Don Winters Scores Ace

WINTERS SCORES ACE, MISSES DOUBLE EAGLE     

 

                                                       

                                    

  Liberty golfer Don Winters is well known throughout the Sullivan County and tri-state golf scene as a good golfer.

   At 58 Don admits his drives are not as long as the use to be but his shot game proved to be of championship form September 6 in the Bonacic Golf Challenge best-ball tournament held at the Villa Roma. 

  The tournament was a fund raiser for 42ed District Senator John J. Bonacic.

  On the 171-yard par 3 seventh-hole with an elevated green Winters used his 6 iron and fired the ball right at the pin. His three playing partners, Joe Decker, Joe Decker Jr. and Mike Rushanski all thought the ball went over the green so after searching for the ball Winters went to the cup and found his 16th career hole-in-one.  

  Don wasn't finished just yet as on the 495-yard par 5 eighth hole he hit a good tee shot, then took out his four iron and hit the flag pole with his ball just missing going in for a double eagle. The putt was made for an eagle and his team went on to win the tournament. 

  The winning prize for the hole-in-one was an Exotic Fairway Wood which Winters indicated has not yet been presented to him.

  Winters presently golfs with a 1 handicap and is a regular member of the Tuesday Men's Golf league at  Grossingers. He subs in the Wednesday Men's league at the Liberty Sullivan County Golf & Country Club.

  Success has also come his way this year in tournament play with three wins at Sullivan County Golf & Country Club, one victory at Grossingers and one win at the Villa Roma.

  One of Winters greatest achievements in golf came on July 27, 1999 when he proved his golfing prowess and long ball hitting ability by scoring a double eagle at the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club's 275-yard par four 15th hole. He sank his tee shot but it is not called a hole-in-one on a par 4 hole.

  It is the first known double-eagle ever to be recorded on that hole.

  Winters has been playing golf since the age of 11  and is a well-known and respected competitor in the annual Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better-Ball Tournament which he won with partner Tom Drobysh in 1986, 

  He lives in Liberty with his wife Pam. They have two children and two grandchildren. Don is employed as a heavy-equipment operator with Poley Paving Corp.