say the least, very memorable!  We played well in many tournaments.  As a team we made it through the Regional Tournament with and were headed to State.  This is what we had been waiting for!  Shawnee Lake, the Grand Daddy of golf tournaments.  It seemed so far from MG&CC.  The one thing I can remember from that tournament was that our booster club (aka parents and club members) had purchased us matching shirts and get this:  matching Ping Hoofer Bags with a stand.  We were maybe the only team in the State with these.  Thank you all!  I think we all had high expectations but did not really know how much pressure was there and how good the rest of the teams in the state were, due to most of our competition being in the Northeastern section of the state.  We grinded through three rounds and finished in third.  Pretty good for our first year with three Freshman.  I am pretty sure if you asked all of us, we felt like we should have won the championship.

The Sophomore season was here, and again we had high expectations.  There was a group of MG&CC members that had been traveling down to Puerto Vallarta for years and had crossed paths with a golf pro and a prominent junior player, named Juan Pablo Alvarez.  The connection was made, and Juan Pablo Alvarez would be coming to live with the Hill’s and would be able to play one year of High School Golf.  Oh boy, we were excited about this.  This kid had played at World Junior and other prominent Junior events and had plenty of experience.  We were going to be good.  Although we thought we were going to be good, it seemed we may have left our game at home on tournament days as we watched Juan Pablo try to carry us as a team.  We finished a lackluster 4^th place at State and moved on to the summer months to grind on the game to make it better for the next season.  Even though we may not have played well, we did learn a lot about the game and culture, playing with a student of the game that did not know very much English when he got to Miami.  Juan was a great addition to the community and school, and I hope to see him again one day. 

         There were some influential people that were in our lives and golf games that helped mold our games and specifically mine since I am writing this piece.  I cannot speak on behalf of the others, so I will tell how it helped me find my game.  Steve Becker was the PGA Professional at MG&CC during this time, and he taught me to teach myself.  He told me what I needed to know, but more than anything taught me to have confidence in myself.  I was a shy kid growing up and never quite felt like I could or would be good enough at the game.  He taught me to be on the good side of cocky, but not arrogant.  Marshall Smith Jr., Steve Hill, Jeff Ramsey, Keith Neal, and Mitch Jones.  There were so many more, but these are ones that I either worked with or had many games within the years preceding and during high school golf.  I have always said that it is not golf course that makes the game, it is the people who you play with that makes the rounds memorable. 

Around 1993, Cotton Montgomery came to the club to be the Golf Course Superintendent.  This man could grow some grass!  The greens had never been better, and the club was in the best shape since I had been there.  He also brought his son into our golf world, Brian Montgomery.  Brian had just finished up college at Oklahoma State and was preparing for the Mini Tours and Professional golf.  This really changed my game for the better.  I was challenged every time I put the peg in the ground.  I was playing Brian one day and he happened to shoot the course record, 63, and I believe I shot 71.  I got blown out of the water on our Nassau!  I learned so much watching him practice the short game and I no longer focused on a perfect swing but perfecting a good swing. 

My junior year consisted of teammates:  Charles Haney (Junior), Michael Rapp (Junior), myself (Junior), Brett Vaughn (Sophomore) and Greg Smith (Sophomore).  All of us had been playing together for the past couple of years and we thought we had the chance to finish well.  This was Charles Haney’s year, he played very consistently through the season, but he did not get much help from his team.  It was like all the preparation for the season during the summer went to waste but wait there is another year.  Sometimes what we are preparing for does not come until the right time, not our time.  (Sounds like living life with faith).  What we did get to do was go to Norman for a mid-season tournament.  That was the exposure we needed.  We went to play the bigger schools and statewide schools in the Sooner Classic.  Great tournament experience that HT and Miami High School gave to us that had been lacking the prior two seasons. 

The Senior season finally arrived!  We were missing a teammate by the time the season started, but we forged forward with the four +1 who were ready to play.  We were confident that the four regulars would put the numbers where we needed them.  I had begun practicing earlier than normal due to an ankle injury in December playing for the basketball team.  I had started my golf season about two months earlier.  It showed when we started the season with a team win at Shangri-La and I finished first place individual with 68-70.  A couple of weeks later won the Joplin Invitational at Loma Linda and I won individual with a score of 68.  We rolled this right into Regionals and won at MG&CC and went to State expecting greatness.  We played good golf instead of great, but it was the journey that was memorable.  We ended our Senior season where we began our freshman season, at Shawnee Lake.  We finished a little off the pace in 3^rd place and I put three good rounds together to finish in a tie for 2^nd (70-72-72).  Note:  won in a playoff.  As I am writing this, I don’t think I have ever lost in a playoff since high school.  On the academic side of things, Miami Boys Golf Team did win the Academic State Championship in 1994.

