Watt wins Lischke tournament

MEEKER I After a six-year hiatus, the Lischke Memorial golf tournament was played again at Meeker Golf Course and local golfers fared well.
Meeker’s defending men’s club champion proved he was still the best golfer in town, winning the championship flight of the two-day event with a gross score of 139. J.C. Watt led the field of 13 with a 1-under-par 67 after the 18 holes and although he added five shots Sunday, he was still three shots ahead of Mark Barlau of Grand Junction.
“It was nice to play in good weather,” was Watt’s only comment.
Pat Hughes won the net side in the championship flight, with a net score of 126, three shots ahead of Trey Morris.
Brandan Stewart was thrown from a horse a few weeks ago, breaking two ribs and injuring his shoulder, yet he was still able to win the second flight, although a one-hole playoff was needed.
“I’m better, it just bothers me enough to create bad habits,” Stewart said of his injuries.
Stewart led the field of 12 in the second flight with a 76 after the first day but added nine shots the second day, while Pete Hille shot 79/82 to tie Stewart and force a playoff, where Stewart pared the first hole, to Hille’s bogey.
Greg Anderson won the second flight with a net score of 132, while former Meeker resident Butch Rael was second with a net score of 135.
Leech won the third flight by six shots over Meeker’s Irv Griffin, who finished with a 165. Todd Morris led after the first day, then added 13 shots Sunday but was still able to win the net side, with a net score of 127. Twelve-year-old Wyatt Carter of Rifle tied with Craig Denton of Arizona for the second-best net score of 132.
Local golf pro Jim Cook teamed up with Watt, Lex Collins and Bill de Vergie to finish second in the pro-am held last Friday.