Jeff Leonard, a local golf shot-making wiz, strikes a delicate chip shot into the first green of Shining Mountain during the annual Skills Championship, sponsored by the Shining Mountain Men’s Club, a kick-off event for the 2024 season. Leonard emerged as the winner in some tough competition waged by the likes of mini-pro Jeff Meyer, Mike Sperry and many others. TMJ competitor Rick Langenberg finished well behind in the pack and attributes his poor showing to unfortunate counseling from golf guru Trevor Phipps. They say the only worse swings recorded on the planet from that of Rick and Trevor belong to TNT loudmouth and Denver Nugget-hater Charles Barkley.
On the upside, no arrests occurred and no traffic problems were reported getting into the course, unlike the fate that greeted number one-rated player in the world, Scottie Scheffler at the recent PGA Championship. (Scottie spent a few hours in a jail cell, following an altercation with a Kentucky police officer following a traffic tie-up in the wake of a fatal accident, warmed up in the cell and then went out and shot a 66. Maybe that is why he is the number one player in the world. The winner of the tournament was Xander Schauffele in a thriller against long-hitting and LIV league star Bryson DeChambeau. It sure beat the pain of witnessing the collapse of the Denver Nuggets basketball team several hours later, in a sad lost against Minnesota. I guess local sports fans should have stuck with golf.)
In case you haven’t hear the news, golf fever is alive in the High Country. This Saturday, a disc golf tourney to benefit the Gold Belt Byway will be held in a scenic course near Canon City in the first leg of the Double Down for the Byway series, with a follow-up tournament near Victor. Then on June 7, it’s time for real serious action, and a chance to challenge Sheriff Jason Mikesell on the course during the annual Teller County HDSA Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 7, with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. The tourney is designed to accommodates all kinds of players, featuring a scramble format. This is the first of a slew of charity events, aimed at assisting nonprofit groups and special causes.
And in non-golf action, a new Lager has been introduced at Shining Mountain, Jacob’s Lager, in memory of the ever-popular and late Jacob Neal, whose memory is still revered at Shining Mountain. A special ceremony was held last weekend to honor the occasion, capped by the official pouring of Jacob’s Lager. As noted by journalism legend Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, “Good people drink beer.”
Don’t argue with the great Doctor of Journalism. Have a sip or two of Jacob’s Lager and try your luck at one of the many outings this summer. Jacob would approve.
Photos, Caption and Rambling Gibberish by Rick Langenberg