Post High School

I proceeded to walk on the golf team at University of Arkansas, and after a struggle with my game and adapting to college life I walked off the team later that spring in 1995.  I was at a crossroads with my golf game and did not really know what I wanted to do.  I don’t like to look back on my life and ask for a mulligan, but if I were going to go down the golf path for a career, I think I would take a mulligan on that drive.  Anyhow, I took a year off from golf and focused on school, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1998 with a degree in Business Management.  I decided to go into the golf business, just like any other player, thinking I will be a golf pro and try to make it on tour.  Well, I proceeded to start working 80 hours a week and no longer played to the level that I was accustomed to, and the game fell away. 

My career path started at Bailey Ranch Golf Club, in Owasso and I worked there for 3.5 years where I learned the first part of the business.  What is a PGA Professional?  That was my training ground, and I will never forget it. 

In 2001, I went to Tulsa Country Club to work under Jeff Combe, and later received my PGA Membership in 2005.  The summer of 2005, I made the move to Boca Raton, Fl to Bocaire Country Club to become the First Assistant Golf Professional under Russell Carlson, who was previously the PGA Professional at Bailey Ranch during my time there.  He did not hire me at Bailey Ranch, but he taught me.  I have only worked for two PGA Head Golf Professionals in my career, and both had different approaches to the business, but both helped mold me into the Golf Professional that I am today.  I spent 16 years at Bocaire Country Club (12 as Head Golf Professional).  I am now at Boca Woods Country Club, a 36-hole residential club with 600 Members.  We host 60,000 rounds of golf per year and I am now going through my third golf course renovation as a PGA Member.    

Boca Woods Country club, Boca Raton, Florida

As you can see, the game of golf is a part of me, and the history of Miami Golf & Country Club molded me into who I am.  Many of my lifelong friends along with my parents’ friends were established at that club.  Although the club and course are no longer there, the games and memories I had at that club can never be taken away from me.  They are a part of me, and I still tell the stories today when I speak of the game I so love!

Jeff Gullett

 

        

1973 TIMELINE AND STORIES OF THE MIAMI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

 

Summer of 1973 Johnie F. Stapp and his asst. Dick Neel. The window to the right is where kids from the swimming pool came to order their candies and drinks and say, "charge it." 

1973 March 28 “NEO’s Golf Team in Opener Friday”

Hoping to gain their third straight Bi-State and NJCAA Region 2 championship, Northeaster A&M golfers swing into a new season Friday in a match against the Haskell Indian Junior College at Lawrence, Kan.

The players have been practicing at the Miami Country club, where home matches will be held. Much assistance to the players has been given by club pro Johnie Stapp and assistant pro Dick Neel. Last year the Norsemen finished with a 9-1 record, the lone loss coming at Claremore.

1973 March 4 “Society Calendar”

The Miami Ladies Golf Association will hold a coffee at 10a.m. Wednesday in the home of Mrs. George Newman, 720 Second northwest. An invitation is extended to all prospective members.

1973 March 9 “Mrs. Newman Hostess to Golfers”

The home of Mrs. Noma Newman, 720 Second northwest, was the scene of the Miami Ladies Golf Association’s spring membership coffee Wednesday morning. Hostess duties were shared by Gladys Wetzel, Wanda Couch and Dorothy Gibson. The Centerpiece, created by Rosalie Patterson, depicted a putting green and a simulated tree ornate with miniature hats such as worn by golfers. Aileen Bradshaw, president, presided at the coffee service.

Yearbooks were distributed and activities for the season were discussed. Lessons for new members will begin April 4.

Also present were Erin Wojcik, Hattie Wall, Grace Burns, Sue Barnes, Barbara Shouse, Doris Wilson, Helen Moore, Virginia Sapp, Wanda Doan, Jean Phillips, Marian Richards, Judy Weld, LaRue Gaines, Joyce Rutter, Mavis Ford, Marylyn Adams, Rosalie Patterson, Rose Pratt, Pauline Taylor, Frances McKinney, Fae Berentz, Gail Beck, Mary Robinson, Yvonne Temple, Ruth Heyburn, Roma Dahl, Dorothy Hester, Lib Lillard, LaVon Young, Geneva Ramsey, Bonnie Moody, Jean Ann Blue, Caryl Rohwedder, Clara Barton, Martha Elliott, Lottie Mae Russell, Claire Oliver, and Ethel Mailath. 

