First and foremost… YOU, the golfer!

Wow, what a year for great storylines!! We had a final pairing featuring Eric Brennan, who proved himself to be one of the best golfers to ever play Valle Vista’s course, taking on Blake Keevers, whose entire family, including his dad Brian, brother Brock, wife Lindsey, son Brady and many others, were there to root him on after every swing. But well before Eric chipped in from the fringe on Hole 15 to win $5,800, every golfer in the field needs to be commended on a flawless day of golf. There were no confrontations, no controversy and no drama. Everyone wants to talk about how well-organized The Challenge is every year… Well, without a special group of 64 golfers who are willing to work together, there is NO WAY things could run as smoothly as they do. (By the way, because you guys dug deep and tipped SO WELL, we will have The Playboy Girls of Golf back again next year!! Good work!!) And a special “Thank You” goes out to Gary Mears. Gary lost a hole because he hit a tree branch in his back swing during his third round match against Tim Derloshon. That hole ended up costing Gary the match. Rather than get upset, Gary accepted the proper ruling like a gentleman. Gary, the white-out covering the 3^rd Round top right bracket on The Challenge banner will always be a reminder of your incredible sportsmanship. 

 

 

Todd Davis: Todd was my right-hand-man everyday in the 4 months leading up to June 20, 2009. If it weren’t for Todd, I honestly don’t know if we could have put on this tournament. No task was too big for Todd to handle, and for that Todd, I humbly thank you. Big thanks also to pro-shop staffers Ryan Schnell and Matt Heinkamp! Heck, Todd even had his wife Lori helping out on the day of the event! Thanks guys! 

 

Steve Oursler: The skies opened up not once, but twice the night before this year’s Challenge. And I’m not just talking about a few showers… I’m talking about thunder, lighting, animals-gathering-in-two’s kind of thunderstorms that woke me up in the middle of the night. Steve worked his tail off to make sure the course was in amazing condition for The Challenge. Next year, Steve is going to get the course ready and then be the first “Cinderella Story” grounds keeper to win the whole tourney! So he’s got that going for him… which is nice. 

Jason Morris: Wait until you see the 1,735 pictures Jason took for all 15 hours of The Challnege!!   He possesses a true photographer’s eye, and he donated that eye (and the rest of his body) FOR FREE for the entire day. Jason, I owe you big time, my friend.

 

Kevin Kern: Kevin is the ying to my yang. As much of a jerk as I can be at times, Kevin is always a class act. Kevin put together the website which allowed all of us to bid thousands of dollars on ourselves and other golfers in The Challenge. Thanks, buddy.

 

Tom Kern Jr.: Tom’s tireless efforts with making our community safe through his involvement with Crime Stoppers needs to be applauded by all of us. The reason we put on The Challenge every year is to raise money for Tommy’s more-than-worthy cause. 

 

Tom Kern Sr.: Senior is always there to help out with the “little things”. From picking up the tournament banner to drawing up the rules to kicking my butt in Match Play so that I don’t want to take part in my own tourney, thanks so much Tom! 

 

Chuck Kern: In most tournaments and outings, Chuck has to give up Valle Vista’s golf course for about 5 hours. For The Challenge, he has to give the course away for 15 hours. And he still only charges each golfer LESS than Valle Vista’s Saturday rate for one round of 18 holes… on one of the most in-demand Saturday’s of the year. Thank you, Chuck!

 

Megan Meadors: Miss Indiana didn’t “miss” when it came to knocking that first ball down the fairway to kick off the 2009 Carlos Diaz Crime Stoppers Challenge. (Ok, she didn’t exactly drive the green, but you try swinging a club while wearing a sash and tiara!!) Thank you, Megan, for making The Challenge a lot more beautiful this year!

 

Shelley Hendricks: Shelley is one of the bosses at Arni’s Restaurant. She donated hundreds of dollars worth of free food on both Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The $500 banner this year was completely paid for by Shelley and Arni’s. Seriously, how much fun did we have at Arni’s Friday night?! That was awesome!! And because of Shelley, Jody Davis now has free pizza for a year! (Now everyone go eat at Arni’s!!)

 

Ryan Renfro: Ryan is the boss down at Hubler Acura. In one of the worst car-buying periods in American history, Ryan donated cars and hundreds of dollars to The Challenge. If it wasn’t for Ryan Renfro, there would’ve been no Par-3 contests, no putting contest and no $500 great-big trophy! Thanks for stepping up, Ryan. (Now everyone go buy a car at Hubler Acura!!)

 

 

Mother Nature: On June 21, 2008, there was a 50% chance of rain. That day was filled with sunshine!! We barely got a sprinkle for about 3 minutes in the afternoon, allowing the tradition of The Challenge to begin. On June 20, 2009, there was a 60% chance of heavy thunderstorms forecast. Not a single drop fell from the sky. In fact, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky all day long! It was an absolutely gorgeous day!! Mother Nature… God… or whoever you believe in… SOMEONE is up there looking down on us during The Challenge!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First and foremost… YOU, the golfer!

