More, more, more. More players, more prizes, more excitement. The 11th Annual Pudge Kendrick Memorial Golf Tournament provided more of everything. A record eighty-eight teams spread out over eight flights gave golfers of all skill levels an opportunity to test their mettle. A record $13,000 in prize money was paid out to the top four finishers in each flight.

And if that wasn’t enough, World Long Drive professional Mitch Dobbyn was on hand to give donors a chance to win a $5,000 golf vacation for two. On the par 5 8th hole, Mitch would hit a tee shot for the team, usually over 400 yards, and if one of the team members holed out the second shot they would win the Pebble Beach golf vacation prize. Two teams actually hit the green with their second shots and one team almost holed it. Mitch helped raise $7,300 for charity and $3,400 of that went to the Parmer County and Hereford Cancer Coalitions.

How much more do you need? How about $79,000. That is the amount that has been collected so far this year to benefit the two local Cancer Coalitions. Tournament spokesman Greg Lewellen said that he is amazed at how the tournament has grown each year.

The Results

The husband/wife team of Jerry & Linda Stevens are the tournament champions. Their two round Championship Flight total of 121 (60-61) was four shots better than the two teams of who tied for second place. Jeff O’Rand & Phillip Kahlich and Braden West & Billy Pope shot identical scores of 125 (64-61). Jeremy Herrera & Shane Baucom finished fourth with a score of 126 (62-64). Besides the first place prize money, Jerry & Linda also won monogrammed golf bags. The top four teams in the Championship Flight also received engraved Yeti tumblers courtesy of Valero.

Jerry & Linda are Hereford residents and are not the only golfers in their family. Their son, Jay, played collegiate golf at WTA&M University and won this same tournament back in 2015 with playing partner Nathan Sullivan. Their daughter, Sammi, played her college golf at the University of New Mexico and played 3 1/2 years on the pro tour. Jerry said that he and Linda play in 4-5 tournaments a year and that they miss playing golf at the Friona Country Club.

In the 1st Flight, Keith & Kayla Bartley shot a second day 61 to pull away from the pack. Their two round total of 127 (66-61) was also four shots better that the second place team of Tim Simons and Bob Baker who shot 131 (65-66).

The 2nd Flight was the only one that had two teams tie for first place. The teams of Dee King & Joe Marquez and Mike Maynard & Rodney McCracken both shot scores of 137 (69-68). This flight was the most competitive. Only two shots separated the top five teams. All five teams won money. Interestingly, seven of those ten players have lived in Friona in the past.

Rick Roden & Rhett Roden shot a 142 (72-70) to win the 3rd Flight by a single shot over the team of Joe Villanueva & Ruben Villanueva 143 (71-73).

Brodie Boren & Wayde Boren 143 (73-70) won the 4th Flight by a single shot over Isaac Alanzo & Pete Rodriguez 144 (73-71).

Rick Carr & Coy Jameson fired a 148 (76-72) and repeated as 5th Flight champions with a one shot victory of Zac Schilling & Hadley Bunch who shot 149 (75-74).

The 6th Flight was also won by one stroke with the team of Robert De La Cruz & Rodney Strafuss shooting a 153 (77-76) and defeating Joseph Hernandez & Kevin Prisk who shot a 154 (77-77).

The 7th Flight had the largest margin of victory as Danny Hobbs & Pat Hoover 157 (81076) won by nine shots over the second place team of Kevin Foster & Karen Boren 166 (81-85).

Cash prizes were awarded to the top four teams in each flight. The payout was: $750 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, $250 for 3rd place, and $125 for 4th place.

Complete tournament results can be found on page 9 of the Friona Star. Next year’s tournament is scheduled for July 25th and 26th. See you there.