Country Club crowns 2006 golf champs

The McMinnville Country Club named its 2006 golf champions last weekend, with match-play concluding in all four flights of the club championship.

In the championship flight, Zack Molloy came away with this year?s title, defeating Mark Hitchcock ?6 and 5,? meaning Molloy was ahead by six holes with just five left to play.

Hitchcock had reached the finals with a 3 and 2 win over Andrew Brock, while Molloy defeated Bill Locke 3 and 2 in their semifinal match. Molloy also won over Mike Hitchcock and Allen Hitchcock on his way to the championship.

In the first flight, Steve Biles won this year?s championship with a 4 and 2 victory over Andy Jacobs.

Biles reached the finals with a 5 and 3 win over Mickey Heath, after needing 21 holes to down Hansford Fairchild in the quarterfinals. He opened his run through the bracket with a 4 and 3 win over Grant Bullen.

Jacobs defeated Greg Brock 1 up in the semifinals, after scoring wins over Whit Taylor and Phil Whisenhunt in the opening two rounds.

The championship in the second flight went to Bill Harris, who needed 19 holes to defeat Wayne Grissom on Sunday.

The semifinals in their flight saw Harris down Larry Prater 2 up, while Grissom defeated Dwayne Brown 2 and 1. Grissom reached the semis with wins over Brent Crouch and Brandon Hodges, while Harris defeated Todd Patterson and Jerry Cathey earlier in the tourney.

And in the third flight, Vernon Powers was this year?s winner, topping Paul Watson 6 and 5 in the finals.

Powers scored wins over Wendell Dishman and Wally Stern on his way to the finals, while Watson had a bye in the quarterfinals, and defeated Tom Thaxton 5 and 4 in the semis.