MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- With carts zipping, balls sailing and good company in abundance, dozens of golfers teed off to compete in the annual base tournament at the Desert Winds Golf Course April 15.
Forty-one golfers showed up to enjoy the nice weather and compete for a chance to win the annual Combat Center Tournament and prizes on certain holes, according to Todd A. Wade, the club professional at Desert Winds.
First place was awarded to Gary S. Liddell, officer-in-charge for the Center Magazine Area here, with a score of 73. Guadalupe Felan followed with 76 to take second, and Bill R. Bloomfield earned his third-place spot with 80.
"We had great weather and high scores," said Wade. "We host this event every year in April, and it although it was a good turnout, it wasn't quite as big as last year. But then again, today is tax day."
"Our top three scores were gross scores, where we don't count in a handicap," continued Wade. "We also awarded our top net scores [with handicap] as well."
First Command Financial Planning offered the day's hole-in-one prizes.
"We have prizes on three holes today," said Chuck Uyeda, a financial agent with First Command. "On the 15th hole we have a new set of golf clubs. Hole six has the resort and spa vacation packages in Atlanta or Scotland. And hole 12 has $10,000 cash."
"We are going to have First Command out here again and we will offer bigger prizes for the [Commanding General's] Tournament coming up on May 26," said Wade. "That is always our biggest event of the year, and I expect to have about 110 people out here."