*I could only locate one article on the 1973 Girls Golf team.                      
 ** I would like to thank the Miami Public Library for coping MHS golf team photographs from the Miami High School Yearbooks from 1974--84.

1973 March 28 “Baxter Beats MHS Golfers”

Miami high school golfers, who lost at Baxter Springs in their first competition of the season Tuesday, will compete Thursday in the high school invitational tournament at Parsons, Kans. Archie Loehr is the MHS golf coach.

In Tuesday’s matches on the soggy Baxter Springs Country club course, the host high school team won by a 14-7 score. The only Miamian to win was John Wallace, playing the No.5 position. His 83 score was the best for the Miami quintet, and he beat Bob Green, who shot 99.

The medalist was Baxter’s No. 3 man, Robbie Robison, who scored 79 for a victory over Kim King, 88. David Righthouse, 85) Baxter, beat Bob Dow, 88; Jerry Boyd, 94, Baxter beat John Mirjanich, 96. Perry Ogle, 93, Baxter, beat Dan Giffhorn, 94. 

1973 March 30 “MHS Golfers”

Six golfers from MHS, coached by Archie Loehr, finished fourth in two-ball and fifth in four-ball competition Thursday for 10 teams in the annual Parsons, Kan., schoolboy tournament on the soggy Katy course.

Wardogs Bob Dow and John Mirjanich scored 87 each for a total of 174 as Coffeyville and Parsons led with 150 each and Pittsburg was second with 167. The Miami foursome totaled 354 for fifth in that phase of competition with these 18-hole scores: John Wallace 83, Kim King 85, Wayne Anderson 89, and Jack Brown 97. 

 

Senior Bob Dow of the Wardogs fired a 125 yard “hole-in-one,” but still must strive for membership in the ACE organization of golfers.

Dow was driving for the No. 9 hole, which is on a big green that shares hole number 18. His drive sailed straight toward the No.18 flag and dropped into the hole after one bounce. He managed to score a part three on the No. 9 after lifting his ball from the No. 18 hole. (The joy of a  9-hole course.)

The Wardogs are scheduled to play their next rounds on the Miami Country club course, with Joplin Parkwood here Monday and Baxter Springs on Tuesday.

 1973 April 15 “13 Teams in High School Golf Invitational Meet Here Monday”

Miami’s Wardogs, coached by Archie Loehr, may be strong contenders even though the only one player is back from the foursome that carried the Wardogs to fourth place among 15 teams last year. Other teams entered this year include Tulsa Edison, Muskogee, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, ark. Owasso, Pryor, Claremore, Tahlequah, Parsons, Kan., Fort Scott, Baxter Springs, Nowata, Columbus, and Tulsa Cascia Hall.  

1973 April 18 “Tulsa Edison Wins All Top Honors in Miami Invitational Golf Event”

The 18-hole competition that was delayed one day by wet conditions, the Eagles totaled 314 for the four-ball trophy on a three-over-par 75 by Medalist H.B. Warren, 79 each by Mark Brown, Sandy McNeill, and 81 by Chris Harris.

Muskogee’s Roughers finished second to Edison with 329 and Fayetteville, Ark., third. Miami team members finished in seventh place with Bob Dow, 81; John Mirjanich, 87; John Wallace, 87; and Kim King 88. 

1973 May 1 "Parkwood Girls Edge MHS, 4-3"

Joplin Parkwood edged Miami 4 to 3 in girls high school matches played Monday at the Miami Country club. Each team won three matches with Parkwood gaining the winning point for have the medalist. Judy Gregston with a 46 gave her victory over Melissa Landers.  

Other results--Sandy Short, Parkwood defeated Brenda Brown. Kathy Kallenberger defeated Ann Cordell. Linda Wickham beat Kate Reed. Barbara Prewitt, Miami, defeated Nancy Lamb. Janie Adams, Miami, defeated Freda Whipkey. Mrs. Claire Oliver and her MHS girls will meet up in Joplin May 16 for a return match on the Schifferdecker course. 

