By Drea Braxmeier
Manager of Media Relations
As many dedicated readers of The AJGA Link may already know, the folks on the third floor in the AJGA Communications Department take a yearly trek to The Oaks Golf Course in rural Georgia to compete in what in now the much-anticipated Putt-Putt Championship. Below, you will find the exciting results of this year’s tournament.
SUMMER OF FUN CLASSIC
The Oaks Golf Course
Oakwood, Ga.
August 7, 2007
COLEMAN CLAIMS FIRST VICTORY ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR AT THE OAKS
Frye’s 15-over-par 65 leaves her alone at the bottom at the Summer of Fun Classic
OAKWOOD, Ga. — The heat took its toll on the field at the Summer of Fun Classic Tuesday, August 7, as players worked their way through 36-holes of putt-putt. Steve Ethun of Duluth, Ga., took home medalist honors in stroke-play qualifying, but was unable to pull through down the stretch, allowing Rob Coleman of Sugar Hill, Ga., the chance to take home his first victory. Jordan Frye of Douglasville, Ga., tried her best, but in the end found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard.
The winner and loser smile after the fourth-annual Summer of Fun Classic. |
Conducted by the AJGA Communications Department, the fourth-annual Summer of Fun Classic was held at The Oaks Golf Course. The par-50 course played approximately 1,000 yards (depending on where you dropped your ball at the tee). The 10-player tournament field consisted of four boys and six girls from four states and Indonesia.
The Summer of Fun Classic annually attracts the top communications department members in the world. There were no Rolex Junior All-Americans present in this field, however, a combined 39 Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquets have been attended by this cast of characters. Past champions of the event include Vice President of Communications Steve Ethun and castaway John Egnot.
Ethun’s 8-under-par 42 was the low round for the day, which allows him the opportunity to compete for year-end honors at The Oaks. With not a bogey in sight, Ethun knew that stroke play was his for the taking.
“This is the second year that I held medalist honors,” said the excited Eagle Scout. “I can’t wait to go out and give it my all during match play.”
Ethun’s first afternoon match was against first-time participant Stacey Whyte of Waldwick, N.J. Whyte finished fourth in stroke play qualifying behind Coleman and Tung Lee of Indonesia. The bottom bracket was comprised of Drea Braxmeier, Sara Wagoner, Georgia Maloney, Rob Chervany, Patty Thomason and Jordan Frye.
Wagoner had to be removed from the course and showered with ice cream after the triple-digit heat got to her.
“Where is the root beer float?” moaned the hiker, who should be used to these conditions.
After it was decided that Frye, Thomason and Chervany would be playing for the consolation prize, Frye and Thomason battled for the title of last place until the par-2 No. 18. After one playoff hole, the players were still locked but wanted their ice cream. They decided the prize should go to Frye as a remembrance of her time with the Communications Department, as she recently moved her desk to the second-floor.
“I am very excited to take a little piece of Communications into Human Resources,” said the teary-eyed Georgia Bulldawg fan. “I will treasure it until my time comes to step down from the throne next summer.”
While all the excitement of the cellar-dwellers occurred, Ethun routed Newcomer of the Year Whyte and was now facing the menacing Coleman who had earlier defeated Lee. With Ethun 1-up after two holes, Coleman began the charge. After an exciting back and forth battle, Coleman emerged victorious ending the match 1-up on No. 17.
“This is very exciting to have my first victory,” declared Coleman. “I have always enjoyed organizing this event, so it’s slightly awkward giving the award to myself, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
For more information about the Summer of Fun Classic or the American Junior Golf Association, please visit the AJGA Web site at ajga.org. |
