PGA Swan Lake Golf Resort Senior Open Indiana National Golf Course Plymouth, Indiana May 15-16, 2007

“I always wanted to win one of these (tournaments) that the pros are in,” Gordie Rees, Albany, Ind.

Taking 18 holes, plus one extra sudden-death playoff hole, for the title of the Swan Lake Resort Senior Open, amateur Gordie Rees walked away with the trophy after besting 63 other senior professionals and amateurs. Rees carded a 2-under second round, matched it with his even par round for day one and then faced amateur Ron Carter of Monticello for the playoff.

Rees scored five birdies for the day, “and a couple of bogeys, though the birdies coming in on 12, 13 and 18 set me up.” The birdie on 18 was a chip in that hit the pin and dropped straight down. “I had no idea what would win today with the cold and wind,” commented Rees, “Forty-six degrees and the wind blowing like crazy, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Ron Carter played uncertain golf until the thirteenth hole. Beginning the day with bogey, double-bogey on the first two holes, he didn’t see a birdie until 13. Two more birdies, for three in a row on 14 and 15, set Carter up for his two-under round and the tie. "I played pretty good for an old guy," claimed Carter.

The pair went to the tenth hole for the playoff. Rees stuck his second shot to within 5 feet of the hole, while Carter needed to get up and down from the fringe for a par. Sinking the five-footer for birdie gave Rees the title and the coveted trophy.

Five participants finished tied for third place at 1-over for the tournament, including first round leaders Bill Schumaker, Crooked Lake GC and Brian Sears, Fox Cliff GC. Schumaker and Sears began the day looking like the fight for the title would be between the two of them. But rounding the corner through the tough 13th to 15th holes, left the professionals struggling to stay at 2-under. Both ended with 77s for the day and saw the trophy walk out with an amateur for the event.

The others tied for third at 1-over for the tournament included Scott Morris, Grey Eagle Golf Academy, Carl Kalinka, Valparaiso and Terry Werner from Dyer. Last year’s champion, Tom Jones, Terre Haute, found the 7^th and the 13th holes disastrous and finished well back in the field.

Round One Recap

Considering each foursome may have anything from 90 to 125 or more years golf experience, it is no surprise that Swan Lake Resort Senior Open runs like clockwork. The professional and amateur gentlemen come to play golf - and play golf they do. The scores are good, the rulings few and Indiana National Golf Course is in immaculate condition. The Swan Lake Resort Senior Open is open to Indiana professionals and amateurs who have reached the age of 50 prior to the event.

Early leaders on the board were Cary Hungate of Kokomo CC and Carl Kalinka (a) from out in the third group, and in with even par 72s on the 6,343 yard Indiana National GC.

The pair was followed in shortly by Bill Schumaker, Crooked Lake GC and 2006 Senior PGA Player of the Year, at 4-under. Playing partners Tom Duiser (a) and Gordie Rees (a) explained that they thought they “were going to see a 61 or 62 from Schu,” when he carded a 32 going out.

Schumaker’s sole lead on the board was short-lived when the very next group saw Brian Sears of Fox Cliff GC post his own 68 for the day. Steady nines of 34-34 illustrated Sears’ recent improvement in his game. “I am beginning to play better,” he stated after the first two events of 2007 saw him post rounds of 81s.

2007 Indiana Section Special Awards

Golf Professional of the Year – Jan Tellstrom, Smock GC

Established 1955, this is the highest honor paid to an Indiana PGA golf professional and is based on overall performance as a golf professional.

Jan Tellstrom has managed Smock Golf Course for 32 years. He has directed over 50 employees per season, overseen the complete food and beverage operation, the financing, planning and construction of a new clubhouse, maintenance and teaching facility and has hosted over 1 million rounds of golf during his time. He has served Indiana golfers through his love of the game and his desire to grow the game of golf.

Tellstrom has been the recipient of numerous other PGA and non-PGA awards. He was recognized in 2005 as one of America’s Top 50 Kids’ Teachers, received “The Earl Woods Trophy” from Golf Digest for Junior Development in 2000, was a Section Junior Golf Leader three time winner and has enabled Smock Golf Course to be recognized by Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary System as a certified wildlife habitat sanctuary.

“I am deeply honored. It is difficult to put into words what this means to me.” reveals Tellstrom, “There is a lot of talent out there, and to be recognized by your peers is pretty powerful.”