1973 May 1 “MHS 6^th in Region Golf Meet”

Miami high school placed sixth among 13 teams that competed Monday in the Class AAA regional golf on Rolling Hills course in Tulsa. The winning team for the 36-hole competition was Bartlesville Sooner with a score of 645. Next were Tulsa Kelley 661, Pryor and Claremore at 670 each, Jenks 678, Miami 686, Sallisaw 693, Tahlequah 711, Owasso 774, Nowata 800 and Locust Grove 836.

Dow of Coach Archie Loehr’s Wardogs carded rounds of 80-83-163. Scores for the other Miamians were John Mirjanich 84-86-170; Kim King, 87-89-176; John Wallace, 87-90-177; and Dan Giffhorn, 94-95-189.

1973 May 8 “Trophy Winners in the Schlitz Tournament”

Trophy winners in the fourth annual Schlitz golf tournament that ended Sunday at the Miami Country club included, front row from left, George Myers, No. 1 in the first flight; Al Williams, first in 3^rd flight; Dr. W.D. Jackson championship; John Robinson, Jr., tied for 2^nd in championship flight, and Charles Trussler, 2^nd in 2^nd flight.

Back row Stratton Henley, tie for 2^nd in first flight; Mark Wojcik, tie for 2^nd in championship fight, and Max Martin, 2^nd in third flight. Missing from the picture are Wayland Kelly, first in 2^nd flight and Jack Doan who tied for 2^nd in first flight. The scheduled 36-hole competition was stopped at the end of 27 holes because of heavy rains that started in the afternoon.

1973 May 13 “Miami Ladies Golf”

Winners for the past week in Miami Ladies Golf competition were Championship fight Evelyn Hatfield; Class A, Beverly Jackson; Class B, Lottie Mae Russell; Class C, Wanda Doan, and Class D. Frances McKinney and Rosalie Patterson, tied. Wednesday’s play from the red tees will be for low putts. The pairings”

No. 1 Tee: 9 a.m. LaVon Young, Mae Tate, Faye Berentz; Lottie Mae Russell, LaRue Gaines, Yvonne Temple; Pauline Taylor, Joyce Rutter, Lib Lillard, Jean Ann Blue; Sue Barnes, Helen Moore, Lois Garwood; Hattie Wall, Virginia Sapp, Peg Murphy; Billie Pace, Marylyn Adams, Evelyn Hatfield; Geneva Ramsey, Beverly Jackson, Barbara Shouse.

No. 6 Tee: Gladys Wetzel, Judith Weld, Rose Pratt; Etta Viers, Caryl Rohwedder, Jean Phillips; Pauline Adkison, Aileen Bradshaw, Gail Beck; Frances McKinney, Martha Elliott, Dorothy Hester; Roma Dahl, Mary Robinson, Sue Enyart; Dorothy Gibson, Rosalee Patterson, Wanda Doan.

Afternoon: Mae Farrier, Jo Ann Smallwood, Claire Oliver, Millie Carter, Marian Richards, Doris Wilson, and Ethel Mailath.

1973 June 6 “Miami Junior Golf”

Winners in junior golf competition last Friday at the Miami Country club were:

Belk's add.

2-hole—Darren Foster and Mary Weitz.

4-hole—Brent Landers, Tracy Enyart.

Point Competition

B Flight Boys—Doug Smith, 2 points, Tommy Kidd, 1 point. B Flight Girls—Sandy Jackson 2 points, Traci Bradshaw 1.

A Flight Boys—John Weitz, 2 points, Chris Adkison, 1 point. A Flight Girls—Pam Landers, 2 points, Ann Heyburn, 1 point.

Championship Flight—John Mirjanich, 2 points, Wayne Anderson, 1 point.

Pairings for Friday’s play:

Two-hole players: Darren Foster and Danny McKinney, scorer—Matt
Giffhorn. Scott Collingsworth, Steven Blevins, and Meade Monger, scorer-Barbara Blevins. Kim Weld, Lise Blevins, Donna Weitz, scorer—Melissa Landers. Mary Ann Weitz, Mary Ann Kidd and Crissy Neal, scorer—Ruth Wills.

