His golf playing friends urged Lonnie Malone to drive over from Mobile to play in the 50th anniversary tournament of Pensacola’s Par Four Golf Club.
He had never played before in a tournament like this one.
It wound up being a cherished experience, after Malone became the championship flight winner with a one-shot victory Sunday at Osceola Golf Course in the event’s historic milestone year.
“Just to be a part of this and have my name be mentioned in the history of this is very humbling,” said Malone, following the awards ceremony inside the clubhouse. “Wow, I’m amazed. This is very special.”
The tournament was halted by weather on Sunday after the field of players completed nine holes. It reduced scoring to a 27-hole event.
Malone produced four birdies on his front nine, shooting 2-under 33, to win by two shots and post a 1-over total for the 27 holes. He shot a 3-over 73 in Saturday’s full round.
A Mobile resident, Malone is a member of Azalea City Golf Course in Mobile, which is hosting its 65th annual tournament – the oldest one among the Southern Association of Amateur Golfers (SAAG) circuit – in mid-July.
The 14 organization member clubs were all founded during a time when African-American golfers had limited access to golf courses a half-century ago.
In 2016, Par Four Golf Club renamed its tournament the Calvin Washington Memorial, honoring the beloved, long-time member and advocate in growing golf among the Black community in Pensacola to keep Par Four Golf Club thriving.
“In my case, I’m a self-taught golfer,” Malone said. “I really never played in tournaments, but since my game has become of age, friends of mine wanted me to come over and play here. Never imagined this.”
Malone has been playing for 15 years and has a 5-handicap.
He overcame a double-bogey on the 13th hole Saturday with three birdies in his round. He then was rolling putts Sunday before the rain fell.
Osceola Golf Course is a historic venue itself. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the course, which is owned and maintained by the City of Pensacola.
Designed by Bill Mehihorn, who won 20 pro tournament events during the early 1900’s and was a Pensacola Country Club member, the golf course opened in 1926 and is now a member of Florida’s Historic Golf Trail.
This year’s Par Four tournament had four flights, including a seniors division. The field included former long-time Osceola general manger and city parks and recreation director Adrian Stills, now director of tournament operations for the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a pro tour designed to grow the game among minority golfers.
Stills, a former PGA Tour member decades ago, helped start the First Tee program for youth golfers in 2004.
CALVIN WASHINGTON MEMORIAL
Presented By Par Four Golf Club
50th Anniversary Tournament
27 Hole Totals
- CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT – 1) Lonnie Malone (1-over), 2) Nate Bryant (3-over), 3) Vell Lee (4-over).
- FIRST FLIGHT – 1) Donald Young, 2) Justin Corben, 3) Billy Prewitt.
- SECOND FLIGHT – 1) Kevin Edwards, 2) Ron Murphy, 3) Chris Duckworth.
- THIRD FLIGHT – 1) Clarence Henderson, 2) Willie Douglas, 3) Eddie Palmer and William Durant.
- SENIORS FLIGHT – 1) Bobby Gillium, 2) Eddie Perry, 3) Steve Freeman.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com
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