Cardwell Father-Son Duo Capture Inaugural WSGA Parent-Child Championship

Port Orchard, Wash. (July 24, 2009) – The father-son combination of Richard and Brandon Cardwell of Tacoma, Wash. shot a 3-under par 69 to win the Inaugural Parent-Child Championship by one stroke over Jim and Joey McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash.

The Cardwell’s birdied the last two holes on the front nine to shoot one-under to set up there assault on the back. The duo stayed steady making par on the first 7 holes of the back nine waiting for their moment to capitalize. The Cardwell’s would again birdie the final two holes to win in dramatic fashion.

A field consisting of 42 teams of Washington’s Parent-Child golfers competed at the beautiful and challenging McCormick Woods Golf Course in Port Orchard, Wash on Friday, July 24, 2009. The field was split into two divisions comprising of both male and female competitors. The male competitors in the Championship flight played the par 72 course at 6,350 yards, while the female competitors played at 5,300 yards.

The first flight was won by the father-son team of Steve and Tom Morris of Edmonds, Wash.who shot a 1-over par 73 to win their respective division by one stroke. Male competitors in the first flight played the par 72 course from 5,800 yards while the female competitors played at 5,300 yards.

The WSGA was proud to announce earlier this season that 2 new championships would be added to the schedule in 2009 which already included the 9 traditional championships. The new WSGAParent – Child Championship is a Chapman competition open to parent – child teams whose relationship is either natural, adopted or step. Partners may have more than one generation between them (i.e. a grandfather may play with his grandson/granddaughter).

The inaugural field was a mixture of men, women, boys, and girls with ages ranging from 10 – 76 years old. When asked about this new championship, WSGA Assistant Executive Director, Troy Andrew commented, “It is the ongoing goal of the WSGA to create new championships that reach out to a broader range of our membership. We think this championship will become very popular as it is unique in the fact that it allows all handicap and age ranges to compete while also combining men, women, boys, and girls and has the family connection to it as well.”

In a Chapman stroke play competition two players play as partners, each playing from the teeing ground and each player then plays his/her partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shot, including par three holes, partners select the ball with which they wish to score with and then play that ball alternately to complete the hole.