Ace Gives Him A Great Drive

It cost him drinks all around, including several bottles of expensive wine, but Steve Haskell insists his first hole-in-one was worth every penny he spent in celebration.

The reason behind Haskell’s rationale - a 2000 Lincoln LS, valued at $37,500 - will be sitting in his driveway next week, once he settles into his new digs.

Haskell, a longtime local resident, who moved to Tucson, Ariz., less than a year ago, is moving back. And last week, while scouting out a new residence, he took Tom Quigley up on an offer to be his teammate in the annual member-guest golf tournament at Manito Country Club.

The 47-year-old Haskell, who plays to an 11 handicap, holed out a short iron for an eagle-2 on the first hole he played during last Thursday’s opening round. But he had to wait until his last swing on Friday’s second day of competition to do something really spectacular.

Having started on No. 11, Haskell arrived with his playing partners at their final hole - the 187-yard, par-3 12th - needing only a bogey to break 80. The Lincoln, which was the hole-in-one prize sponsored by Foothills Lincoln Mercury Mazda, was sitting near the tee box.

“I really didn’t know what kind of car it was,” Haskell admitted, “but it sure looked nice.”

Haskell, an attorney, who had been a member at Manito prior to moving to Tucson, knew the hole well. And he knew the proper club, all conditions considered, was a 5-wood.

“That was the embarrassing part,” he recalled. “All the guys were saying, `God, Haskell, you’re playing like an 80-year-old man. A 5-wood? C’mon.’

“But the tees were back and there’s water in front of the hole, so I bumped the 5-wood up there because I knew I could get it high and stop it once it cleared the water.”

Unlike many excuse-me aces, Haskell’s looked like it was planned.

“I actually hit the shot really good,” Haskell said. “It was on a rope, going straight at the hole. It landed soft and rolled in. I watched it all the way.

“I was lucky, but that is where I was aiming, I guess.”

Haskell, who finished with a round of 76, said it took only a moment or two for the magnitude of his accomplishment to set in: He was suddenly the owner of a luxury automobile.

“It’s a good thing it was our last hole,” he said, “because I wouldn’t have been good for anything afterward.”

Except buying drinks for everyone in the clubhouse - which he did.

He then left the keys to his new automobile with Manito head professional Steve Prugh and flew home to tell his wife the good news and continue packing for this weekend’s move back to Spokane.

“The first thing I did when I got back to Tucson was buy a copy of Car and Driver magazine to read up on the car I won,” Haskell said. “It cost me some money for drinks and the IRS is going to want some taxes, but I’m sure not going to complain.

“It was all well worth it.”

Lilac turns 40

The Lilac Invitation, which will be July 8-11 at The Fairways at West Terrace, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

And John Durgan, general manager of The Fairways, has announced several changes in the tournament format - including steeper entry fees and a 54-hole cut for the 72-hole event.

According to Durgan, the field for this year’s tournament - which will feature a purse of nearly $40,000 - will be limited to the first 60 professionals and 120 amateurs who enter. But it’s unlikely, he added, the tournament will draw a full field, especially in the wake of the entry fee hikes.

It will cost professionals $275 - $25 more than last year - to play in the 40th Lilac. Amateurs, who paid $135 last year, will pay $150.

Durgan said 120 golfers have already entered.

“Which is about typical,” he said, “because most of the local pros don’t enter until the last minute.”

Durgan said he has heard some complaints “through the grapevine” about the change in format.

The plan is to cut the field of professionals to the low 45 after Saturday’s third round, based on a full field. In addition, each of the four amateur flights will be cut to the low 20, also based on full fields of 30.

“Some people have complained about the hike in entry fees and the possibility they might only get to play three rounds of golf,” Durgan said. “But we’ve thrown in a free practice round (Wednesday), and with the cut, we’re going to be able to wrap up the final round on Sunday evening at 6 o’clock rather than 8:30, like we have in the past.”

Durgan said the entry fee bumps were made to keep the prize money respectable. “It helps cover the fact that we are lacking a major sponsor,” he said.

Young guns go low in qualifying

The two Junior Pro Classic qualifying tournaments for this year’s Pro Classic were held last week, and the participants showed again our area is blessed with a rare abundance of talented young golfers.

The qualifying event for Washington Junior Golf Association members was held at Wandermere Golf Course, which was humbled by a 16-year-old from Post Falls.

Cameron Chestnut blew away the field with a scorching, bogey-free round of 6-under-par 64.

A pair of 14-year-olds, Eric Hastings and Alex Prugh, tied for second at 68, and Lani Elston led the field of 17-and-under female competitors with a 71.

The low score among non-WJGA members, who played their qualifying tournament at Downriver, was Travis Rabel’s 2-over-par 72.

The field for this year’s Junior Pro Classic, which will be July 25 at The Creek at Qualchan, will feature 40 qualifiers - 28 boys and 12 girls. The top male and female finishers will earn spots in the Pro Classic’s MSC Premera Blue Cross Pro Am scramble the following day.