By Ken Barhorst
It was an afternoon of “firsts” in the annual Shelby County Open Men’s Golf Tournament Sunday.
For one thing, it was the first year of the new format. In the past, the tournament has always included 18 holes at Shelby Oaks and 18 at the Moose over two days. This year, it was all played on one day, and reduced to 27 holes, with 18 at the Oaks and nine at the Moose.
The other firsts came from the overall winners. Mike New and Wil Fridley tied for the championship, and for both, it was their first Open titles.
The co-champs said they liked the new format.
“I thought it went well,” said Fridley, son of Oaks club pro Rob Fridley. “I think more people will want to play in the Open, being one day only.”
“I like the way they did it,” said New. “It was still a struggle at times playing 27 holes in one day. It took a real effort. But I thought it worked out well.”
The two ended up shooting 2-under for the tournament at 105. There is no playoff in the Open, so they shared the top prize.
“I hit the ball well all day,” said Fridley, who began playing in the lower flights of the Open when he was only 12 years old. “I think I actually played above my abilities. But I think everybody hit the ball well today.
“It’s always different going from here (Oaks) to the Moose,” he added. “Out here, you can hit the ball left or right, and still have a shot at a birdie. At the Moose, it gets you in trouble.”
Fridley’s round included seven birdies, five of them at the Oaks.
“I played well today,” said New. “I hit a lot of greens and was able to make some putts. We had a good foursome at the end and there were a lot of good shots.”
Fridley shot a 2-under 70 at the Oaks, where the first flight teed off at 8:30 a.m., then went to the Moose and shot an even-par 35.
New shot a 1-under 71 at the Oaks, and a 1-under 34 at the Moose.
“I just tried not to make a mistake at the Moose,” said Fridley. “You’re one shot away from a bomb going off over there.”
Fridley’s brother Nate was just one stroke back with a 106 after shooting 71 at the Oaks and 35 at the Moose, and last year’s champion Barry Gowdown was two strokes behind the winners with an even-par 107 on 71-36.
Shelby County Open
Sunday at Shelby Oaks, Moose
First flight
`SO-M—Tot.
Wil Fridley`70-35—105
Mike New`70-35—105
Nate Fridley`71-35—107
Barry Gowdown`71-36—107
Justin Richardson`78-33—111
Jason Varney`74-38—112
Chad New`75-38—113
Mike Krusemark`77-36—113
Dave Westover`73-41—114
Andy Schulze`81-35—116
Steve Beaty`80-38—118
Eli Kuck`83-45—128
Tyler Bergman`76-43—119
Mason Jones`77-47—124
Tyler Lachey`81-44—125
Justin Burch`78-47—125
Randy Schafer`79-42—121
Nick Fischio`79-42—121
Ross Pulfer`82-40—122
Second flight
Cole Cartwright`78-39—117
Jim Cain`78-40—118
Sam Long`81-39—120
Connor Bornhorst`82-40—122
Tom Reier`81-41—122
Mason Platfoot`85-40—125
Josh Platfoot`85-42—127
Phil Walter`84-43—127
James Devine`85-42—127
Jacob Caldwell`86-43—129
Jason Latimer`87-45—132
Patrick Kindelin`87-48—135
Third flight
Jim Gooding`84-42—126
Chad Manger`86-42—128
Steve Shatto`84-45—129
Brian Scoggin`86-44—130
Gabe Griffith`93-39—132
Ron Tackett`90-44—134
Ernie Vibbert`93-42—135
Trent Platfoot`89-47—136
Nicholas Lucas`90-49—139
Jerry Binkley`90-49—139
Mike Freisthler`93-46—139
Bucky Watren`96-46—142
Steve Huelskamp`104-47—151
Shane Herbert`102-49—151
Craig Steenrod`99-59—158
Ladies
Defending champion Emily Knouff was again the class of the field in the Shelby County Ladies Open, held at the Oaks.
Knouff shot an even-par 72 to win the 18-hole event by 14 strokes over runner-up Tina Bulle, who shot an 86.
There were 13 ladies participating in the Open.
Results
First flight — Emily Knouff 72, Tina Bulle 86, Karen Dickman 91, Melissa Henderson 96, Cindy Helman 97, Shelly Lott 98, Ellen Joslin 99.
Second flight — Pris Reier 100, Deb Goffena 103, Denise Walker 108, LuAnn Fultz 110, Rashell Reier 116, Trish Hoying 135.