Century celebration a success

NORWALK — It was a celebration that was 100 years in the making. Eagle Creek and the Heritage Park committee headed by chairman Billy Terry, spared nothing on Saturday as members and guest of the club celebrated an event that was almost a full year in the planning stages. "A club has just one chance at making a 100-year celebration the best it can be," Terry told the after-dinner crowd on Saturday evening. "We originally budgeted what we thought was an amount that would be sufficient but as we had committee meetings, members came up with ideas that would make this weekend even more memorable. Consequently, we went back to our financial officer, Steve Fries, for additional money. It was all worth it." The festivities Saturday started with the induction ceremony of Heritage Park newest members, Ken Bleile and Dr. James Coupland, the person most responsible in making the New State Road course a reality in July of 1921. It should be added that he won the first three men's club championships. Bleile, who was one of the driving forces in turning the course into an 18-hole layout in 1996. He is now the managing partner of Norwalk Golf properties, the firm that owns Eagle Creek. Bleile chose his son, Travis, to be his presenter. The younger Bleile had the crowd spellbound as he spun one story after another in growing up under the roof of a father who started on the ground-floor of a business that first carried the name of his grandfather, the Paul E. Bleile Company, but since then has turned into one of the largest guard-rail firms in the Midwest, Lake Erie Construction. "And my father, along with the guidance of my grandfather and lovers of golf such as Gary Wilkins, kept alive their dreams of turning the Elks Club course into what it is today, a golf course that rivals any in the country," Travis Bleile said."They had a dream that was realized back in 1995, the same kind of dream that Dr. Coupland realized some 100 years ago. We all thank you, Dad, for your vision," he ended. Committee member and historian of the group, Dale Casper, presented Dr. Coupland, giving a biographical sketch of the man who turned the course from an apple orchard into a 8-hole club. It should be noted that Casper and Terry did much of the "heavy lifting" to make the celebration on Saturday the success it truly turned out to be. Other remarks were made by Wilkins, who recognizing past honorees who were present, including the lady known as the grand dame of the club, 99-year-old and 11-time women's club champion, Betty McCarty. Committee member Steve Schneider gave a history of the plaques in Heritage Park and Laura Wheeler spoke as representative of the Elks Club. Saturday's results Because of the amount of golfers who wanted to be a part of the 100th anniversary event and in order to keep the day's festivities on schedule, (The events included a all-day bounce-house for the kids, a dinner prepared and served by Bone Boys Barbecue, the golf tournament awards ceremony, the Divots musical group and a fireworks display), the format of the tournament was changed to a four-person scramble with groups going off every hole to a shotgun start. The following are the results with the names of the winners posted on the monuments at Heritage Park: After two teams remained tied on the front nine after a scorecard playoff, an eventual winner was decided after a putoff. The nod went to Chris and Annie Bleile and Mike and Kelly Smith. They finished with a 29, the same total as the winners on the back, Dave Koler, Tom Schubert, Doug Tussing and Jim Patcher. Prizes were awarded on every hole. Those winning for closest to the pin be it first, second or third shots were Curt Everman on 1, Scott Hunter on 4, Annie Bleile on 5, Chris Bleile on 6, Travis Bleile on 8, Karen Sharpnack on 10, Dave Koler on 12, Hannah Schneider on 13, Rod Bordman on 14 and 18, and Charlie Brown on 16. Those winning for proximity to the 150-yard poles were Jerry Breslin on 2 and Curt Everman on 9. Winners for putting prowess included Tyler Bleile on 3, Jessica Yoguez on 7, Ben Moncher on 11, Mike Beveridge on 15 and Boomer Roe on 17. The schedule at Eagle Creek started early on Saturday morning when a full, 120-player field teed it up to a shotgun start for the annual FCEDO event, the fund-raiser for St. Paul schools. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third place finishers using the four-person scramble format: The overall winners with a 19-under 53 were Dan and Stephanie Beatty, Stephen Hunter and Trey Hallock. Recording a 57 for second place was the team of Tacy Bond, Alberto Yoguez, Scottie Slauterbeck and John Chapin. Third place with a 57 was the team of Jon Naseman, Derek Dilger and Mike and Neil McFadden. Holes prizes for proximity for either first, second or third shots went to Dan Beatty on 2, John Roth on 4, Ed Barman on 7, Jeff Harst on 8, Trey Hallock on 10, Tim Phillips on 12, Chase Hicks on 14, Stephanie Beatty on 15, Chase Hicks on 16 and Todd Moore on 18. Those winning for putting prowess included Ed Barman on 1, Pat Welfle on 6, Alberto Yoguez on 9, Tacy Bond on 11 and Eagles-Grose on 17. Long drives were cranked out by Donna Coe on 3, John Chapin on 5 and Tim Phillips on 13.