2010 GGW Event No. 1 Quick Draw Wins A Windy Season Opener

Like Tiger Woods’ return to the PGA Tour, you Golfers Gone Wild got back into action for our 4th season.

Each year around Easter weekend, the GGW begins its annual competition tour of Chicago area golf courses. Twelve members of Golfers Gone Wild took to the links on Saturday, April 11, to play a traditional season opening round at University Golf Club and Conference Center in University Park.

Compared to last year’s opening round, the weather was surprisingly good. But with unpredictable winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour, University GC was to prove a tough test. Players were ready, like gun fighters with itchy trigger fingers, waiting for a challenger in the middle of the street.

After all the shooting was done, the winner was Quick Draw. Perry, piggy-backing on plenty of positive practice rounds recently, led all players with a net 72. Good ball striking finishes on both front and back nine holes, gave Quick Draw the first tour victory of the season, placing him into the very early lead for Player of the Year.

Lucky Lefty, the defending 2009 Player of the Year, placed second. Lefty had the day’s best scratch round of 91 (net 74). Hawk and Silent Assassin finished in a virtual tie for 3rd with a net 76. Double D who supposedly had not picked up a club since November had a 5th place money finish with net 77.

Several other players struggled to score on the first week of the season. A newcomer on tour in 2010, Lonnie Clemens, now known as Big Dog, carded the only birdie on the day and shot net 78. TaylorMade Kid and Cadillac Blue both recorded net 79’s. Rifleman rounded out the field, shooting a net 82.

The Windy day played particular tricks with shots from two normally reliable players. The Gambler couldn’t hold up a shooting a 105 (net 88). Country Strong had only a weak explanation for his net 89, something about him having to carry the lowest GGW handicap.

As last year’s skins leader Country Strong, started like he left off in 2009, with a solo par and skin on #1. But, that would be his only skin on the day. Silent Assassin won the next two and 5 skins total with solo pars at #3 and #14.

Double D was the skins leader with 7. As the only survivor a particularly wind challenged short par 4, Denis won all 7 skins carrying over through hole #10. That solo par kept Big Dog to a single skin win even though Lonnie made birdie at a 205-yard par 3 #11. Cadillac Blue managed to win some money at the end of the day. Blue won the final 4 skins by making par on 3 of the final 4 holes.

Next week Sunday, Golfers Gone Wild Tour will travel to Silver Lakes Country Club in Orland Park, Illinois. Quick Draw drew first blood last week, winning a Windy Season Opener. He is off his mark and running. Do you feel you’re fast enough to challenge him?