by Alan Hoskins
The third time proved a charm for Ed McFadden and Dave VanDerwell in Kansas City’s oldest and biggest senior golf championship.
McFadden took low score honors with a one-over-par 73 and VanDerwell had the low net of 64 to lead a field of 111 golfers in the 32nd annual Wyandotte County Senior Championship at Sunflower Hills Thursday. Both were playing in the tourney for just the third time and both are 60.
McFadden needed a scorecard playoff for low gross honors, edging veteran Bob Chatterton by virtue of a par on the monstrous par 4 15th hole. “A driver and 6-iron,” said McFadden of reaching the 442-yard hole in two.
McFadden had three bogeys but offset them with birdies at Nos. 9 and 18. “I got pretty lucky on punch out shots a couple of times,” McFadden said. “On No. 14 I was under trees on the right side and punched out and was able to make par.”
A 1972 graduate of Bishop Ward, McFadden has been playing Sunflower Hills since it opened and has become a regular in the men’s senior league.
“I’ve been in the upper 60’s, 68, 69,” said McFadden, the sales manager for Jay Wolfe Toyota and a 25-year member of the sales staff for Jay Wolfe auto dealerships.
The senior tourney couldn’t have come at a better time for VanDerwell.
“I had been playing poorly and all of a sudden in the last two or three weeks I’ve been in the 70s for five straight rounds,” said VanDerwell, who shot a 77. A three to four times a week golfer, VanDerwell credited improved distance and accuracy with his driver for his improved play. “I’ve been hitting it pretty straight.”
A retired teacher from Argentine Middle School and the Olathe school district, VanDerwell also plays in the Kansas City Senior Golf Association and a 9-hole league at Overland Park.
At 82 years of age, Clarence Nigh came closest to shooting his age with an 84. Flight winners for low gross included Bill Campbell, Glenn Rice, Tim Francis, Dave Klein, Chatterton and Nigh while low net flight winners were Jay Sutera, Steve Briles, Gary Hudgens, Keith Marr, Dave Davis and Joe Dercher.
32nd WyCo Senior Championship
SENIOR KIDS (55-60) – 1. Bill Campbell*, 75; 2. Tim Skorija, 75; 3. Keith Forrest, 79; 4. Ray Loya, 80. NET – 1. Jay Sutera, 66; 2. Greg Schmidt, 67; 3. Mike Sharp, 69; 4. Jim Long, 70.
FRESHMEN (61-63) – 1. Glenn Rice, 76; 2. Tom Bachelor, 77; 3. Joe Carrillo, 78; 4. John Stege, 81. NET – 1. Steve Briles*, 67; 2. Dan Schmit, 67; 3. Rick Paulsen, 69; 4. Byron McCallum, 70.
SOPHOMORES (64-66) – 1. Bob Chatterton, 73; 2. Ron Wilson, 78; 3. Bob Jeselnick, 79; 4. (tie) Steve Burke, Bob Janesco, 80. NET – 1. Gary Hudgens*, 68; 2. Ted McClellan, 68; 3. (tie) Ron Medley, Mike Romine, 69.
JUNIORS (67-71) – 1. Tim Francis, 76; 2. Chris Blum, 77; 3. Jorge Prieto, 81; 4. Richard Evans, 82. NET – 1. Keith Marr, 67; 2. Tom Vrabac, 68; 3. (tie) Stewart Nelson, Glen Richard, 71.
ADULTS (72-76) – 1. Dave Klein, 79; 2. Bill Palmer, 81; 3. Paul Palmer, 82; 4. Richard Johnson, 85. NET – 1. Dave Davis, 67; 2. Kermit Boyer, 70; 3. Dale Moore, 73; 4. (tie) Tom Cooley, Bob Tranckino, 74.
SENIORS (77 and over) – 1. Clarence Nigh, 84; 2. Bob Stephan, 85; Bob Smith, 86; 4. John Smarekar, 88. NET – 1. Joe Dercher, 65; 2. Armando Diaz, 71; 3. Gail Eigenan, 72; 4. Jerry Savner, 73.
PROXIMITY PRIZES – Closest to hole: Clarence Nigh, No. 4; Bill Pavlik, No. 8; Gary Hudgens, No. 13; Jim Long, No. 16. Longest putt: Bob Stephan, No. 9. Closest to hole on second shot: Byron McCallum, No. 10; Dennis McWilliams, No. 18.