Navy Again Takes Trophy Home from 7^th Annual Army-Navy Golf Classic

Press Release by event coordinator Will Wood '66

Atlanta, GA (AP) In a very competitive battle, members of the Naval Academy Alumni Association of Atlanta (Navy) bested members of the West Point Society of Atlanta (Army) in the seventh annual Army-Navy Golf Classic. This was Navy’s fifth straight victory and sixth win out of seven meetings since this annual spring competition was begun in 1997. As before, the golf competition and awards dinner that followed took place at the Golfers Club at Fort McPherson. Over $1,000 was raised to provide tuition for needy youngsters in the Atlanta area to attend the SummerScape math, science, and computer camp at Georgia Tech this summer.

Although attendance was down somewhat from last year, the competition was closer than ever, with Navy posting 66 points to Army’s 59 using the modified Stableford scoring system. We missed a number of classic regulars including Jim Ravenel ’45 (binnacle list), Carl McCallum ’60 (binnacle list), Paul Hurst ’62 (celebrating retirement), and Lorie Moore ’64 (out of town). Paul Smith ’42 had to cancel because of basement flooding. At the same time, we were pleased to see a number of new faces from classes graduating in the 1980s and 1990s. With these new folks and our regulars back next year, we will be looking forward to record attendance as well as record support for our charity.

We were blessed by good weather and did not encounter the thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain that we have experienced lately in the Atlanta area. We did, however, encounter a strange occurrence at the conclusion of the competition. As all of the competitors gathered for the awards dinner, we noted that we were missing some folks. After about an hour, the missing were narrowed to a single foursome that included two Navy and two Army stalwarts. After another half hour, dinner was commenced and a search party was organized. Just as the search party was beginning to disperse about the course, the missing parties were observed in the parking lot unloading their golf carts. We all look forward to learning the true story of the freak disappearance of Bob Bailey ’70 and Steve Frederick ’72.

Participating in the 2003 Army-Navy Golf Classic were: John Jaudon ’55, Jack Clay ’56, Bill Callaway ’60, Hal Morrison ’61, Marc Calhoun ’64, Richard Wilson ’64, Mike Donohoo ’65, Joe Frazar ’65. John Johnson ’65, Mike Riley ’65, Paul Thorsen ’65, Larry Bergen ’66 and guest Charles Autry, Will Wood ’66, Bob Bailey ’70, Mitch Rowland ’71, Bob Schultz ’71, Steve Frederick ’72, Jeff Johnstone ’80, Tim Goff ’83, Brad Jones ’83, Wendell Ross ’87, Hal Perdew ’92, Kary Brownlee ’93, and Jason Van Matre ’94. Navy again brought more players to the field of honor than Army.

Taking home door prizes were Joe Frazar, Jack Clay, Brad Jones, Hal Morrison, Paul Thorsen, Mitch Rowland, Mike Riley, and Will Wood. Mitch Rowland bagged a gift certificate for being closest to the pin on the Par 2 Hole No. 7 while Jeff Johnstone took the prize for the longest drive on Hole No. 15.

In the Stableford competition, and winning increasingly bigger gift certificates, were Brad Jones in 5^th place, Jeff Johnstone in 4^th, Charles Autry in 3^rd, and Joe Frazar in 2^nd. Richard Wilson took first place and won a nice gift certificate as well as the traditional set of engraved cocktail glasses.

Bob Schultz ‘71, USNAAAA Chapter President, accepted the traveling trophy (that hopefully will continue to not travel very far) on behalf of the winning team and gave a few timely and poignant remarks reminding us of the others in the military whose recent actions and efforts were allowing us to have such a fine time on the golf course.

We look forward to the renewal of the classic in May 2004 and invite all golfing USNAAAA members in the Atlanta area to join us for the competition and camaraderie. It’s always a fun time for all.
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Many thanks to event coordinators Will Wood '66, and Jeff Johnstone '80 for organizing another great competition and terrific day on the golf course.

Here are some digital photos from the event.

Click on a thumbnail image to view a full sized picture.

Event coordinator, Will Wood '66, works check in desk.

Early arrivals work out the kinks on the driving range.

Mike Donohoo '65 and Paul Thorsen '65, posing on the driving range!

Brad Jones '83 displays great form on the driving range!

The Commons clubhouse from out on the course.

Putting green practice. Hope these clubs work out on the course.

Carts staged for shotgun start at clubhouse.

Johns Jaudon '55 and Paul Thorsen '65 getting ready to go.

Mitch Rowland '71 enjoys a pre-game dog!

Mike Donohoo '65 and Steve Frederick '72.

Dinner crowd assembles.

Another dinner crowd shot.

Steve Frederick '72, and 3/4 of the infamous "lost foursome"!

Bill Callaway '60 and Jack
Clay '56.

WPSA President Ali Gelineau holds door prize drawings.

Prize winners for best scores, closest to hole, and longest drive.

WSPA President Ali Gelineau, USMA '81, and USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President Bob Schultz, USNA '71.

Will Wood '66, presents the Army-Navy Golf Classic trophy to Chapter President Bob Schultz '71 again! Navy is now 6 for 7, with the last 5 wins in a row!

Navy Again Takes Trophy Home from 7th Annual Army-Navy Golf Classic

Press Release by event coordinator Will Wood '66

Navy Again Takes Trophy Home from 7^th Annual Army-Navy Golf Classic