By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
If it hadn't been the final day of the Topeka Golf Association Bill McDonald Champions Stroke Play Tournament Gary Lucas might have been tempted to skip playing golf Tuesday on a day when the temperature reached 100 degrees, with a feel-like temp of 110.
Gary Lucas (right), receiving his first-place award from the Topeka Golf Association's Stacy Kramer, won the Bill McDonald Champions Stroke Play title in a playoff. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Lucas not only played Tuesday at Topeka Country Club, but earned the tournament championship in the city event for players aged 40 and over, shooting a 36-hole score of 145 with rounds of 72 and winning the title in a sudden death playoff with C.C. Metzler.
"Probably today I would't have been playing, but riding in a cart it wasn't too bad,'' Lucas said. "There was enough shade out there and the wind was blowing, so it actually felt cooler today than it did yesterday because there was a little more breeze.''
Lucas, who also recently won the Topkeka Country Club club championship, was pleased with the way he played in the Champions event.
"I thought I played pretty solid, although I threw some simple shots away,'' Lucas said.
Metzler, who had rounds of 73 and 72, was satisfied with his runner-up finish.
"I hit the ball well, I couldn't complain about that at all,'' Metzler said. "But I've been struggling with my putting for two or three years.
"I don't mind losing to this guy (Lucas) any day. We play together a lot and he's a great guy and a great player and he deserves to win.
BILL McDONALD CITY CHAMPIONS STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENT
36-hole final results
Overall gross -- 1. Gary Lucas, 145 (won playoff); 2. C.C. Metzler, 145; 3. (tie) Patrick Golden and Dave Carson, 150; 5. Mark Elliott, 154.
40-49 gross -- 1. Patrick Golden, 150.
50-54 gross -- 1. Lance Snow, 170.
55-59 gross -- 1. Dave Carson, 150.
60-64 gross -- 1. C.C. Metzler, 145.
65-69 gross -- 1. Stacy Kramer, 174.
70 and over gross -- 1. Jim Sanders, 159.
Overall net -- 1. C.C. Metzler, 139.
40-49 net -- 1. Carvel Reynoldson, 144.
50-54 net -- 1. Lance Snow, 148.
55-59 net -- 1. Alan Mills, 156.
60-64 net -- 1. Scott Duddy, 152.
65-69 net -- 1. Ron Anderson, 159.
70 and over -- 1. Jim Bauersfeld, 150.
