Cougar Golf Classic Doug Jones’ team captures golf title

Saturday, June 10 was a special day at the Cougar Golf Classic at Monument Shadows Golf Course for the annual fundraiser.

Why was it so special? Well, there was a first time winner as the FFJJ team earned the men’s overall title after barely holding off the second-place team of Wyoming Huskers by just eighth-tenths of a stroke for the championship of the annual Western Nebraska Community College athletic fundraiser.

The FFJJ team shot a 54.6 handicapped score with the Wyoming Huskers finishing with a 55.4 score.

Winning team members included Greg Ferguson, Austin Ferguson, Doug Jones, and Matt Johnson. The Wyoming Huskers team was comprised of Mike Helsel, John E. Helsel, John T. Helsel, and Matt Reimers.

The COED division was won by the Libby Plus 3 team who defeated the Sterling Four team by .5. Libby Plus 3 shot a 57.4 handicapped score, while Sterling Four had a 57.9.

The COED winning team consisted of Luke Stobel, Libby Stobel, Kent Walton, and Ashley Walton, while the Sterling Four team members were Todd

Book, Jess Book, Josh Dorcey, and Drew Book. The third-place team in the COED division was the Elite Coaches team of Courtney Medina, Isaac LU, Eseah Ingram, and Trey Winkler, who were in the hunt as well with a 65.5 handicapped score.

The men’s division, however, was competitive among the top five teams. The FFJJ team shot a 64 before figuring the handicap. The best round went to the Wyoming Huskers who had a 60.

The Legends (Dingus McKee, KC McKee, Rick Gable, and Ethan Bellairs) finished third with a 56.3 handicapped score while the What About Bob team (Bob Hessler, Amando Castaneda, Ryan Burgner, and

Greg Sell) took fourth with a 56.5 handicapped score.

Each of the first-place teams received a $400 Monument Shadows gift certificate. The second and third-places in the men’s division were drawn. The second-place team was The 3-putt Boys (Anthony Solorzano, Cody Zentz, Justin Pierson, and Cody Van Noy), while the third-place team was Hampton Inn & Suites (Justin McDonald, Christ Stillahn, Jeff Ross, Taylor Ross).

All-in-all, there were 16 teams that competed in this year’s Cougar Golf Classic. The golf tournament helps with scholarships for WNCC athletics.

Besides the team prizes, individual hole prizes were available. The winner of the longest drive on hole 4 went to Jeff Ross; the closest to the pin in 2 on hole 5 was Bob Hessler; the closest to the water on hoe 9 went to Darren Clarkson; longest drive by a female on hole 10 went to Jess Book; closest to the sand on hole 12 went to Cody Van Noy; closest to the pin on hole 13 went to Chris Stillahn, shortest drive used on hole 15 went to Mark Wilson; and longest putt by a male went to Kent Walton.