The 2012 Men’s and Women’s Club Championships were held August 25th and 26th at the San Saba River Golf Course. When I started here in 2002 we added a Senior Men’s Championship, and it was fitting that my last Championship here would introduce a Senior Women’s Champ. Conditions were very tough on Saturday with high winds and Sunday was nice and hot. We crowned five Champions in the event and below is a recap of each flight.Men’s Championship Flight-This year the field was full of past Champions like David Potts (12), Bob Whitten (3), Michael Whitley (2), Bo McCoury Jr. (1), and Scott Wendlandt (1), and the competition was fierce. The golf course won the battle on day one with only Scott Wendlandt, and defending Champion Bo McCoury Jr. breaking 80 due to high winds and tough conditions. Others in contention were David Potts, and John Reavis. Day two showed us perfect conditions for scoring and the field played much better, including a 75 by Michael Whitley who moved up from 7th place to take the runner-up spot, but it was Wendlandt’s day with a very steady 75 which included a triple bogey on the treacherous 18th hole. Scott is a very steady player that makes few mistakes, he is what the golfing world calls a “grinder,” a player that is solid from tee to green and guts out a lot of pars and birdies and very seldom beats himself. Congratulations to Scott, Michael, and Bo Jr., who held on for 3rd place.Men’s White TeeThis is a flight that is for players that do not wish to play from the blue tees, but still want to compete non the less. This flight does not have a trophy, but a little extra green in your pocket is incentive enough. We only had four players in this flight and two when we started Sunday. Scott Glaze had the early lead on Saturday but was not in action on Sunday due to the passing of his Mother, and Jimmy Shook had to miss Sunday as well, so it left Don Riggs and Tony Cantu to battle it out for some $ and bragging rights. It was a very close match that come down to the last hole and Don edged out Tony for the win. Men’s Senior ChampionshipThis flight has become the “big flight” in this tournament and has some very good competition and very little love loss between several of the competitors. After day one it was Mike “Pic” Connors and defending Champ David Harrell at the top of the leader-board, and Rick Wilson and Ray Hawkins close behind. Sunday was all Mike Conners, who closed with a one under par 71 and ran away from the field. Mike gets his name forever engraved in the trophy and a case of Geritol for the win. Rick Wilson held on for second, and 3-time Champion Jerry “two clocks” Minter fired a 74 on Sunday and moved up from the lame ducks to a solo 3rd. Good job this year Seniors, I was proud of you, no fist fights or nasty rulings, this was a good way to go out.Ladies ChampionshipWe had four ladies compete this year in the Ladies Championship and the defending champion Debbie Lee was absent from the contest. This year we introduced a Senior Ladies Championship for the first time. In the Open Ladies Championship it was the very familiar battle between Sandra Baskin and Flossie Woodward. This match is always close and only two shots separated the players after day one, with Sandra Baskin out front. Both players hit it well on Sunday, but it was Baskin who prevailed and ran her total number of Championships to five. In the Senior division it was a showdown between Thursday morning rivals Anita Miles and Sandee Hartley. Both players performed very well and it was Anita Miles that held on for the win, and she becomes our first Senior Lady Champion!! Great Job ladies!As in every Club Championship the competition is fierce, but it is the fellowship that wins out each year. This was the 8th time that I have run this event and each one has been memorable. I will miss this next year, and all of you. See you on the links!