Big turnout at annual Kirchenbauer golf event

HOLTVILLE — Frank Wright Middle School teacher Jeff Williams had a shot at $1 million Saturday but came up a few yards short in the Rabobank Million Dollar Shootout at the John A. Kirchenbauer Memorial Golf Tournament at Imperial Palms Resort at Barbara Worth here.

The 39-year-old Williams won the tournament’s closest-to-the-pin competition by knocking his shot 58 inches from the hole. That earned him the chance to take one shot for $1 million on the 165-yard, Hole No. 11 at the course.

“I wasn’t real nervous, but I think it’s because there wasn’t a big group watching me take it,” Williams said about his $1 million shot. “I hit it a little fat. It was straight and seemed to be on line, it just came up short.”

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Holtville High Green and Gold Hall of Fame Committee, which uses the funds to award scholarships to graduating high school seniors and also for youth activities throughout the Imperial Valley.

Saturday, 108 golfers participated in the event, a record number of participants for the 11th annual tournament.

“It was a good turnout. We have a very loyal group of golfers who come out every year. With the giveaways we do each year, we get interest from throughout the Valley,” said Murray Anderson, golf tournament coordinator for the Green and Gold Hall of Fame Committee.

Mario Luna won the men’s long-drive competition on Hole No. 10, while Belinda Mills won the women’s competition.

Taking first place at the event was the team of Trevor Tagg, Glenn Rye, Colt Snyder and Charlie Kemp. The second-place team was made up of Jeff Magin, Bill Huyler, Craig Blek and Tommy Samaha, while third place went to Joe Tagg, Elliott Tagg, Brandon Angulo and Beau Ashley.