Seven-time Club Champion Doug Swartz with SMGA President Greg Tarr
It can’t be luck! Doug Swartz has once again proven to be the master of the SMGA Club Championship Tournament. He has won seven of the last nine club championships and this one was no squeaker. He won low gross by six strokes under his closest rival.
Doug has now won in 2008, 2010 through 2012, 2014 and 2015 and now again in 2016. He has earned the record for club championship wins previously held by Ray Lohman with six wins.
The tournament was a three day stroke play event conducted on March 30 and April 2 and 6. Only the low gross scoring player in Flight 1 can become the club champion as all other flights are played at net score with 100% handicap. There were six flights and winnings were paid down to the sixth place player in each flight. In the first flight only, low gross and second low gross and low net through fourth low net were paying positions.
First flight winners were Doug Swartz overall low gross score and club champion at 232 with Kirk Miller second low gross at 238. Low net score winners were JR Salladay at 214 followed by Warren Stephens and Peter Wright tied at 215.
Second flight winners were Jim Konon at low net of 214 and Virgil Maynard and Art Wieda tied at 215. Third flight winners were Dennis McCabe at a low net of 207 with Ken Enders and Larry Penner tied for second at 214. Fourth flight was won by Chuck Farho and Roy Stigers tied at 215. Fifth flight was taken by Floyd Roman at 209 with second place taken by Hod Wells at 218. The sixth flight was won by Bob Gabric with a low net of 199 and second place taken by Ted Shin at 210.
Congratulations are most certainly due to Doug for his consistently outstanding play in the Club Championship Tournament. He has definitely earned the title of club champion!