Teacher of the Year – John Dunham, Highland Golf and Country Club

Established in 1986, this award bestows special recognition to an Indiana PGA golf professional that has performed outstanding service as a golf instructor.

John Dunham received recognition as Section Teacher of the year for the fourth time (1988, 1991, 1994). Dunham’s skills as a teacher are in demand not only from Highland members, but non-members as well, giving approximately 1,000 lessons annually since 1974. He has written golf tips for The Indianapolis Star and articles for Golf Paper! And has produced “Junior Golf with John Dunham” which aired on Indianapolis Cable TV.

Other Section awards for Dunham include the Golf professional of the Year (1983) and the Bill Strausbaugh Award ( 2004).

The Horton Smith Award – Keith Clark, Hickory Stick Golf Club

This award, first established in 1965, is designed to recognize individual golf professionals for their outstanding and continuing contributions to developing and improving education opportunities for the PGA golf professional.

Keith Clark works tirelessly to provide education opportunities to Indiana PGA professionals. He is currently an active member of the Indiana Section Education Committee and is serving as Growth of the Game Committee Chairperson. Contributions on the national level include serving as a faculty member for the past seven years with the National Institute of Golf Management. Clark has also authored two monographs published by the National Golf Foundation – Pace of Play Management Tools and Tournaments and Events. He promotes networking, life skills and quality of life benefits of the game of golf.

The Bill Strausbaugh Club Relations Award – Bob Kruse, Sycamore Hills Golf Club

This award is presented to those PGA members who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves in the field of club relations. The Strausbaugh award was established in 1979.

Bob Kruse believes he has been “fortunate to hire great assistants,” but the members of the Indiana Section believe he has the capacity to nurture great efforts from his employees through his respect and honesty towards them. Kruse has trained and mentored over 25 assistants, many of which have gone on to become head professionals, with many of those winning Section or national awards. Kruse calls those employee/employer relationships “partnerships in learning” where both evolve through the mutual learning process.

Throughout his over 40 years as a golf professional, Kruse has been the recipient of the Golf Professional of the Year Award (1980), Teacher of the Year Award (1996) and the Merchandiser of the Year Award (1997).

Junior Golf Leader – Tom Maled, Valley View Golf Club

This award, established in 1988, is designed to pay recognition to a PGA golf professional who is a leader in junior golf, reflects the qualities and ideals of those who work with our nation’s youth, and provides opportunities and experiences for juniors to learn and play golf.

When Tom Maled arrived at Valley View GC in 1984, there was no junior golf program. Through Maled’s guidance and enthusiasm, Valley View now provides ample opportunities for junior golfers to participate in clinics, summer camps and tournament events. The facility is the host to the IHSAA boy’s sectional and has hosted an Indiana Junior Golf Foundation Mountain Dew Junior Tour event for the last 12 consecutive years. The “View Junior Classic” is a popular event each summer. He has talked with students and teachers at the middle school and given teachers ideas on how to incorporate golf into the physical education curriculum.

Merchandisers of the Year
Public – Chad Cockerham, Otter Creek Golf Course

Private – Dave Carich, The Bridgewater Club

Resort – Jon Chapple, The Fort Golf Club

This award, established in 1978, recognizes those Indiana PGA professionals who have demonstrated superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf.

The commonality between the three recipients of the merchandising awards, Chad Cockerham, Dave Carich and Jon Chapple, is the importance of product knowledge by the staff. For a successful merchandising component employees are regularly given product background knowledge and training. Items are competitively priced and displays are changed frequently to generate new interest. Soft goods bearing facility logo are prominently displayed.

Assistant Professional of the Year – Chad Penman, Sycamore Hills Golf Club

This newly established award (2001) is designed to recognize and individual assistant golf professional for his or her dedication to the game and commitment to the profession.

Chad Penman is described as a “complete, all-around golf professional” by his employer and mentor, Tim Frazier. Penman gave over 225 lessons in 2006 and was instrumental in developing a player development program that precipitated 87 new golfers over the past three years. His newly developed year-round junior program encompasses the wide variety of skills in young golfers through either a “Little Tiger” component, or a component that includes fishing, swimming and tennis for those juniors not as competitive. Penman has revamped some regular schedule events at Sycamore Hills and made them some of the most popular events at the facility.