Choates defend couples classic title

RANGELY — Thirteen teams of local and out-of-town golfers competed last weekend in the annual Couples Classic two-day tournament at Cedar Ridges.
The format of play used was the “Chapman.” Each player hit a tee shot and then hit his or her teammate’s ball. After that the team selected the ball they liked best and picked the other ball up. Using the remaining ball, golfers alternated shots until the hole was complete.
Doug and Britt Choate of Battlement Mesa defended their title from last year, winning first gross overall with a two-day total score of 149. Saturday afternoon they totaled a 75, along with winning the shootout competition. Sunday they improved that score by one stroke with a 74, despite a mishap on the last hole that turned into a triple bogey. Doug also won a closest to the pin prize on hole seven.
The Couples Classic has sometimes been known as the “divorce tournament,” but according to Britt, the Choate motto for the weekend was, “Have fun and love each other.”
Bryan and Janet Mackay defended their first net title, shooting 87 and 86.
“We hit a bad shot and one of us had a save,” Janet said.
Other scores for the tournament were: Second gross Terry Richardson and Teresa Broderick with a total of 162, second net Lyle and Diane Peterson, third gross tie Clark Edwards and June Dotson with a 164 and Nolan and Sharon Massey, third net tie Rick Brady and Lavella Justus along with Ronnie and Cindy Halcomb.