NATIONAL HICKORY CHAMPION CROWNED - United States Golf Teachers Federation

From www.USProHickory.com: “Battling wind and length, Leroux Ferreira from Kingwood, Texas, outlasted the weary field of golfers over the challenging 6,400-yard Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club in Temple Terrace, Florida, February 21. Playing with clubs dating back to 1910 or earlier, Ferreira was the only golfer able to break 80 and with that by only one shot. David Frost of the Champions Tour finished in second with 81 and Jon Benson from Wesley Chapel, Florida, rounded out the top three with 83.

The United States Professional Hickory Golf Championship is the brainchild of Mike Stevens, USGTF teaching pro at MacDill Air Force Base and the reigning National Hickory Open Champion. The field of 24 golfers from around the country competed with original hickory shafted golf clubs provided by Dr. Jay Harris of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

The players were battling for a piece of the $5,000 prize fund and the John Shippen Cup, honoring America’s first professional golfer. The championship was dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of early golf in America. The golf course was chosen because it hosted the original Florida Open in 1925 and remains true to its 1922 Tom Bendelow design.