PHOENIX, AZ (May 15, 2006) -- Record scoring by the region’s best amateur golfers highlighted the 24th annual Antigua Moon Valley Threesome Invitational (MV3) this year.
The Oro Valley threesome of Cyrus Whitney, Thomas Hays and Ron Burns, who play out of the Gallery Golf Club and Southern Dunes Golf Club, walked away with the Open Division with a seven-stroke win 61-129: 190 -- 26 under par in the first day scramble, second day best two balls of three per hole play. Their 190 score was four strokes better than the previous record for their division (ages 25-50).
The runnerup team was Sean O’Malley, Jonathan Baker and Shane O’Grady at 197. A three-way tie for third included defending champs Ken Kellaney, Bob Martin and Rudy Berumen; Duke DeBernardi, Jeff Richardson and Justin Johnson; and Dave Nash, Guy Gedeon, and Dan Fitas who set the all-time scramble scoring record of 16-under-par 56.
In the Senior Division (50+), the 2004 champs John Olive, Roger Brown and Doug Pool shot 58-135: 193, tying the previous tournament record set in 2002 by the runnerup team of Mike Caviness, Steve Myers and Gordon Small who shot 57-139: 196. The 57 tied the all-time scramble mark for the seniors.
The Legends Division (65+) saw Moon Valley’s Bob Cantin team with Portland, Oregonians Jerry Cundari and George Mack to establish a new mark in their division, posting 19-under-par 63-134: 197. Moon Valley’s Don Iwata, Bill McRee and Dennis Hustead led after the first day scramble round with 60, but finished with 139 for 199. Four-time champions Bill Brafford, Rex Brewster and Dirk Prather finished third at 62-138: 200.
Dry, windless weather with temperatures in the low 100’s combined with Moon Valley Country Club’s perfect course conditions to aid in the onslaught against par. The unique threesome team competition attracted scratch amateur golfers from Colorado, California, Utah, Texas and throughout Arizona. Randy Hupert from the Mile High Men’s Club in Prescott, Ariz., won a new set of PING irons for his hole-in-one on the 152-yard 5th hole.
For complete results, click on the tournament link above.