8^th Annual Army-Navy Golf Classic

Navy Takes 6th Straight Army-Navy Golf Classic Trophy

Press Release by event coordinator Will Wood '66

Atlanta, GA (AP) In what turned out to be what some might call “a walk in the park”, members of the Naval Academy Alumni Association of Atlanta (Navy) trounced members of the West Point Society of Atlanta (Army) in the eighth annual Army-Navy Golf Classic. This was Navy’s sixth straight victory and seventh win out of eight 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. About $2,000 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.

The event enjoyed record attendance this year despite missing some Navy regulars who just couldn’t make it for this renewal of the annual battle. Navy posted +45 points to Army’s +1 using the modified Stableford scoring system. With the number of new folks participating this year and our regulars back next year, we will be looking forward to a new attendance record next year as well as record support for our charity.

We were again blessed by good weather with temperatures in the high 80s with a little breeze that prevented a baking of the participants. At the dinner following, we were pleased to dispense a record number of prizes that included a set of irons, a golf bag, a $60 dinner, and more.

Participating in the 2003 Army-Navy Golf Classic were 33 poised but not quite tour caliber players: Jim Ravenel ’45, Bill Wright ’50, John Jaudon ’55, Jack Clay ’56 and guest Dana Willard, Carl McCallum ’60, Lorie Moore ’64, Richard Wilson ’64, Stewart Caldwell ’65, Mike Donohoo ’65, Joe Frazar ’65. Larry Bergen ’66 and guest Mike Bergen, Will Wood ’66, Bob Bailey ’70, Chuck Boyer ’71, Steve Dmetruk ’71, Tom Galloway ’71, Bob Schultz ’71, Jim Theis ’71, Lee Whitfield ’71, Steve Frederick ’72, Ron Hertwig ’77, Jeff Johnstone ’80, Tim Goff ’83, Doug Hintze ’83, Brad Jones ’83, Mary McElroy ’87, Tim Phillips ’89 and guest Joe Gardner, Greg Reppar ’90,Kary Brownlee ’93, and Randy Carson, Blue & Gold Officer. Navy again brought more players to the field of honor than Army (33 for Navy to 27 for Army).

Many Navy folks took home some super raffle prizes. Navy did not win the longest drive contest nor either of the closest-to-the-pin contests but, indeed, won the war. In the Stableford competition, and winning increasingly bigger gift certificates, were Jeff Jonestone in 5^th place, Joe Gardner in 4^th, Randy Carson in 3^rd, and Dana Willard in 2^nd. Mike Donohoo took first place and won a nice gift certificate as well as the traditional set of engraved cocktail glasses. Since six Navy scores had to be randomly removed from the competition because of the differing number of team participants, Mike’s +13 points (best of day for either team) did not count in the Navy points total. Otherwise, the margin of victory would have been greater.

Will Wood, USNAAAA Chapter Classic Coordinator, accepted (somewhat gleefully) the traveling trophy (that hopefully will continue to not travel very far) on behalf of the winning team and asked all of the Army and Navy competitors to go out and talk about the event and get more classmates and other academy alums to participate in next year’s event such that the classic continues to grow.

We look forward to the renewal of the classic in May 2005 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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Many thanks to event coordinators Will Wood '66, and Jeff Johnstone '80 for organizing another great competition and terrific day on the golf course.

Below are some digital photos from the event.

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