State winter golf champs crowned

WILLOW — The sun warmed a panoramic mountain horizon as the team members gathered around to take turns swinging at the little red ball. Each player in turn gave their best Tiger Woods-like swing to split the long, smooth fairways — or not.

In the distance, holes 1 through 9 each presented their own challenges. Each ice golfer had his or her strategies on how to make a hole-in-one, to avoid snow traps and bogies, to score a par or claim a rare birdie.

More than 60 players gave the Willow Lake Golf Course their best shots, but the title of State Champions could only be claimed by one man, one women and one team at the sixth annual Iditarod Restart Golf Tournament March 10.

One team sponsored by Alaska Golf Shot was dominant. All four members won or placed in the event and won the team trophy as well. Carla Neffendorf won the woman’s competition with a score of 39, Travis Jorganson won the men’s title with 33, Shane Ross placed second and Paul Blanche was third. Heather Pellentier of the Country Legends Team placed second in the woman's competition and Karla Kelly was third as an independent

This year’s tournament marks the first to be officially recognized as the state championship of winter golf. The Willow Chamber of Commerce tournament was decreed by the Legislature as the championship because of the number of participants, extensive preparation of the course and history of success. Proceeds from the tournament are distributed throughout the Willow community. The event is held each year the first Saturday following the Iditarod Restart.

The nine-hole golf course is maintained by the Willow Chamber of Commerce for the remainder of the ice year as the free Willow community course. The average distance for each fairway is 150 yards, par four.

Willow United Methodist Church will sponsor a fundraiser Spring Classic Tournament on the course March 24. The classic is open for all ages with special attention to all students, who play for free thanks to businesses and individual donations. Adult entry fee is $10 with trophies for winners.