MEEKER I The annual Lischke golf tournament, the only tournament held on the Meeker Golf Course that invites golfers from anywhere to compete as individuals, was held last weekend but local golf pro Jim Cook said the “story” was about the winner of the annual pro-am tournament, preceding the Lischke.“That’s the story,” an excited Cook said. “Jason (Back) won the pro-am in a playoff.”Back, a Meeker High School graduate, is the golf pro at Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig.“He beat Doug Rohbaugh, the best pro on the western slope,” Cook said. Cook said Back came back to tie Rohbaugh, the golf pro at Iron Bridge in Glenwood Springs, to force a playoff.“Doug drove the green on one and Jason laid up,” Cook said of the first playoff shots. “Doug missed his eagle putt and Jason got a birdie, then won it on two with a par.We were all impressed and it was great that his dad (George) got to play with him and watch his boy play such a great game of golf. They were tied at five under (63), which is a great score.”The Lischke was not as close or as exciting. Defending champion J.C. Watt shot an even par 68 and took a five-shot lead into the clubhouse after the first 18 holes over his nearest competitor.Watt added four shots to his first round but still won the title by six strokes. Kevin King of Rifle finished with a 146 and last year’s runner up Mark Barlau of Glenwood Springs was third in the first flight, with a gross score of 148.Meeker’s Pat Hughes had the best net score (129) in the first flight and local duffer Dave Brown finished second, with a net score of 131, one shot ahead of Mike Wommack of Steamboat Springs.Mitch Carter of Rifle won the second flight with a gross score of 162, one shot ahead of Glenwood’s Ashton Durrett and 13 ahead of Craig’s Greg Anderson.Meeker golfer Randy Hall had the best net score (132) in the second flight, one shot better than Adam Hawkins of Craig. Meeker’s Rod Crawford and Rifle’s Wyatt Carter tied for third best net score at 141.
