The Whites were first year contestants in this event, but Steve (of Jackson Wyoming) was able to help Andy (of Signal Mountain, TN) with the lay of the land based on his knowledge of Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes, where he competed (and made match play) in the 2008 USGA Mid Amateur. The pair fired a 4-under 67 in the first round at Pacific Dunes and never trailed after that. Andy White may have hit the shot of the tournament proper -- their were aces made in practice rounds however, see notes below -- he drove the diabolical 14th at Bandon Trails and made the putt for eagle. Caddies ready to leave the green (yes, he hit into them, but it was safe) said if the enormous tee shot had cleared one more foot of the ridge there was a good chance it was going in.

On a side note, we ran into Bandon Trails co-architect Bill Coore on the way home at the Coos Bay airport, and after he heard us talk about that hole all the way there on the limo bus he told me "Ben and I know that the hole is right on the edge -- it's the kind of hole where you can make a 2 or a 10." He wouldn't commit to any impending changes, but was clearly pleased with how high Bandon Trails is starting to rank on players' list of the top courses at the resort.

Posting 3-under 285 for the event, the White brothers won by 12 strokes over another pair of brothers from El Dorado Hills in Northern California (Kent and Doug Powell) and a "match made in heaven" team of Ed Turner and Keith Schwartz. Turner, of Dallas, and Schwartz, of San Mateo in Northern California, were paired together by Tournament Committee and literally met for the first time at the tournament welcome party. They were the only team to have descending rounds throughout the event -- look out next year when they return!

In the Net Division, another noteworthy achievement was recorded by George Stevens, Jr. (Washington, D.C.) who shot his age (78) while playing with his son Michael of Studio City, Calif. Even better, they won the Net Division by 2 strokes over Mark Utter and Randall Schwartz (yes, he's Keith's brother). A key turn came at the 17th hole of the final round at Bandon Dunes, where Stevens and Stevens took the lead for good when Michael rolled in a 20 foot par putt on the largest green on the entire complex. The Stevens' final round of 62 was one of the lowest ever posted in this event.

Sherman Haggerty and Ben Whipple of El Dorado Hills defended their title in the Senior Division by 11 strokes over Jeff Newton of Pleasanton, CA and Chuck Parsons of Springfield, Ohio. Haggerty and Whipple, according to Stephen Friend (who played with the pairing during three rounds) covered each other so well that it was as if one player knew it was their turn to step in whenever the other struggled. "Ham and Egg" works pretty well at Bandon Dunes.