13 lucky number for pair in tournament
- Last Updated on 07:54 AM 07/18/12
- BY Doug Ford
The No. 13 may be an unlucky number for passenger airliners and elevators, but it was sure lucky enough for Brad Mele and Mike Dunn during the annual Halifax Country Club Member-Member Golf Tournament held Sunday.
With a possible bogey looming on No. 13, Dunn hit a chip shot onto the green within range of a par putt that perhaps saved the member-member championship for his team, with Dunn and Mele winning by one stroke over Phil Rinker and Gary Gupton and David Meeks and Woody Clay.
Mele-Dunn carded a five-under total of 65 in the one-day tournament, which was shortened to one day because of wet course conditions on Saturday.
The HCC Member-Member Tournament championship was the first-ever for Mele and Dunn as a team, coming on their fourth attempt.
It’s his first-ever golf championship of any kind, Dunn noted later.
“We came in second to Jimmy Clay and Lurdy Stinespring in a playoff several years ago,” said Dunn.
“Brad and I had a goal of seven under. When we play together we set a goal, and we came in at five,” he noted.
“I felt like we did pretty good. Seven is a little lofty, but five was a good score for Brad and I.
“I think a good turning point was 13 when we made par. I thought we were in trouble and we came out with a par.”
“I’m under a tree on the roots and this guy is at the corner of some trees and chips it up to within four feet of the hole, and we make par,” recalled Mele.
“That saved our momentum, and then he turned around and birdied 14.”
The pair had birdied 11 and 12, and in addition to 14 Mele and Dunn birdied two other holes with no bogies for their round.
“That’s a good day for anybody, especially me, admitted Dunn. “Brad is a good player anyway, but five under is a good score for anyone, especially when I’m playing with them.
“We’re good friends and like to lay back and talk a little bit of smack to one another, but we just stay relaxed when we play and don’t put any pressure on any one of us,” Mele pointed out.
“What happens, happens, and today it happened to work out for us.
“Woody (Clay) and David Meeks had an eight today (No. 12), and they made nine birdies so if not for that, it could have been a different story.
“We hung in there, and we were fortunate.”
Greg Meeks and Bob Thomasson fired a one-day total of 67 to win the second Flight ahead of Eric Arthur Jr. and Reed Edwards (68) and Bob Tysinger and Tom Kluge (69), and Wendell Hite and Paul Butler won the Third Flight after carding a 69, winning in a match of cards over Jody Nelson and Adam Crews.
Mike Rand and Joe Barkley with a total of 71 finished in third-place in the Third Flight.
Fourth Flight honors went to George Burton and Tyrone Powell with a 76, followed by Ronnie Pate and Walter Robertson (76) and Jimmy Allen and Mike Lindley (77).
Results
First Flight
Brad Mele-Mike Dunn65
Gary Gupton-Phil Rinker*66
David Meeks-Woody Clay*66
Jimmy Clay-Lurdy Stinespring*66
Tommy Spencer-Craig Spencer67
Joey Gasperini-Peter Gasperini69
Jay Burnett-Mark Dickerson69
Nathan Lantor-Brad Thomasson69
W.J. Long-Bobby Long70
Dennis Witt-Mike Hailey71
Second Flight
Greg Meeks-Bob Thomasson67
Eric Arthur-Reed Edwards68
Bob Tysinger-Tom Kluge69
Robert Fallen-Donnie Hughes70
Paul Glass-Brent Myers70
Derek Mason-Kwang Kim72
Roy Bradley-Grayson Throckmorton72
Sam Lewis-Len Ferrell74
Teddy Holt-Tyler Holt74
Nookie Green-Ryan Green74
Charlie Baskervill-Nelson Baskervill75
Third Flight
Wendell Hite-Paul Butler*69
Jody Nelson-Adam Crews*69
Mike Rand-Joe Barkley71
Coleman Speece-Bob Compton73
George Hayes-Chris Lumsden73
Dennis Seamster-Dan Powell73
Dexter Gilliam-Dabney Gilliam74
Jackie Caldwell-Bill Owen75
Brandon Scearce-Grayson Francis77
Mike Jenkins-Mark Thackston79
Joel Cunningham-Joel Cunningham Jr.80
Fourth Flight
George Burton-Tyrone Powell*76
Ronnie Pate-Walter Robertson*76
Jimmy Allen-Mike Lindley77
Bob Lewis-J.E. Tuck77
Woody Long-R.D. Bennett79
Joe Gasperini-Stacy Tingen81
John Courtney-Fred Palmore81
Steve Crutchfield-John Morgan84
Mark Foster-Buddy Ferrell86
Gray Ramsey-Colter Wickermyer86
*Match of cards