Four-hole players: Jay Jackson, Michael Weitz, Chris Young, scorer—Roy Ober; Brent Landers and Billy Jackson, scorer--Loretta Weitz. Matthew Monger and Raymond McKinney, scorer—Pat Collingsworth. Shelly Blevins, Kirsten Couch, Susan Bennett, scorer--Karen Reavis; Shelly Weatherford, Tracy Enyart, Debbie Jackson, scorer--Carol Smith; Cathy Harsch, Sally Neal, scorer—Sue Weatherford.

1973 June 13 “Youth Golf Classic Winners”

Award Winners in the four county Youth Golf Classic held in Miami were, front row from left: Sandy Jackson, first for under 14; Will Neel, Tom Kidd, David Cresap and Debbie Jackson. Top row: John Mirjanich, who repeated as champion; Wayne Anderson, Mike Hylton and Charlie Wilmoth, all championship flight. 

John Mirjanich repeated at champion of the annual Youth Golf Classic that was conducted Monday at the Miami Country club. He carded an 18-hole score of 42-42-84. Wayne Anderson of Miami was runner-up with 46-40-86.  Third place went to Mike Hylton, Miami with a 43-45-88 and fourth to Charlie Wilmoth, 50-46-96.

The championship for boys and girls under 14 was Miami’s Sandy Jackson, with 52-46-98. Will Neel of Shangri-la, Afton, was second with 48-51-99. Next were Tom Kidd with 100, David Cresap, 104.

The non-placing award for low girl went to Debbie Jackson of Miami with 55-52-107.

Mirjanich clinched a berth in the July 11 state tournament at Duncan. Pat Wilson of Miami helped conduct the Miami tournament sponsored by independent life insurance agencies of Ottawa, Craig, Delaware, and Mayes counties.

1973 June 20 “Neel-Cordell Team Captures Golf Title”

Dick Neel and Tom Cordell winners of the pro/club president PGA event.

Setting a new competitive course record with a 69, Dickie Neel, assistant pro at Miami Country club, combined with club President, Tom Cordell to take the South Central Section PGA tourney at Shangri-la Lodge.

Neel and Cordell won the second annual meet for assistant pros and club presidents with a low team net total of 135. Cordell had a scratch 76 to go with his handicap of 10 strokes.

Second team honors went to Mike Smiley and Lyndel Buck of Lake Hefner Country club with a 137, followed by Bob Karlovich and Don Corp of Indian Springs club in Broken Arrow with 144. In fourth place was Gary Sharp and arch Henderson, also of Lake Hefner with 148.

Following Neel in individual low pros scoring were Guy Walkingstick of Tulsa with 70, Karlovich and Smiley with 73’s.

1973 June 24 “Tulsa Girl Golf Champion”

Shooting a fine 80, Brenda Meyers of Tulsa far outdistanced other linksters to capture the 14^th annual Girls Invitational Golf Tournament at the Miami Country club Friday. Brenda’s 39-41 put her in the winner’s slot by 13 strokes. Claudia Lukken of Tulsa and Dena Dellasega of Pittsburg, Kan., tied for 2^nd after posting 92.

Sponsored by the Miami Ladies Golf Association, the event drew contestants from three states. Mrs. Grace Painter served as tournament chairman.

Coming in first in A flight age 13-14 was Sandy Jackson, Miami, with a nine-hole score of 48, one stroke better than Holly Pryor of Bartlesville.

1973 June 29 “Kansas City Chiefs Test Shangri-la Course”

 A tall tale--All pro defensive end and tackle, Dave Hill, of the Kansas City Chiefs towers gigantically beside Miamian Max Blue during golf play Thursday afternoon at Shangri-la on Grand Lake's Monkey Island. A number of Miami and area golfers played with visiting Chiefs and several of their assistant coaches. Another visiting coach was Tom Hudspeth, formerly of Afton, who now is head football mentor for the University of Texas at El Paso.

 

 

 

1973 June 29 “Ladies’ Golf Notes”

The Miami Ladies Golf Association will not hold the usual Wednesday activities this week because of July 4 Scotch foursomes that day. Winners of blind hole (No. 12) competition last week were Championship, tie with Billie Pace, Rebecca Mirjanich, and Barbara Shouse; Class A Erin Wojcik; Class B tie with Virginia Sapp, Jean Ann Blue, Lottie Mae Russell, and Marian Richards; Class C tie with Aileen Bradshaw, Rose Pratt; Class D Caryl Rohwedder.

