Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
Rain forced officials to postpone the opening matches of the Lackland Division I intramural golf regular season earlier this week at the Gateway Hills Golf Course.
If weather permits, the first pair of Division I golfers will tee off at noon May 8 at Gateway.
Many observers expect to see the 37th Services Division, the 37th Communications Squadron to run neck and neck against each other over the next three months for the Division I regular season title and base championship.
"This should be a real competitive season," said Jerry Tiger, Lackland intramural sports director.
To be sure, because of retirements, reorganization, PCS orders and other factors, the two-time defending champion 59th Dental Squadron will not field a team this year.
Dental won the base championship last August after they shot 6-under par over the Gateway par-72 course that stretches 6,544 yards. Troy Apparicio, James Barfield, Tom Beeson, Robert Capps, Justin Gonzalez and Rafael Pena combined to shoot 210.
"There were some good players out there," said Pena, the Dental captain. "But I knew we had six strong, solid players who could post a good score."
Dental won the 2005 championship, too. Curt Marsh, Frank Montoya, Beeson, Capps, Gonzalez and Pena combined to shoot 204 and win the title by six strokes. Montoya and Pena shot 66, the day's lowest round¬.
Services last seized the base title in 2004. To be sure, the dynastic organization has won 10 championships out of the past 13 years.
Last year, Services went undefeated through 10 matches to win the Division I regular season. During last year's playoffs, Services and Comm shot 212 and tied for second.
Comm last won the base championship in 2003, when they stopped Services from winning what would have been their 10th straight championship.
During the regular season last year, Comm won the Division II title. Comm golfers Matt Kilbreath and Brady Rodgers combined to shoot 64 during a match on June 22, 2006, the medal round of the regular season.