86-year-old golfer amazes with tournament performance
Shoots an eagle, followed by a hole-in-one on first day
By Don MizaurThe results from this year’s San Vicente Men’s Senior Golf Club Championship will likely be the topic of Par Lounge conversation for many years.
For the second year Barry Barefoot was the overall low gross champion, but the buzz this year was from the performance of the overall low net champion, Galen Bowman.
Bowman is 86 years old, and known to be a perfect gentleman, a fixture on the golf course, and Mr. Baseball at Ramona High School.
Despite many noteworthy achievements, Bowman may have created his personal crown jewel from his performance in the tournament.
While playing the back nine on the first day, he had an eagle on the par five 11th hole, followed by a hole-in-one on the par 3 15th hole. No one can recall that feat ever being accomplished in a San Vicente golf tournament
When fairly good golfers pass their 60th birthday, discussion turns to shooting one’s age (before handicap application). It seldom becomes a reality, if ever, till they reach their 70s.
On the first day Bowman shot a 75, 11 strokes beneath his age, and continued to beat his age over next two days.
His net score for the three days was 193 — 23 under par for the three-day tournament.
The championship was held Aug. 4, 6 and 8 with 55 entries divided by ages into four flights instead of by golf handicap.
Entire results of the San Vicente Men’s Senior Club Championship are:
Overall Low Net
Galen Bowman
Overall Low Gross
Barry Barefoot
Age Group
Flight Winners
Ages 50 to 65
Low Gross:
Tie - Gary Collins and Jim Anderson
Low Net First Place:
Bryan Wadlington (tie)
L
ow Net Second Place:
Mike Kemp (tie)
Low Net Third Place:
Tim Morton
Ages 65 to 68
Low Gross:
Joe Garro
Low Net First Place:
Bob Marshall
Low Net Second Place:
Bob O’Connor
Low Net Third Place:
Mike McCarty
Ages 69 to 74
Low Gross
: Jay Carpenter
Low Net First Place:
John Selby
Low Net Second Place:
Jerry Daniels
Low Net Third Place:
Sandy Gilman
Ages 75 to 89
Low Gross:
Jim Berger
Low Net First Place:
Red Hager
Low Net Second Place:
John Whitehead
Low Net Third Place:
Ed Kinsloe