Sports Columnist

The Bill Jackson "Four Ball" Golf Tournament held at the Troy Country Club this past weekend was another huge success.

The field of 101, two-man teams was the second largest ever for the Bill Jackson Tournament.

Of course, as always tournament chairman Tony Hudson had things running just right. I am truly amazed at Tony’s uncanny ability to run a golf tournament with the smooth precision that he does and then put together a ‘Calcutta that’s as good as you’ll find anywhere.

Not only does Hudson know how to run a golf tournament, he can tell you the first and last names of ever player and where he or she’s from.

The Bill Jackson "Four Ball" tourney has become perhaps the best tournament of its type in Alabama.

This year’s winners were Troy’s Collin McCrary and Greenville’s David Hancock who teamed up for a blistering 13 under par 59 on Saturday and 64 on Sunday for 21 under par score of 123 to win the A Division.

Troy’s Alton Starling and Chuck Thompson was tied for second place with 18 under par, 61-65-126.

Troy’s Jim Jackson and Motgomery’s Jeff Taylor won the Calcutta in the A Division with a 10 under par 62 on Sunday and settled for a second place tie with a 64-62-126.

Troy’s Joey Holley and Linden’s Scotty Stephens were alone in fourth place at 64-63-127.

In the B Division, the winners were the pro’s son Eric Mitchell of Troy and John Hansen of Talladega; 66-66-132.

There was a tie for second place with Brian McCoy and Adrian Geering of Anniston (67-67-134) and Ricky Gilchrist and Shane Lord of Opp (68-66-134).

Jeff Starling of Tallahassee, Fla., and Hunter Hanson of Troy (67-68-135) tied for fourth with Steve Stubblefield and Paul Hudson of Troy (68-67-135).

In the C Division, the winners were Jason Echols and Shane Grant of Niceville, Fla., with a 69-62-131. In second were John Eiland and Tim Mitchell of Dothan (69-64-133). Jimmy Fable and Frank Toland of Ashland (69-67-136) and Don Jacobs of Troy and Billy Gamble of Florence (69-67-136) tied fourth place.

Troy State assistant football coach Jim Dye and Troy’s Tully Burnett (69-68-137) tied for fifth with Royce Richardson and Chris Roberts of Montgomery (70-67-137).

The first flight went to Goshen’s Clint Norman and Troy’s David Nelson, Jr., with a score of 71-66-137. There was a tie for second place between Rob Warren and Tim Herndon of Montgomery (71-67-138) and fellow Montgomerians, Chuck Kaysing and Jim Bruguglio (71-67-138).

Two Troy greats, Tony Smith and Johnny Stroud were alone in fourth place with a 71-70-141.

The second flight went to Greenville’s father-son tandem of Tommy Ryan, Sr., and Tommy Ryan, Jr. (73-63-138). In second was Hershal Headley and Billy Hardy of Prattville, who shot a 73-64-137.

Third place belonged to Troy’s Jeff Ross and Mark Ross of Montgomery with a 73-65-138. In fourth was Troy’s Jim Caldwell and Brundidge’s Allen Rogers with a 72-67-139.

The third flight was captured by Montgomery’s Nick Getty and Greg Clark (75-67-142).

In second, were Ken Fulford and Rob Lutz of Phenix City (75-67-142). Third place went to Nick Fable and Weley Crow of Ashland with a 74-70-144.

Troy’s Johnny Law and Lyle Wise finished in fourth with a score of 75-70-145.

The fourth flight winners were Elba’s George Taylor and Brantley’s Jerry Kilcrease. Troy’s Buddy Hargrove and James Gordon Flowers tied for second (76-69-145) with Geneva’s Scott Parrish and Steve Rush (75-70-145).

Bill Austin and Doug Kitchens of Troy tied for fourth with a 75-71-146 along with Anniston’s Bengie Turley and Sam Carter (76-70-146).

The fifth flight was won by Jim Hurst, Sr., and Jim Hurst, Jr., of Phenix City with a score of 78-68-146.

Mark Gilliand and Ben Gilliand captured third with a 78-72-150.

Troy’s Julius Pittman and Ross Jinright finished fourth with a score of 77-74-155.

In the sixth flight, the winners were Steve and Greg Hastings of Andalusia (81-74-155). There was a three-way tie for second place as Don Browning/Tucker Adams of Ashland, John Wiley Mitchell/John Hall of Troy, and Troy’s "Call for Phillip Morgan"/Foy Lunsford all finished with a 157.

In the women’s A Division, Alice Mullen of Troy wins again as she teamed with Joyce Kaysing of Montgomery to shoot a 69-67-136.

A second place tie went to Emily Edgar and Mary Day of Opp (70-72-142) and the team of Janice Strickland of New Brockton and Lori Holley of Elba (71-71-142). The fourth place prize was claimed by Troy’s Debbie Hargrove and Dianne Mills with a 72-76-148.

The B women’s division went to two Troy women, Barbara Starling and Margaritte Hughes with a 74-74-148 score.

Troy’s Pam Matthews and Tammy Wright were in second place at 78-75-153. Sylvia Hudson and Lisa Wise of Troy finished third with an 82-69-151. Susan Reeves and Ann Morgan were fourth with an 82-79-163.

It was another great Bill Jackson "Four Ball"!

Thanks, Bill for bringing a great golf tournament to Troy for the last 10 years!