1973 July 1 “Junior Boys Golf Invitational Friday”

The Miami junior boys invitational to be held Friday at the Miami Country club is the largest in the 13-year history of the local event. Mrs. Loretta Weitz and Mrs. Melba Cordell are tournament co-chairman for the Ladies Golf Association, which sponsors the tournament in cooperation with club pro, Johnie F. Stapp.

Ron Streck of Tulsa won the championship last year with an 18-hole score of 39-35-74, two over the men’s par of 72.

1973 July 6 “Miami Ladies Golf Hosts Annual Guest Day”

The Miami Ladies guest day included golfers from Joplin and Neosho, Mo., Caney, Columbus and Parsons, Kan., and Nowata, Broken Arrow, Vinita, and Miami participating.

Prizes were awarded at the luncheon following play. The tables were decorated with hat trees, depicting many themes. Each golfer used her imagination in making unusual golf hats. Many prizes were awarded for the colorful hats.

Claire Oliver and Rebecca Mirjanich of Miami were the co-medalists for the golf competition. Low putts winner was Barb Kramer of Neosho. Low gross prizes were given to every club represented.

Lois Garwood was Guest Day chairman with Frances McKinney and Beverly Jackson serving with her on the committee. Ninety-one golfers played.

1973 July 8 “Boys Invitational Tournament Champions”

The championship went to Mark Brown of Tulsa. It was one of the most successful in the 13-year history of the event. It took four extra holes of sudden death title playoff for Brown, a 5-9, 150 pound graduate of Tulsa Edison High School, to edge Chuck Paine, a 6-3, 165-pounder who has another year of golf and basketball competition at Muskogee High School.

They finished the regular 18 holes of the morning-afternoon competition with 75, three over men’s par. On the fourth hole Brown sank a 12-foot par putt to win the victory.

Despite the fine play by the 17-year-olds in the championship flight, a 16-year-old Tom Schuler of Tulsa Kelly, stole the show in the 1973 Miami tournament by capturing medalist honors with a 37-35-72 score. Schuler, 5-7, 120 pounds, had wanted to exercise the tournament privilege of moving to a higher flight, which in this case would have been championship, but accepted the advice of a relative to remain in his own age flight. Only championship fight contestants are eligible to play for the championship.  

Bartlesville’s Joe Hecksher, 16, whose cousins Hank and Frank Hecksher have been fine football players at Miami high school, was runner-up in president’ flight with a score of 75.

Winners and runners-up in other flight of the 128-player tournament for ages 9 to 17, were:

A flight—Bobby Biser, 79: Mark Fields, 82.

B flight—Fred Daniels III, 44; Jim Fields, 45.

C flight—10-year-old Tracy Phillips of Tulsa, one of the tourney’s smallest players, a sparkling 42; Brent Landers, 50.

Miamians in the event were Wayne Anderson, 88; Chris Adkison, 89;Mike Hylton, 95; John Weitz, 99; Mike McGraw, Ponca City 90 (now a PGA pro and golf coach at…); Will Neel, 103; David Weitz, 110; Bob Dinneen, 122; Tom Kidd, 47; Mike Richardson, 52, Mathew Monger, 53; Mike Weitz, 80;Billy Jackson, 59.

Special support of the big tournament was provided by the Chamber of Commerce, Miami’s two banks, Medical Arts Clinic, Miami Savings & Loan, Garwood Agency, Pettett Mfg., and Miami Sales Co.

1973 July 15 “Ladies’ Golf Notes”

Winners the past week in Miami Ladies Golf were Championship, Claire Oliver; Class A, Helen Moore; Class B, Marian Richards; Class C, Judy Weld; and Class D, Caryl Rohwedder.  

Wednesday’s play will be from the white tees for low gross. The pairings:

No. 1 tee: Billie Pace, Melba Cordell, Faye Berentz; Yvonne Temple, Rebecca Mirjanich, Claire Oliver; Evelyn Hatfield, Lib Lillard, Joyce Rutter; LaRue Gaines, Beverly Jackson, Sue Barnes; Barbara Shouse, Marylyn Adams, Helen Moore; Erin Wojcik, Lottie Mae Russell, Aileen Bradshaw; Lois Garwood, Hattie Wall, Pauline Taylor.

No. 6 tee: Gail Beck, Frances McKinney, Rose Pratt; Etta Viers, Judy Weld, Gladys Wetzel; Dorothy Hester, Bonnie Moody, Caryl Rohwedder, Pauline Adkison.

