Santa Cruz seniors battle wind, yet again

In November, the golf course at Rio Rico beat up on the Santa Cruz Senior golfers.

On Dec. 7, it was the wind that took its toll on this hardy group of 64 souls.

With gusts up to 35 miles per hour, the Torres Blancas golf links played much harder than usual.

One team—Tom Smith, Andy Sorenson, Bob Houlas, and Carlos Lopes—had great success as they shot 15-under par and won going away.

In second place, eight shots back of the first place team, came Bill Thomas, Gary Anderson, Dale Bristol and David Jones.

Bob Nicholas, Bruce Atkinson, Jack Lewis and Jim Richardson shot the same score but lost in a scorecard playoff.

One shot back of those two teams and taking fourth place came Art Schott, Del Smith, Bur Ethan and that ever-present blind draw.

Rounding out the winners in fifth place at 2-under par was the team of Mike Kilby, Gil LeClair, Jim Lawlor and Bob Day, who won a scorecard playoff over Norm Brooks, Will Bernard, Jim Wait and Hillie Escareno.

Four closest-to-the-pin awards on the par threes were presented and with the weather conditions, these represented some remarkable shots.

Winners were John Lamb, Jack Lewis, Denny Dinwiddie and Jim Richardson.

The 2008 season kicks off at the newly renovated Palo Duro course in Nogales on Jan. 4.

Membership information is available from secretary Dick Purdy at 648-1760.

Jim Hudson, current tournament director, is retiring. Anyone interested in this position can call President Bill Rathburn at 648-1440.

Norm Brooks is a Santa Cruz Senior Golf Club member.