Lucky coincidence to start the day. Sammy Rachels is on the putting green. As we greet each other, he introduces me to Rex Caldwell, who is talking with him.
Have a few more words with Rex as he is sitting in his cart before heading to the tee. Ask him about his playing plans and he tells me he's slated to play the European Senior PGA Tour. Says if he makes it into the Boeing field, he thinks he'll be eligible for the Senior PGA Championship field since just getting into the field at Sandestin guanantees a paycheck.
As it turns out, he is THE MAN, as he fires 66 to top the field! And what a six-under it was!
He hits his approach at the first to six feet and makes the putt. Hits what he thinks is a mediocre approach at the second – but makes the 16-footer to get out of the box fast at two-under.
Then comes what he calls, "Unbelievable!"
At the fourth, he watches his wedge approach from 107 yards dive into the hole for eagle.
At the fifth, after leaving his approach behind the left-side bunker, with the pin shortsided on him, he says, "And it's a slight downhill lie. I hit an impossible shot that goes in!"
That puts him five-under through five holes. At the par-4 seventh, with the pin tucked on the right side, close to the water – and just about half the players coming through there misjudging the wind from the fairway because of the sheltering effect of the trees and bouncing their approaches off the right fringe of the green into the water – Rex hits his approach 12 feet past the pin and makes another birdie to get to the six-under mark.
"From there on, it was 'get it home with pars' time," he says. And he does. Albeit having to make a few four and five footers to save par as the firm, fast greens make for a lot of approach shots going long of the pins – some off the back of the green.
Joe Inman, Rick Rhoden and Mike Smith – all three who'd cashed up in Birmingham last week – failed at Kelly Plantation.
For the first time I can remember, Sammy no-carded it. As he said, "I hit everything good – except for my woods and irons." And a claw grip with a new putter didn't work like the manufacturer's literature stated. Sammy wonders if that gives him grounds for a lawsuit?
Dick Mast, who finished sixth at Birmingham, called Kelly Plantation at 6:30 am to say he couldn't make it and was withdrawing from the qualifyer. Section officials working the qualifyer said he might be sick as he was having stomach cramps the last couple of holes Sunday at Birmingham. At any rate, he won't be playing at Sandestin – but has more than $51,000 earned at Birmingham to tide him over!
Sammy wasn't the only no-carder. There were three no-cards in groups in front of his. And nine more in groups behind him!
You wonder about some of those who show up at the Monday qualifyers – non-PGA members – who have to cough up $400 to tee it up. And then go out and shoot big numbers. Had one today who turned in a 101. I can think of better ways to scourge myself!
Don Reese had a couple of bad breaks. A ball out of bounds by about three or four inches. Two double-bogeys put him in at 74.
Mitch Adcock made a great 15-foot sidehill, downhill putt to grab the second spot on the first hole of sudden-death playoff, beating out Howard Twitty. Both had shot 67.
Mitch's wife, who'd walked the course following him all day, when offered a ride for the playoff said, "I'm too nervous! I better walk!"
Before Mitch and Howard and Rex came in, Bob Ralston, Mike San Filippo and Dixie Section pro Mike Parrish had posted 70. That accounted for the only six numbers under par on the day.
Kelly Plantation was in excellent condition. And the staff did a great job hosting. And, of course, Champions Tour and Dixie Section officials make things run right.