Afternoon—Millie Carter, Ethel Mailath, Joan Smallwood, Sue Enyart, Wanda Doan. 

 

1973 July 17 “From the Clutter”

Bill Jackson, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayman Jackson, 2107 Yale, came within an inch of firing a men’s birdie two on the No. 12 hole of the Miami Country club course while practicing golf early Monday afternoon.

This is a 151-yard par three hole. At this stage of his practice, Billy didn’t have his driver. He teed off with his putter and the mighty shot for a 10-year-old landed on the green stopping 25 feet from the hole. His putt halted an inch from the cup, and he holed out for a par three.

Practicing with him at the time was his pal, Brent Landers, 10, and Mrs. Claire Oliver, who for years has been a leader of youth golf activities.

Billy, who has been golfing in Miami since age four, said the No. 12 effort was his best—even with a putter all the way. He won the driving trophy for his age flight in the recent Miami junior invitational tournament. 

1973 July 19 "Miami Sisters Share Spotlight in State Meet"

The Jackson sisters of Miami, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Wayman Jackson, have shared the spotlight in this week's Oklahoma junior girls golf tournament at the Stillwater Country club. 

Sandy Jackson, 13, youngest player to qualify for the championship flight, reached today's semi-finals by defeating Patty McGraw of Ponca City, 1 up on Wednesday.

Younger  sister, Debbie, won second place in the nine-hole B flight with a score of 107. The winner at 105 was Rikki Norgaard of Stillwater. 

Match-play results Wednesday in the championship flight included:

Jonni Koppitz, Alva, defeated Holly Pryor, Bartlesville, 7 and 6; Debby O'Toole, OKC defeated Lucia Lukken, Tulsa, 7 and 6; Brenda Moyers, Tulsa, edged Margaret Ward, Ardmore, 1 up.  

1973 July 20 "Sandy Jackson of Miami Loses in Golf Semi-Finals"

Medalist Jonni Koppitz of Alva and Brenda Moyers of Tulsa were playing in Stillwater today for the Oklahoma Junior Girls golf championship. In Thursday's semi-finals, Brenda defeated 13-year-old Sandy Jackson of Miami, 5 and 4, while Miss Koppitz eliminated Debbie O'Toole of OKC, 3 and 2. 

 1973 August 12 “Tournament Winners”

1973 August 12 “Treadway Trophy Winners” 

 

1973 September 2 “Miami’s Men’s Invitational Golf Meet Next Weekend”

Some 140 golfers from several states, including a number of former champions of the event will compete in the 18^th annual Miami Country club men’s tournament. Back as the defending champion is Bill Stewart of Springfield, Mo. The former champions entered in the 1973 meet are Stewart, Jackson, Pipes, Beck and Scaletty. A newcomer to the tournament who had an impressive golf record at Akron, Ohio, is Stan Weld, who was transferred to the B.F. Goodrich plant in Miami.

1973 September 10 “Jackson Wins Golf Crown”

 

Dr. W.D. Jackson became the second man in the history of the Miami Country club’s men’s invitational golf tournament to capture the championship three times when he took top honors here late Sunday afternoon.

The Miami dentist Jackson and Charles Talley, plumbing and heating contractor from Springfield, Mo., finished the regular 36-hole lay with identical scores of 146.

In a sudden-death playoff, each shot a par 4 on the first hole. Talley missed a five-foot putt for a par 4 on the second hole. Jackson sank his six-foot putt for par and the championship. Jackson won his previous Miami tournament titles in 1959 and 1964. Now he is tied with Pursie Pipes of Mt. Vernon, Ill., as the winningest men of the event.

Pipes carded 76 Sunday for a total 148 and a fourth-place tie with Bob Lein of Miami, formerly the No. 1 golfer in Tulsa. Third place in the tourney went to Dennis Goettel of Carthage, Mo., 147.

Other locals in the tournament are Kent Jeffries; 149, Bob Hill, Jr.; 153, John Robinson, Jr., 154; Frank Jacobs, 154; John Robinson, Sr., 160.

President’s flight Stan Weld, 153; Chi Galloway 157; Tom Cordell 163; Ron Robinson, 167; Jim Rutter 171; Al White and Mark Wojcik 175.

A flight was won by Marshall Smith of Quapaw with a 161. Other locals were Dr. W.D. Neal; 165, Charles Hirsch; 166, Rex Painter, 175; Bud Gaines, 176.

