The field is full. Over 80 two-person teams will tee it up July 27th-28th at the 11th Annual Pudge Kendrick Memorial Golf Tournament. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Parmer County Cancer Coalition and the Hereford Cancer Coalition. Both organizations work together to help cancer patients. Greg Lewellen, spokesperson for the event said that over $53,000 has already been raised this year in sponsorships. He hopes to give about $20,000 each to the Parmer County Cancer Coalition and the Hereford Cancer Coalition this year. The Hereford Cancer Coalition was added as a charitable cause a few years back, as a show of support for the Hereford community. Lewellen said, “Hereford has been great to the cause, and we wanted to repay them.” Mr. Lewellen would also like to thank the Deaf Smith Chamber of Commerce, the City of Hereford, and the staff at John Pitman Golf Course for their help in coordinating this annual event.

The tournament will be held at the John Pitman Golf Club in Hereford, Texas and each day the morning flight will start at 8:00 a.m. and the afternoon flight will begin at 1:30 p.m. Sunday’s tee times are based on flighting from Saturday’s results. This two-day scramble tournament has become one of the more popular golf events in Hereford. On Sunday, prizes will be awarded in all flights. The total payout for last year’s tournament was $12,750 with the top three teams in each flight receiving cash prizes.

Pope Boys BBQ will be at the course both Saturday and Sunday serving lunch. There will be a Saturday night dinner starting at 6 p.m. at the Hereford Country Club. There will be a player evaluation following the dinner, along with the finalization of the silent auction bids.

New this year is an event by Charity Golf International. Mitch Dobbyn will be on a par 5 tee box and, for a contribution, a team can use his drive. If they hole out the next shot, they will win trip to Pebble Beach.

Tournament History

HK “Pudge” Kendrick was a founding member of the Friona Country Club in 1962, and a two-time club champion. When Pudge passed away in April 2009, Larry Johnston approached his son Danny about starting a golf tournament in Pudge’s honor, to continue his legacy at the Friona Country Club. This year marks the 11th year for the tournament.

The Pudge Kendrick Memorial was the last event ever held at Friona Country Club, in June 2014. There were 69 teams over two tee times during that tournament. Dee King, the current owner of the course, closed the facility after we finished that Sunday.

The next year the tournament moved to the John Pitman Golf Course in Hereford, at the urging, and with the help of Mike Mauldin and Rick Hanna. Mike is the President of First Financial Bank in Hereford, and Rick is their City Manager. Past winners of the tournament, held in Hereford, include Jay Stevens/Nathan Sullivan (124) in 2015, Aaron White/Thomas Maldonado (119) in 2016, Aaron White/Phillip Kahlich (119) in 2017, and Phillip Shelton/Darren Renwick (121) in 2018.

ALL LOCAL… Friona golfers scored a sweep of the first flight in the inaugural Friona Invitational Golf Tournament. From left to right are Pudge Kendrick, winner, Wright Williams, runner-up, and Eddie Coronado, consolation champion. (Friona Star, September 6, 1962)