A nine-hole scramble was held to benefit Althea Halstead on Friday. Then, after a memorial service held on Hole No. 7 that saw a new bench dedicated, the inaugural Rod Crawford Memorial scramble was played Saturday.
Family and friends of 4-year-old Althea Halstead, who was recently released from Children’s Hospital in Denver, gathered Friday for a two-person scramble, dinner and live music.
Local legend in the making, Lex Collins, who just the week before won the two-man best ball tournament with long-time partner Erik Brown, was matched with Olynna Pierson in Althea’s benefit scramble, and the pair shot a four-under-par 30 to win in a field of 18 teams.
Rod Crawford was a Meeker High School athlete/graduate and is as competitive as they come, so it was no coincidence three teams tied for the second best gross score and three holes were needed to determine second place.
Again, Lex Collins, this time partnered with Pat Walsh, who is also playing “hot,” made an eagle on No. 3 to beat Kyle Frary and Bobby Costaldo and Jeff Asselin and his partner Randy Hall.
Ellen Boudreaux and her son Clark Edwards won the scramble with an eight-under-par 60, two shots ahead of the three teams tied for second. Larin Crase and Danielle Feola had the best net score (43), two shots better than Harry Watt and Pat Sanson.
Rio Blanco County Cup starts Saturday
The coveted Rio Blanco County Cup, a traveling trophy which is currently on display in the Cedar Ridges clubhouse in Rangely, will be played for this weekend in Meeker.
Starting Saturday, a nine-hole, two-person scramble and a nine-hole best ball format will be played. Sunday, an 18-hole match play with teams matched up by team captains will be played. Meeker has won the trophy four times, one more time than Rangely. Meeker has won the cup on Rangely’s course, but Rangely has never won the trophy on Meeker’s course.
“We were glad to get the cup back last year but going to Meeker is a huge task for us to maintain it,” Rangely captain Robby Elam said. “They seem to dominate us on their course and their course knowledge is a huge advantage for them. We will be bringing more guys than usual, so hopefully we will give them a better challenge than we have in the past and hopefully maintain the cup, after all that is the objective every year. All in all, I’m looking forward to the cup and enjoying the company and hospitality from the Meeker golfers. It seems to always be a great time win or lose but it’s always better with a win.”
J.C. Watt after a one-year hiatus, will captain the Meeker team and is anxious to get the Rio Blanco County Cup back.
“We are the heavy favorites this year,” Watt said.
“Last year, I was unable to play and captain our team and, no offense to Bryce Ducey, who did a good job, but I think Robby (Elam) took advantage of Bryce’s inexperience and I won’t let that happen this year,” Watt said in an interview before teeing-off No. 1, while playing a round with Pat Walsh, also a Meeker team member, earlier in the week.
Walsh commented on the friendly rivalry, which includes entertaining the golfers when hosting.
“Last year, Rangely did a great job hosting and we need to try and one up them, so we have some special surprises in line for them,” Walsh said with a smile.
