DIGS attracts 53 golfers, 24 out-of-town players

No golf tournament in Ritzville is more popular than the DIGS, hosted by Kirk Danekas each year at Ritzville Municipal Golf Course.

This past Sunday was a prime example as 53 golfers turned out for the annual event.

Danekas proudly announced that 24 of the entrants were golfers from out of town. Those golfers add an extra bonus on the DIGs weekend, they spend some of their hard earned out-of-town dollars with local Ritzville businesses.

This year’s tournament had three flights of golfers, with awards going out to the top net and gross players as well as the longest drive and closest to the pin on four different holes.

The winners in the first flight were:

Gross: Darin Danekas, first place, 70; Chris Barker, second, 75 and Brian Gordon, third, 77.

Net: Ian Fitch, first, 62; Kirk Danekas, second, 63; Dan Duff, tie for third, 68; Jeff Snider, tie for third, 68; Bruce Benzel, tie for fourth, 70; John Kragt, tie for fourth, 70; Dan Haarstad, tie for fourth, 70.

Kragt had the longest drive in the first flight.

Closest to the pin: Gordon, on No. 4, 2-foot-7; Haarstad, on No. 13, 2-foot-10; Steve McPherson, No. 2, 3-foot-9; and Benzel, on No. 11, 7-foot-7.

The winners in the second flight were:

Gross: Rod Kinch, Jr., first, 80; Brett Roberts, second, 83; and Paul Hersey, third, 85.

Net: Ron Grams, first, 62; Kristian Boness, second, 67; Tony Vostral, third, 68; Chris Peha, fourth, 71; Joe Kinch, fifth place tie, 72; and Neil Gllion, fifth place tie, 72.

Boness had the longest drive in this flight.

Closest to the pin: George Haase, No. 4, 8-foot-1; Peha, No. 13, 7-foot-6; Greg Books, No. 2, 19’; Mike Scribner, No. 11, 10-foot-1.

Third flight winners were:

Gross: Jerry Crossler, first, 85; Mark Schaa, second, 88; Dean Whitman, third, 89.

Net: Mark Wiegand, first, 64; Bob Clinesmith, second, 65; Dave Benedict, third, 70; Larry Kison, fourth, 71; Bryan Roberts, tie for fifth, 72; and Alan Thompson, tie for fifth, 72.

Roberts had the longest drive.

Closest to the pin: Dave Powers, No. 2, 13-foot-11; Clinesmith, No 11, 30-foot-5; and Kyle Greseth, No. 4, 5-foot-3.