by Alan Hoskins
Bob Chatterton and Bob Savner joined rather exclusive clubs with their winning performances in the 31st annual Wyandotte County Senior Golf Championship – Kansas City’s oldest and largest senior amateur tournament.
Chatterton became only the second golfer ever to win both the WyCo Open and the WyCo Senior with a one-over par 73 while Savner took low net honors in his first time ever in the annual tournament played at Sunflower Hills Oct. 3. Chatterton joined Denny McWilliams as the only golfers ever to win both the WyCo and Senior titles.
The 1985 WyCo Open champion, Chatterton was one of only three golfers to break 80 on a day that turned cold and wet six holes into the round. “Grit your teeth and go after it,” said Chatterton, who finished three shots in front of Senior Freshman champion Glenn Rice and five ahead of Senior Kids winner Tim Skorija.
It was an up-and-down round for Chatterton, who had an eagle and three birdies but started the day with a double bogey from the bunker on the 392-yard first hole. However, he quickly rebounded with an eagle 3 on the second hole and added birdies at Nos. 5 and 6 before the heavy rain hit.
“The key was the second hole,” Chatterton said. “I hit a 6-iron to about three feet and that got me back to even, then made a 10-footer on No. 5 and two-putted No. 6 for birdies.”
He saved par from the bunker on No. 8 to finish even par 36 on the front nine, then bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11 before finishing with six pars and a birdie on the par 5 514-yard 17th.
“I hit the green with a three-wood on my second shot on 17, one of the best shots I hit all day,” Chatterton said.
A former golf coach at Bonner Springs, Chatterton, 64, has continued to teach the last 16 years in the junior programs at Sunflower Hills, four years for master pro Jeff Johnson and the last 12 for the First Tee program where he was Coach of the Year four years ago. Playing in the WyCo Senior since he became eligible nine years ago, Chatterton and Jerry Reid share the record for low rounds at 63 with a personal best of 67 from the regular tees. He’s also a regular in the Senior Midwest Classic League.
Savner has been a regular at Sunflower since he retired in 1997 but only entered the WyCo Senior for the first time.
“I just thought I think I’ll get in it this year,” said the 74-year-old Savner. Playing in the Senior Adults flight, his 83 with a 16 handicap for a net 67 was one shot better than a 68 by Craig McKinley in the Senior Kids. The key to his round came at the 279-yard ninth hole where he rolled in a 25-foot putt for birdie and longest putt honors.
A Basehor resident, Savner was slowed by a bulging disc last year but now plays three or four times a week. “I took a series of 12 lessons and it really made a difference,” said Savner.
2014 WyCo Senior Championship
OVERALL CHAMPION – Bob Chatterton, 73; NET CHAMPION – Bob Savner, 67.
KIDS (ages 55-59) – 1. Tim Skorija, 78; 2. Ray Loya, 80; 3. Ed McFadden, 81; 4. (tie) Dave Grisso, Norton Jizbalm, 85. NET – 1. Craig McKinley, 68; 2. (tie) Greg Schmidt, Mike Sharp, 71; 4. Jay Sutera, 72.
FRESHMEN (60-62) – 1. Glenn Rice, 76; 2. John Steege, 80; 3. Rick Egnatic, 83; 4. T.J. Beecroft, 84. NET – 1. Greg Loethen, 70; 2. Jerry Lamb, 71; 3. Jim Barclay, 72: 4. Steve Briles, 74.
SOPHOMORES (63-66) – 1. Rick Richardson, 83; 2. Bob Janesko, 86; 3. Stan Eisenbarth, 88; 4. Dick Hanson, 90. NET – 1. Mike Romine*, 71; 2. Ron Robson, 71; 3. Dick Davis, 76; 4. (tie) Don McCann, Tim Vrabac, 77).
JUNIORS (67-71) – 1. Roger DeLong, 82; 2. Jim Powell, 84; 3. John Bukaty, 89; 4. Joe Denk, 93. NET – 1. Emmitt Hightower, 70; 2. Don Giannotti, 71; 3. Glen Rihard, 75; 4. Dave Palcher, 76.
ADULTS (72-77) – 1. Paul Palmer, 80; 2. Dennis McWilliams, 83; 3. Bob Smith, 85; 4. Dave Davis, 87. NET – 1. Tom Cooley*, 71; 2. Stan Maxey, 71; 3. Bob Ramckino, 74; 5. Ron Wilkinson, 75.
SENIOR SENIORS (78 and over) – 1. Clarence Nigh, 85; 2. LeRoy Wahaus, 91; 3. Wayne Boedeker, 95; 4. Bob Pokrywka, 104. NET – 1. Jerry Savner*, 72; 2. Joe Paduch, 72; 3. Roger Miller, 73; 4. Al Ramirez, 91.
PROXIMITY PRIZES – Closest to the hole: Wayne Boedeker, No. 4; Glen Rinhard, No. 8; Bob Chatterton, No. 13; Craig McKinley, No. 16. Longest putt, No. 9 – Bob Savner; Closest second shot: Greg Loethen, No. 10; Dave Davis, No. 18. * – Won scorecard playoff.
