LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph AFB hosted the 16th Air Education and Training Command Golf Tournament May 25-27.
The tournament, which usually attracts players from around the country, saw 142 participants from Oklahoma, Louisiana and the San Antonio area, as well as other cities in Texas.
"It was a good tournament," said Craig Brooks, Gateway Hills Golf Course assistant manager. "Both courses were in good condition for the tournament."
Teams were separated into six flights based on handicaps so that similar competition could play against each other.
The flights alternated between the Gateway Hills Golf Course and the Randolph Oaks Golf Course, with the top three flights teeing off on the first and third day at Lackland, while the bottom three flights started and ended at Randolph.
"It was windy at the end of the rounds all three days and the courses were set up a little more difficult than usual," Brooks said.
Mike Batten and Bill Connors earned top honors, finishing in first place from the Championship Flight with a score of 206 over the three days. They finished with a score of 66 in the scramble, a 72 in the modified alternate shot and 68 in the best ball round.
The winners from the Second Flight were Mike Jewel and Jerry Sirmans. Finishing at the top of the Third Flight were Bob Malesky and Huey Watson, while Steve Polk and Ken Stokes topped the Fourth Flight.
Don Cook and Tom McGaha finished first overall in the Fifth Flight, and David Cookham and Mike Stapleton finished first in the Sixth Flight.
Brandon Ellis, a marker for the Championship Flight, hit a hole-in-one on the 17th hole of Saturday's round at Lackland. Ellis scored the shot from 234 yards out with a 4 wood.
"I didn't even see it go in. I just thought it was a good shot," Brooks said.
The shot was into the wind, like most shots this time of year.
"Most shots play into the wind on the 17th and 18th hole during the summer months and shots are down wind in the winter," Brooks said.
The 21-year-old golfer has been playing at the Gateway Hills Golf Course since he was 7 years old, when he started coming with his grandfather who was stationed at Lackland at the time.
"He was practically raised at this course. He's a good kid," Brooks said.