Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Glo Ball Tourney Gets Glowing Review

The 3rd annual James L. Eatmon Masonic Lodge golf tournament was held this past Saturday night at the Four Winds Golf Course, and yes, I said Saturday NIGHT!

This fun format consists of a cross country laid-out out course during daylight hours, with a break for outstanding food prepared by Dave Klinkhammer, and served at the course, and then 9 more holes of golf in the dark using glo balls! This year’s tournament attracted 20 four-person teams, or 80 golfers, and according to the chairman, Kevin Wynne, “It went very well and seemed like everyone had a good time. I heard some interesting comments from golfers on the cross country layout.”

Kevin said there was a short delay for some golfers when a brief storm rolled through, but the golfers handled it in their own foursomes. The golfing ended about 1:30 a.m.

The winning team this year was an all Cheyenne foursome of Luke Vosler, Cory Malcolm, Wesley Curby and Jim McQuire with a winning score of 62. Two teams tied for 2nd-3rd with rounds of 64, including the team of Kevin Wynne, Carrie Wynne, Michael Robinson, and Jarrod Schnell, and the team of Dillon and Payton Wise, Jacob Walker and Brooklyn Golding. The team of Henry and Katie Heeg and Jack and Tyler Stafford finished 4th with 65.

Payton Wise

Kimball’s Payton Wise is back in the headlines this week after finishing 2nd at the Panhandle Junior Tour golf tournament held in Sidney. On a very HOT day that caused Payton some real stress, she hung on to shoot a good round of 83. Next up on the Panhandle Junior tour is Gering.

Panhandle Prep All Stars

The 26th annual Panhandle Prep All Star Basketball games were held at Cougar Palace in Scottsbluff this past Saturday evening and it was fun to once again see some outstanding athletes back in action.

Fun also to see two former Kimball High coaches at work as Chauncey Pedersen assisted Pine Bluffs coach Lindsey Forbes with the girls Blue team that won 60-51, and Mo Hanks assisted Mitchell High coach Jayson Gregory with the boys Red team that lost 113-105 to the Blue team. 

The girls teams were made up of just 10 players each and they played 10 minute quarters while the boys had 12 players and played 12 minute quarters.

Coach Forbes had 3 of her Pine Bluffs girls with her, including Maddie Fornstrom who scored 11 points with one trey, Sophie Howard who scored 7, and Dylan Sweeter with 4 points. Kimball All Stars were Carli Wurdeman scoring 9 points with 1 trey, and Jenna Greenwood. Harley Hiltibrand of Ogallala was named girls MVP and finished with 10 points and 2 treys.

Coach Hanks got one more game coaching his own son Beau, and Beau had a strong showing once again with 8 points and 2 treys and he was 2 for 2 at the foul line. Sam Cajero did not score but played like an All Star from his guard position with some sharp passing and good defense.

Pine Bluffs was represented by a pair of outstanding guards in Justus Golding, who scored 6 points, and Michael Shain who failed to score but showed his deft ball handling and defense as well. 

Highlights of the boys game were the scoring and play of Ogallala guard Carter Brown who scored 30 first half points for the Red team and finished with 36 to take game scoring honors, and Jasiya DeOllos of Scottsbluff who tallied 21 for the winning Blue team. These two players have already signed to play at WNCC next season. The boys MVP was Caeden Riley of Lingle Ft. Laramie from the Blue team.

KHS Golf Classic

Another big golf event coming up August 1 at the Four Winds Golf Course with the holding of the 29th annual Kimball Hospital Foundation Golf Classic! The proceeds this year from this popular four person scramble will go towards the purchase of a new heart defibrillator monitor, according to Kerry Ferguson, the man in charge.

Cost for the tournament is $320 per team or $80 per player and your entry fee get you a BBQ lunch prior to tee off at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12 noon. Each player also gets a Foundation Golf Classic custom Titleist golf cap for the men or a ladies golf visor, plus a chance at numerous raffle and flag prizes, and golfers can enter the putting contest for cash prizes. Get your team put together now and call the Four Winds Pro Shop and get signed up.