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Skywrighter photo by Christy Webb

George Broderick pushes his cart after completing a round of golf at the Prairie Trace Golf Course. The retired Colonel said he has played the renovated course a dozen times since its re-opening in July.

Skywrighter photo by Christy Webb

(Ret.) Col. Paul Graw look to sink a putt on the practice green at the newly renovated Prairie Trace Golf Course. Graw said he plays five times-a-week and loves the changes that were made. The venue will be hosting a Ryder Cup tournament Sept. 1-3.

Twin Base Golf Course and the newly renovated Prairie Trace Golf course was host to the 2007 Wright-Patterson Club Championship Aug. 25-26 amid a perfect combination of playing conditions and affable competition.

When the final putt was sunk, Jeff Kidd was standing alone atop the leader board as the overall winner with a two-day total score of 147. After blazing through the Twin Base Course with a 71, he followed it up with a 76 on the more formidable Prairie Trace venue.

Kidd and Ray Hill were tied with only two holes to play. A pair of clutch pars for Kidd and a bogey by Hill on the 17th hole proved to be the difference.

Buz Schweibold, general manager of the Wright-Patterson golf facilities, said the event was a great first stroke-play experience for the course and he was pleased with how everything went.

“We set up the (Prairie Trace Golf Course) to be a little more challenging and the scores were a little higher than expected,” he said. “Both courses played very well and our patrons seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.”

Among the 53 golfers who had the best low net scores for the tournament included Tom Felton and Ray Heinrich with a two-day total of 136. Tom Bealieu and Kevin Keck finished third and fourth respectively.

Keck, of the Air Force Research Laboratory, said the tournament was well run and an awesome tournament to be part of.

“I thought greens on the new course were excellent and will get even faster over time,” said Keck.

A highlight for the colonel included driving the par-5 18th hole at Twin Base Golf Course in two and narrowly missing his eagle putt. He said he was also ecstatic when he nailed a 165-yard shot from a sand trap to within 10-feet of the hole on the 17th at Prairie Trace.

Another recent event at the refurbished facility was a club outing that attracted 160 golfers

“This was the best participated outings we ever have had on base,” said Schweibold. “There was outstanding food on hand and great prizes given away.”

The next scheduled tournament is the Ryder Cup played exclusively at Prairie Trace Golf Course Sept. 1-3. The opening day will be a two-person scramble, followed by a two-man best ball and concluded with an alternate shot format. Schweibold said he expects the maximum 120 participants for each day. For more information call 257-7961.