by Alan Hoskins
Special to Wyandotte Daily
Big finishes earned Ed McFadden and Don Dawson top honors in the 38th annual Wyandotte County Senior Golf Tournament at Sunflower Hills Friday.
McFadden finished the final seven holes with three birdies for a 2-under par 70 to win the overall championship; Dawson was one just one over with the putter the final six holes to take net honors with a 59.
The overall championship was the second for McFadden, who also won in 2015, and came in dramatic fashion – a scrambling birdie on his final hole to edge Jerry Reid. Finishing on the par 5 second hole, McFadden hit his drive in trees on the right, found a tree on the second shot and then lobbed a 54-degree wedge 50 yards over trees and holed a 12-foot putt.
“I putted real well; my putter saved me,” said McFadden, who had five birdies. Two over par through nine holes, McFadden bogeyed three of the next four holes (Nos. 12, 13 and 15). Another scrambling birdie at No. 14 helped ease the pain. “I was in trees 120 yards out and hit a 9-iron over the trees to 10 feet. But it could have been a bogey.”
McFadden’s other birdies came at No. 5, a 115-yard wedge to 10 feet; No. 11, where he two-putted the par 5; and No.18, where he hit a wedge shot from the rough over a sand bunker to within a foot.
A 1972 graduate of Bishop Ward, the 66-year-old McFadden has played Sunflower Hills almost from its opening in 1977.
“My cousin, Bill Lindquist, was instrumental in getting Sunflower built,” he said. In sales with Jay Wolfe Auto for more than 30 years, he’s currently with Jay Wolfe Toyota near the airport.
Dawson’s win was not only his first senior win, it was his first win in any tournament. “I used to play in the ’90’s but started back this year,” said Dawson, a 30-plus year employee at KU Medical Center. “I made time,” he said of his return to the game.
His round of 86 was highlighted by a pair of back-to back birdies, knocking in a 12-foot putt on the par 5 17th hole and a 4-footer on the par 4 18th.
“My putter got hot,” Dawson said. “I played a lot better the last nine. I three-putted a lot on the first nine but was only one over the last six holes.”
Bob Stephan, 87, and Jerry Reid, 71, were each one stroke off their age in the closest to age competition.
38th WyCo Senior Golf Championship
Low gross champion, Ed McFadden, 70; Low net champion, Don Dawson, 59
Senior kids (55 to-61) – Low gross: 1. Todd Milberger, 72; 2. Mike McNellis, 73; 3. Bob McNellis, 79; 4. Roger Dill, 83. Low net: 1. Chris Faddis, 69; 2. Brad Burton, 70; 3. Daniel Burgess, 72; 4. Jeff Baker, 73.
Freshmen (62-66) – Low gross: 1. Mike Moore, 73; 2. Jim Padelli, 79; 3. Ray Loya, 82; 4. Bill Campbell, 83. Low net: 1. Scott Ramsey, 68; 2. Jay Sutera, 70; 3. Mike Super, 71; Craig McKinley, 72.
Sophomore (67-68) – Low gross: 1. Rick Egnatic, 76; 2. Marcus Allen, 80; 3. Greg Loethen, 81; 4. Randy Kancel, 83. Low net: 1. Tony Kovach, 68; 2. (tie) Jim Wolf, David Pierce, Tim Cavlovic, 69.
Juniors 69-71) – Low gross: 1. Rick Richardson, 78; 2. (tie) Bob Chatterton, Ray Giesler, 81; 4. Jim Orth, 88. Low net: 1. Kevin Johnson, 67; 2. Dan Kalazek, 71: 3. (tie) Don McCann, Frank Moss, 73.
Adults (72-74) – Low gross: 1. Jerry Reid, 71; 2. (tie) Bob Janesko, Bill Toepfer, 78; 4. Steve Burke, 79. Low net – Gary Burgess, 63; 2. Robert Ulmer, 66; 3. Carl Roach, 67; 4 (tie) Roger DeLong, Craig Carbery, 70.
Seniors (75 and over) – Low gross: 1. Dave Klein, 80; 2. Phil Stines, 86; 3. Paul Palmer, 87; 4. Dane Manis, 88. Low net – 1. Everett Marmon, 66; 2. (tie) Bob Stephan, Ron Favrow, 69; 4. John Smarekar, 70.
Proximity prizes
Closest to pin: Paul Palmer, No. 4; Ted McClellan, No. 8; Tim Cavlovic, No. 13; Bob McNellis, No. 16. Closest pin (second shot): Bill Campbell, No. 10; Gary Burgess, No. 18. Longest putt, Tom Butler, No. 18.