I have very little to write about on the local golf scene this week, so I looked back in my golf columns written in the fall of 1999 and found lots of things worth writing about.

That year, Madison Central’s golf team had a banner year and here are a few excerpts of their accomplishments:

Sept. 11, 1999, at Gibson Bay, they won their own invitational with a terrific 297. In second place was Henry Clay with a 301. Franklin County was third at 303 and Dunbar High was fourth a 304. Central’s Ben Stephens was second individually with a 70, while teammate Drew Alexander was right on his heels, coming in third with a fine round of 71. Tyler Cain shot a 76, Josh Winkler fired an 80 and Ryan Eidson an 83. Mike Blakefield of Maysville’s St. Patrick was the top medalist with a superb 67. There were 27 teams entered in this event and it was a great win for coach Mike Crafton’s Indians, who had an abundance of talent.

On Sept. 14, 1999, Central defeated Madison Southern at Gibson Bay with a good score of 148. Tyler Cain was lowest with a 35, Ben Stephens had a 36, Ryan Eidson had a 38, Blake Hamilton had a 39 and Drew Alexander rounded it out with a 41. Madison Southern shot a 162.

On Sept. 15, 1999, at Beach Fork, Madison Central defeated Powell County with a winning total of 150 to Powell County’s 165. Blake Hamilton led the charge with a 36 followed by Ben Stephens with a 37, Ryan Eidson, 37, Drew Alexander, 40 and Josh Winkler, 42.

The next day at Eagles Nest in Somerset, a tough course, Madison Central nosed out Somerset with a 165 to their 168. Drew Alexander and Ben Stephens tied for the lowest score with a 40, Josh Winkler had a 42, Tyler Cain, 43 and Blake Hamilton, 46.

Sept. 21, 1999, at the MCC, Central defeated Madison Southern yet again handily with an excellent 145 to the Eagles’ 175. Tyler Cain led the charge by starting with three straight birdies on his way to a 34. Drew Alexander had a 36, Ben Stephens had a 37, Derek Wilson shot a 38 and Dane Blackburn finished with a 38. Travis Broaddus was the top golfer for Southern with a 39.

After winning their second-straight regional championship and three other tournaments that year, Madison Central’s golf team came up a little short in the boys state tournament at Gibson Bay. They came in third, just eight strokes behind St. Xavier of Louisville, and the second-place team, Clark County. I know it was disappointing to the team, but golf is a fickle game and the best player or team does not always win.

Congratulations on a great season.

I have always known that a good positive mental attitude has a lot to do with success in life. It has never been more apparent than what happened on Sept. 26, 1999, the final day of that year’s Ryder Cup.

With the biggest comeback in the history of the Ryder Cup, the American team stormed back from four points down to win the cup back.

Wow! Emotional captain Ben Crenshaw did a great job of motivating the team.

Sept. 23, 1999, at the fifth-annual Elks Club, Virgil McWhorter Scramble, my long-time friend Conrad Parrish had his first hole-in-one on hole No. 9 (at MCC). He had been playing golf for 65 years.

Better late than never Conrad. Fantastic!

Congratulations to Roy Kidd and his Colonel football team for beating Western on Oct. 9, 1999. EKU topped the Hilltoppers, 30-10, and went on to finish the season 7-4.

You da man, Roy!

It was a great year for sports in Richmond and certainly worth remembering.

Harvey Pennick says: “A husband should never try to teach his wife to play golf or drive a car. A wife should never try to teach her husband to play bridge.” Amen!



Final thought

Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing. Quincy Jones

Until next time … live, love, laugh and learn, Glenmore.