By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
The Washington Yacht and Country Club recently wrapped up its premier event, and just like it has been for over 30 years, this season’s Summer Festival Golf Tournament was a hole-in-one.
The tournament, which is held every year on the second weekend in June, generally features over 140 golfers ranging from the highly skilled all the way down to the beginner levels.
“It’s pretty much our showcase event,” WYCC golf professional Jeremy Shadle said. “We have people from all over the country come over and play, but really most have some ties to Washington somehow or another.”
Shadle said that while event encompasses all golfers, it extends beyond golf.
“We have a mixed variety of skill levels,” Shadle said. “We have players that are very, very good and players who are not so good. But we also have some really good social events and parties that go on with the golf tournament.”
Shadle said that the friendly nature of the Summer Festival has been the driving force behind the annual event.
“It’s kind of like a homecoming weekend for a lot of the people that come in. … The parties and the social aspects are a lot of fun. Everybody has a good time and can catch up with each other,” Shadle said.
“I brought a group of guys from New York to come down and play because their father lives here. The same father has a son in Florida that comes up and plays. We got a big contingency in Greensboro that comes to play because of a member here. We also have a gentleman that used to live here about 15 years ago that comes all the way from Louisiana every year for it; plus we get players from all over the state.”
This year’s Championship Flight winner, Scott Crocker hails from Kinston and shot a 70 on Saturday and a 72 on Sunday to finish two-under (142) on the weekend.
Brad Credle took second place with a weekend score of 147, while local golf sensation Joshua Chandler shot 78 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday to place one stroke behind Credle with a score of 148 (the flight winners are posted on Page 2B).
Shadle, who has been working at the WYCC since 2001, said that Crocker’s performance is as good as any he has seen in his time there.
“I don’t know what the record is for the Festival, but I’m pretty sure that this year’s 70, 72 is as low as I have seen; it probably ties the low that I have seen,” Shadle said.