B flight was won by Scotty Jackson, Tulsa University senior from Miami and son of tourney champion Dr. Jackson, 87-77-164, Jerry Blevins 169; Bill Harsch 171; John Price, 176; H.D. Robinson, 178; Dick Lillard, 183.

C flight won by David Gaines, Miami, 178. Other locals playing were Dick Lowry, 181, Cy Elmburg, 183; Jim Smallwood, 186; Bob Adams, 187; Max Martin, 190; Bill Oliver 196; K.C. Jeffries 191; Bill Hatfield, 194.

D flight third place went to Bob Garwood, 192; Joe Hankins, 193; Joel Ridenour, 197; George Wojcik, 198; Hank Garwood, 203; George Foster 216.

1973 September 28 “Men’s City Golf Tourney Next 2 Weekends”

Play will begin Saturday morning in the first round of the annual men’s city golf championship at the Miami Country club. The 72-hole competition will be completed with 18-hole round on October 6 and 7. In addition to determining the club champion and runner-up, this year’s tournament will have a new feature—team competition.

Through a computerized system, players will be assigned to teams in a method that is designed to make all of the teams near equal in strength. Scores for the first 36 holes will be bed into a computer that will be programmed to divide total entries into teams.

A wide variety of merchandise will go to members of the winning teams. Dr. W.D. Jackson is the tournament chairman.

1973 October 7

1973 October 8 “Stan Weld Wins City Golf Title”

Stan Weld is the 1973 men’s champion of the Miami Country club and former champion of the Dr. W.D. Jackson is the runner-up. The 72-hole tournament came to an end Sunday. Weld, who moved to Miami from Akron, Ohio, last year to be B.F. Goodrich’s engineer in charge of major construction, totaled 304 strokes while Jackson scored 309.

Four-man team competition was mixed with the tournament and Dr. Jackson’s team won valuable merchandise prizes. Weld and Jackson received trophies.

The computerized scoring was a good test, as the total scores for the teams were relatively close, considering the 72-hole results for 20 players.

**This is the first reference to the use of a computer.  

Individual and total scores for the five teams follow:

Dr. W. D. Jackson, 309; Jack Doan, 341; Jim Rutter, 368; and Butch Garrette, 418. Total 1,436.

John Robinson, Jr., 313; Marion Zajic, 372; Bud Gaines, 371; and Les Farris 389. Total 1,447.

Stan Weld, 304: David Gaines, 359; Dick Wadleigh, 380; and Kenneth Richards, 404. Total 1,447.

Kent Jeffries, 324; George Wojcik, 368; Kermit Lewis, 364; and Lou Mirjanich, 374. Total 1,450.

Rex Painter, 354; Stratton Henley, 345; Don Wiley, 369, and Bill Oliver, 388. Total 1,456.

1973 October 28 “Ladies’ Golf Notes”

Winners the past week in the Miami Ladies Golf competition were Championship, Evelyn Hatfield; Class A, Beverly Jackson; B, Pauline Taylor; C. Rose Pratt; D. Rosalee Patterson. Wednesday’s play will be a turkey shoot, using handicaps. 

*Evelyn Hatfield, once again won the Miami Ladies Club championship and was also medalist. Ruth Heyburn placed second.  I found this in other references but could not find an article about it. 

1973 November 11 "Billie Pace Golf Prexy"

Officers were installed by the Miami Ladies Golf Association Wednesday in the home of Mr. D.E. Heyburn. The serving table was decorated with fall flowers in an antique basket arranged by Mrs. Rose Pratt. Installed were Billie Pace, president; Caryl Rohwedder, vice president; Etta Veirs, secretary; Sue Enyart, treasurer, and Evelyn Hatfield, association representative. 

Sharing hostess duties were Ruth Heyburn, Val Dale,Bonnie Moody, Marian Richards, and Rose Pratt. Others attending were Mary Robinson, Gladys Wetzel, Gail Beck, Mavis Ford, Rosalee Patterson, Pauline Adkison, Peg Murphy, Fay Berentz, Judy Weld, Beverly Jackson, Yvonne Temple, Hattie Wall, Dorothy Hester, Jean Ann Blue, Geneva Ramsey, Frances McKinney, Helen Stapp, Noma Newman, Erin Wojcik, Aileen Bradshaw, LaVon Young, Lois Garwood, Roma Dahl, Lib Lillard, Pauline Taylor, and guest, Mrs. Dick Neel.