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Jeff Klein captures Mullen Pro-Am
After a wet week that poured more than six inches of rain on the McCook area, the skies cleared out to make way for the 17th Annual John Mullen Pro-Am on Saturday and Sunday.
Jeff Klein finished atop the leaderboard of 32 professionals to take the Pro-Am title. Klein, a former PGA Tour player, fired a 11-under 133 (68-65).
"Jeff had a PGA Tour card just 3 years ago," Heritage Hills Golf Professional Lee Maiden said. "He's a great player that knows and likes the golf course."
Steve Gotsche, a Pro-Am champion in 1997 and 1998, took the runner-up billing with an 8-under 136 (70-66).
Maiden was pleased with the condition of Heritage Hills after the week soaking rain that also brought a lightning strike to the 11th green Thursday night.
For the first time in Pro-Am history the "HorseRace" had to be canceled on Friday night because of thunderstorms.
"The course drained amazingly well," Maiden said. "The pros scored really low. They love this golf course because of the condition of the golf course. These greens couldn't be more fun."
The foursome of Rob Stamm, Dirk Gray, Nona Mullen and Bernie Mullen won the amateur side of the Pro-Am with a 55-under total of 377.
The John Mullen Pro-Am was formed in memory of John Mullen who lost his fight with cancer in 1986 at the age of 23.
In 1987 and 1988 the Mullen family gathered for a family golf outing before it took the form of a Pro-Am in 1989.
Terri Shipshock, executive director of the Community Hospital Health Foundation, found the team victory of John's parents, Dr. Bernie and Nona Mullen, very fitting.
"What a wonderful way to have this tournament," Shipshock said. "It was the crowning achievement for this year."
The rain didn't dampen Bernie's enjoyment of the tournament.
"I thought it was extremely well run," said Bernie Mullen. "It was unfortunate we didn't have the 'Horse Race', but we were very fortunate to get the tournament in after all of the rain.
"The volunteers were great and Dannette Miller, Terri Shipshock and Lee Maiden all did a great job. The key to this tournament is getting the professionals here. Everybody likes playing with professionals."
This year's John Mullen Pro-Am is expected to push the total proceeds raised for the Community Hospital to more than $173,000.
Shipshock said this year's proceeds will go towards a new rehabilitation center at the hospital that will aid in physical, occupational and speech therapies along with cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.
"In my observation, this tournament could never ever take place without the amount of volunteers and sponsorship," Shipshock said.
Maiden echoed Shipshock's sentiments and said he was thankful to Tom Lambing, Dick Loper and George Pearson for volunteering their time to the tournament.
Professional Results
Jeff Klein 68-65 133
Steve Gotsche 70-66 136
Shane Zywiec 69-68 137
Bruce Vaughan 69-69 138
Matthew Zions 69-69 138
Michael Bentley 66-73 139
Ben Portie 69-70 140
Tom Hearn 69-72 141
Tony Giarratano 76-66 146
Steve Grosz 73-73 146
Joel Brueggermann 75-72 147
Dan Sniffin 73-74 147
Matt Shaner 75-73 148
Josh Woods 72-76 148
Greg Ernst 77-72 149
Donnie Keim 76-73
Jeff Tyrell 75-75 150
Anthony Davis 77-75 152
David Remont 77-75 152
Ryan Lanzen 79-76 155
Jim Long 78-79 157
Ken Frear 80-78 158
Ryan Vlasin 76-82 158
Justin Coleman 82-77 159
Victor Martinez 84-79 163
Greg Wiemers 84-81 165
Ryan Thomas 89-80 169
Travis Jones 96-92 188
Amateur Team Winners
1st Place - 377
Rob Stamm
Dirk Gray
Nona Mullen
Bernie Mullen
2nd Place - 382
Tim Olson
Bill Kampen
Roger Pearson
Rob Allen
Tie-3rd Place - 383
Greg Wiemers
Matt Wiemers
T.J. Wiemers
Tom Wiemers
Tie-3rd Place - 383
Charlie Gull
Doug Frank
Brett Brown
Pete Smith
Champions
1989 - Jim White
1990 - Ken Schall and Art Quick
1991 - Greg Moser
1992 - Rennie Sasse
1993 - Rennie Sasse
1994 - Jack Eckardt
1995 - Rennie Sasse
1996 - John Ogden
1997 - Steve Gotsche
1998 - Steve Gotsche
1999 - Rick Cramer
2000 - Shane Zywiec
2001 - Mike Schuchart
2002 - Tom Hearn
2003 - Kurt Osborn
2004 - Travis Hurst
2005 - Jeff Klein