Wow, what a year for great storylines!! We had a final pairing featuring Eric Brennan, who proved himself to be one of the best golfers to ever play Valle Vista’s course, taking on Blake Keevers, whose entire family, including his dad Brian, brother Brock, wife Lindsey, son Brady and many others, were there to root him on after every swing. But well before Eric chipped in from the fringe on Hole 15 to win $5,800, every golfer in the field needs to be commended on a flawless day of golf. There were no confrontations, no controversy and no drama. Everyone wants to talk about how well-organized The Challenge is every year… Well, without a special group of 64 golfers who are willing to work together, there is NO WAY things could run as smoothly as they do. (By the way, because you guys dug deep and tipped SO WELL, we will have The Playboy Girls of Golf back again next year!! Good work!!) And a special “Thank You” goes out to Gary Mears. Gary lost a hole because he hit a tree branch in his back swing during his third round match against Tim Derloshon. That hole ended up costing Gary the match. Rather than get upset, Gary accepted the proper ruling like a gentleman. Gary, the white-out covering the 3^rd Round top right bracket on The Challenge banner will always be a reminder of your incredible sportsmanship. 

 

 

Todd Davis: Todd was my right-hand-man everyday in the 4 months leading up to June 20, 2009. If it weren’t for Todd, I honestly don’t know if we could have put on this tournament. No task was too big for Todd to handle, and for that Todd, I humbly thank you. Big thanks also to pro-shop staffers Ryan Schnell and Matt Heinkamp! Heck, Todd even had his wife Lori helping out on the day of the event! Thanks guys! 

 

Steve Oursler: The skies opened up not once, but twice the night before this year’s Challenge. And I’m not just talking about a few showers… I’m talking about thunder, lighting, animals-gathering-in-two’s kind of thunderstorms that woke me up in the middle of the night. Steve worked his tail off to make sure the course was in amazing condition for The Challenge. Next year, Steve is going to get the course ready and then be the first “Cinderella Story” grounds keeper to win the whole tourney! So he’s got that going for him… which is nice. 

Jason Morris: Wait until you see the 1,735 pictures Jason took for all 15 hours of The Challnege!!   He possesses a true photographer’s eye, and he donated that eye (and the rest of his body) FOR FREE for the entire day. Jason, I owe you big time, my friend.

 

Kevin Kern: Kevin is the ying to my yang. As much of a jerk as I can be at times, Kevin is always a class act. Kevin put together the website which allowed all of us to bid thousands of dollars on ourselves and other golfers in The Challenge. Thanks, buddy.

 

Tom Kern Jr.: Tom’s tireless efforts with making our community safe through his involvement with Crime Stoppers needs to be applauded by all of us. The reason we put on The Challenge every year is to raise money for Tommy’s more-than-worthy cause. 

 

Tom Kern Sr.: Senior is always there to help out with the “little things”. From picking up the tournament banner to drawing up the rules to kicking my butt in Match Play so that I don’t want to take part in my own tourney, thanks so much Tom! 

 

Chuck Kern: In most tournaments and outings, Chuck has to give up Valle Vista’s golf course for about 5 hours. For The Challenge, he has to give the course away for 15 hours. And he still only charges each golfer LESS than Valle Vista’s Saturday rate for one round of 18 holes… on one of the most in-demand Saturday’s of the year. Thank you, Chuck!

 

Megan Meadors: Miss Indiana didn’t “miss” when it came to knocking that first ball down the fairway to kick off the 2009 Carlos Diaz Crime Stoppers Challenge. (Ok, she didn’t exactly drive the green, but you try swinging a club while wearing a sash and tiara!!) Thank you, Megan, for making The Challenge a lot more beautiful this year!

 

Shelley Hendricks: Shelley is one of the bosses at Arni’s Restaurant. She donated hundreds of dollars worth of free food on both Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The $500 banner this year was completely paid for by Shelley and Arni’s. Seriously, how much fun did we have at Arni’s Friday night?! That was awesome!! And because of Shelley, Jody Davis now has free pizza for a year! (Now everyone go eat at Arni’s!!)

 

Ryan Renfro: Ryan is the boss down at Hubler Acura. In one of the worst car-buying periods in American history, Ryan donated cars and hundreds of dollars to The Challenge. If it wasn’t for Ryan Renfro, there would’ve been no Par-3 contests, no putting contest and no $500 great-big trophy! Thanks for stepping up, Ryan. (Now everyone go buy a car at Hubler Acura!!)

 

 

Mother Nature: On June 21, 2008, there was a 50% chance of rain. That day was filled with sunshine!! We barely got a sprinkle for about 3 minutes in the afternoon, allowing the tradition of The Challenge to begin. On June 20, 2009, there was a 60% chance of heavy thunderstorms forecast. Not a single drop fell from the sky. In fact, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky all day long! It was an absolutely gorgeous day!! Mother Nature… God… or whoever you believe in… SOMEONE is up there looking down on us during The Challenge!!