Day's prescription for good golf

Charles Prokop

By Charles Prokop

When a pro golfer reaches the ripe old age of 50, he becomes eligible for the Champions Tour. He might have been playing golf for 40 or so years, and a professional for 25 or 30 years. By the time that golfer reaches his 60s, he's considered a long shot to win even a Champions Tour event. Age has taken too much of a toll on his game to expect much beyond a ceremonial appearance at a tournament.

Exceptions to this rule are rare, and make headlines when they occur. Hale Irwin has demonstrated incredible staying power, winning more Champions Tour events than any other golfer and still contending at the age of 67.

Even more impressive is 59-year-old Tom Watson's near win at the 2009 British Open. If not for a bogey 5 on the 18th hole that led to a playoff loss, Watson would have taken home the Claret Jug and added an amazing victory to his already stellar career.

What keeps a golfer competitive year after year? If Irwin and Watson are any indication, it may be a combination of devotion to the game and enjoyment of a day on the course, no matter the outcome.

A pro golfer just starting out on the Champions Tour would need to put in another full career before reaching the age of our most recent Good Old Boys tournament winner. HC "Jiggs" Day is a retired general practitioner from Boerne and a long-time member of the league. It's a rare Monday that the 93-going-on-23-year-old "Doc" Day isn't out on the course at the Flying L, enjoying a round of golf with good friends. Day nearly shot his age at last week's tournament and topped the field with a neat 5 point round of 97. It looks like his short game is as strong as ever. Day made most of his points on the par 3 holes and the short but tricky par 4 number 6.

Bob Dawson and Van Tom "Coach" Whatley are both residents of the Flying L, and they put their local knowledge to good use as they tied for second place with 4-point rounds.

Dawson earned his points with a score of 96 and Whatley took 4 points and medalist honors with his 77.

Five players earned 3 points and tied for third place. Bandera's TJ Fernandez shot 88, Boerne's Fritz Houston shot 89, and Sam Martin of Lakehills and Richard Mims of Medina both shot 90. Charlie Prokop of Pipe Creek earned his 3 points from a round of 78.

Bandera's Woody Clark took closest to the hole honors on number 2 and Richard Leeder of Boerne snuggled one up to the pin on hole number 7.

Charlie Prokop took the prize on number 12, while tournament director and Center Point resident Charlie Thomas hit one close on number 17 as a part of his nice round of 78.