SIKESTON -- Rain couldn't stop this parade as the inaugural Health Facilities Rehab Heartland Senior Pro-Am Tournament was contested at the Bootheel Golf Club on Tuesday.
Although interrupted by an hour-long rain delay, the consensus among participants was that it was a fun day.
"We had a good time," said Kevin Self, Sikeston High School baseball coach. "The pace (of play) was good, the course is in really good shape and I enjoy the fellowship with other guys. It's a good event for Sikeston."
The 18-hole best-ball scramble featuring 24 foursomes, each led by a professional from the Heartland Players Senior Tour, was won by the team of pro Frank Shikle, Britt McConnell, Brian Cox and Tom Coleman with a net 56. The team of pro Jeb Stuart, Jim Warf, Everett Holley and John Owen also finished with a 56, but fell to second place on a scorecard playoff.
"The tournament went real well, despite the rain delay," said Bootheel Golf Club manager Jeff Ketterman. "The field had a good time and I think they were impressed by how well these guys (Heartland Senior players) can play."
Gary Curry, founder and president of the HPST, also expressed satisfaction with the event.
"We're very excited to be here and work with Jeff Ketterman and his staff and all the fine people who come out to support this," he said. "When you come (to a place) the first time, it's really tough to evaluate people, but this is real easy for me--to watch the outpouring of people wanting to support something, even though it's new.
"It's all about fellowship and giving back (to charities) and, honestly, with what I've seen and taken in, we've hit a home run with the people here."
Robert Landers, the pro from Azle, Texas, summed up the professionals' role in the pro-am event.
"It's our job to see that they (the amateurs) have a good time and I think we did that. Everybody on my team contributed to our scoring."
Now it gets serious as the pros begin a three-day competition, which teed off today at 8 a.m.
One of the pros to keep an eye on is Troy Dooley. Dooley, a military retiree originally from Chaffee and presently living in Jackson, is the eldest member of the Heartland Senior Tour at 69.
"One of the reasons I'm on this tour is because they have a Super Senior division (60 and older) and I don't have to compete against the younger boys," said Dooley, who turned pro five years ago. "For me, it's strictly for fun. I have a good time playing golf and being with nice people.
"This was a great stop for me. I can go home every night. My wife reminded me that we won't have to pay for a hotel room this week."
Although far from firm, the Heartland Tour is seeking a date to hold back-to-
back events in a neighboring venue in 2007.
Said Mike Litz of Bent Creek Golf Course, "We've had some inquiries about bringing this tour up to our place. I don't know a lot about it yet, but it seems like it may be a possibility for us."
See complete results of pro-am in Scoreboard on page 12.