A list of past winners of the Fourth of July Classic at War Memorial Golf Course reads like a who’s who in Arkansas golf.
From its first champion, Horace Lacey in 1937, to Chris Jenkins, who hoisted the winner’s trophy last year for the fifth time, the Fourth of July Classic typically brings out the state’s best golfers during the hottest time of the year to one of the state’s more unique courses.
The 2013 event begins today and continues Saturday and Sunday.
“We consider the War Memorial tournament the fourth major along with the state stroke play, match play and Maumelle Classic,” said Jay Fox, the ASGA executive director who has won a record six Fourth of July Classics but is sitting out this year’s tournament. “It’s a tournament that’s dear to my heart.”
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State), who won his first PGA Tour championship June 23 at the Travelers Championship, won three consecutive Fourth of July tournaments between 1991 and 1993. Duke turned professional in 1994, and the Travelers was his first victory in 187 tour starts.
Past U.S. Senior Amateur champions Stan Lee and Louis Lee of Heber Springs are also three-time champions at War Memorial.
“It’s very pleasing to see all the past champions and what they’ve done since winning out here,” War Memorial General Manager Bobby Baker said. “It just goes to show you that a person who wins on this course can achieve greater things.”
At first glance War Memorial’s par-66 layout could be confused for a pitch-and-putt layout from just looking at the distances listed on the scorecard, but Baker said whoever wins the tournament after three grueling days has earned it.
“People might not see the difficulty because it is short, but it is short and tight,” he said. “You have to be patient and have to have a lot of good shot-making.”
Fox said one of Duke’s victories came at his expense - thanks to a triple bogey and double bogey to start his final round.
“I was one or two behind him and start triple, double,” Fox said. “Coming out of the the gate, those two are the hardest starting holes in golf. There’s no driving range or real warm-up area. You start with an uphill, 180-yard, par-3 then go to a very hard par-4. The first six holes out there really aren’t easy.
“You earn everything you get out there.”
Jenkins has a chance to tie Fox with his sixth championship. He joins 1990 winner Joe Bushee as the only past champions in this year’s 78-man field. Other contenders include Adam Carpenter, brother of two-time champion Alex Carpenter, Nick Crisco, Jay Lester and Lyle Middleton.
“We’ve got a real good field lined up,” Baker said. “We’ve had many great past champions who have gone on to bigger and better things.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll see this year’s champion win something bigger someday. It has happened.”
Fourth of July Classic WHEN Today, Saturday and Sunday WHERE War Memorial Golf Course DEFENDING CHAMPION Chris Jenkins DIVISIONS Championship, Mid-Senior, Senior and Super-Senior FORMAT 54-hole stroke play with no 36-hole cut
Sports, Pages 21 on 07/04/2013