Shute and Heerema Claim Player of the Year Honors at El Rancho

The El Rancho Chico Golf Club concluded its End-of-the-Year Player-of-the-Year Tournament on October 15, 2023, at Bidwell, where Travis Shute and Ben Heerema emerged victorious in their respective divisions. Shute claimed the title in the white tee men’s division, while Heerema dominated the yellow tee senior division, both players having accumulated the highest points throughout the year in monthly tournaments.

The final tournament featured the top 20 point leaders and ties from both divisions. To encourage participation, the club offered increased payouts, along with gross and net skins and closest to the pin contests. Shute secured his position with a remarkable total of 2,900 points, just 25 points ahead of competitor Miles Tegarden. The top ten players in the white tee division were closely matched, with only 750 points separating them, reflecting fierce competition throughout the season.

The standings in the white tee division included notable players such as Shawn Anderson, Adam Almand, and Steve Vance, all of whom showcased strong performances. The yellow tee senior division was markedly different, with Heerema winning by a substantial margin of 1,025 points over Jeff Nedved. Other top finishers included Pat Goodwin, Ed Anderson, and Lloyd Hightower.

In individual accomplishments, Rio Gates recorded the overall low gross score in the white tee flight with a score of 77, while Tegarden achieved the overall low net score at 69. The competitive nature of the day was evident as Tegarden nearly overtook Shute for the Player-of-the-Year title. Additional golfers earning recognition in the net category included Dan Evaro and Shawn Anderson, both delivering solid performances.

For the yellow tee flight, Nedved set the pace with an overall low gross of 71. The net category was led by Lane Bates with a score of 67, followed closely by Goodwin and Kimmelshue. The scoring reflected the high level of play that characterized the tournament.

The contest also featured several skins winners, with Evaro and Almand among those claiming prizes in the white tee flight, while Lundy and Heerema stood out in the yellow tee flight. The closest to the pin contests saw various players excel, with Nedved and Bates achieving notable placements in the white tee division.

In a separate event, the Bidwell Women’s Golf Club hosted a “TOE” game during their weekly tournament, counting scores only on holes starting with the letters T, O, and E. The results demonstrated a blend of skill and strategy, with Kelly MacKinnon recording the low gross score of 87 in the first flight. Other winners included Becky Callas and Tina Dunlap in their respective categories, showcasing the talent among the women golfers.

The Chico-Paradise SIR’s Golf Club also held a 4-Man Scramble Tournament at Bidwell, attracting 52 players. The winning team, comprised of Greg (Henry) Brown, Jeff Day, AJ Haggard, and Don Krysakowski, finished with an impressive score of 62.6. The tournament further highlighted the camaraderie and competitive spirit within the golfing community.

Despite challenging weather conditions, including fog that affected the weekly tournaments for some other clubs, the atmosphere at Bidwell remained warm and welcoming, providing a fitting conclusion to the golf season. The dedication shown by players, along with the efforts of the clubs to organize engaging events, promises a vibrant future for golf in the region.