White Hall's Wes McNulty has made the Arkansas State Golf Association Stroke Play Championship his the past two years, and he isn't planning on giving up his reign anytime soon.
McNulty, the six-time state champion, is back to defend his title beginning today at Texarkana Country Club. He is coming off a tie for sixth in the Fourth of July Classic at War Memorial Golf Course and said he is looking forward to this weekend's venue.
At a glance
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Texarkana Country Club (par 72, 6,935 yards)
DEFENDING CHAMPION Wes McNulty
PAST CHAMPIONS IN FIELD Wes McNulty (1992, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013), Joey Nichols (2011), Beau Glover (2007), Stan Lee (1971, 1973, 2000, 2001), Chris Jenkins (1999), David Dyer (1998), Tracy Harris (1997), Ron Richard (1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1991), Bobby Baker (1979).
"I do love Texarkana Country Club," McNulty said. "I played some of my best golf there through the years. It's one of my favorite places on earth."
McNulty is leading the ASGA Player of the Year race by 51 1/2 points over Trey Schaap and by 54 1/2 by David Dyer. The three will be paired together today and Friday in the opening two rounds of the three-round tournament.
"Until someone knocks Wes off his perch or he knocks himself off his perch, he's the one to beat," ASGA Executive Director Jay Fox said. "We have a really good field, and we're playing a really great course."
Dyer won the tournament in 1998. He and McNulty will be joined in the amateur division by past champions Beau Glover, Chris Jenkins, Stan Lee and Joey Nichols. Jenkins won last weekend's Fourth of July Classic for a record-tying sixth time by a stroke over Glover and Tyler Reynolds, who also is in the stroke play field.
"You don't have to be perfect to play War Memorial, and I didn't play perfect," said Jenkins, whose only victory in the state championship came in 1999. "Texarkana is a little different. It's a grind. This is the marquee ASGA event with its own unique pressures.
"I haven't had a good chance to win it in six or seven years. I want to be there with a chance to win it Saturday afternoon."
Lee, the defending state match play champion, is a four-time stroke play champion who last won the title in 2001 over Jenkins at Texarkana Country Club. Glover's only title came in 2007 at Texarkana.
"You have to keep it in play off the tee because the rough is real tall around the fairways," McNulty said. "You have to be comfortable with the putter as well. It's tree-lined and really suits my eye."
Sports on 07/10/2014