Perry native Nick Luett won his fourth Memorial Golf Tournament title in five years Sunday at the Perry Golf and Country Club.
Luett held off Brett Henson of Kansas City, Mo., in a close contest for the championship, carding a two under par total of 106 for 27 holes (70, 36), while Henson nearly matched him with a 107 (71, 36).
Taking third place was 20-year-old Gianni Chiodo of Des Moines with an even par total of 108 (72, 36), and veteran golfer Jim Tibbles nabbed fourth place with a 109 (72, 37).
Shooting the low nine holes in the Championship round was Perry’s own Eric Miller, who used a hole-in-one on hole number two to post a score of 34.
This year’s honoree was the late Tom Holmes, who passed away in 2018. Tommy was a well-liked and longtime member of the Perry Golf and Country Club. He had a long career at the John Deere Co. and in retirement loved to mow lawns and tinker with cars.
Tommy especially enjoyed lawn tractors — John Deere, of course — and he enjoyed playing in the men’s league at the PGCC and later in life enjoyed the senior league.
For the first time this, a senior division was offered for golfers 60 years of age and older. These golfers played only 18 holes from the senior tees.
Longtime PGCC member Bob Gilroy won the senior title with a fine score of one over par 73. Gilroy edged his old golf partner, the ageless Don Stracke, who tallied a three over total of 75.
In the second flight for seniors, Mike Pane took first place with an 88, edging out Perry’s Dave Iben who also carded an 88. Pane won on a card-back, beginning with the toughest handicap hole until a winner was determined.
In the open division, Chris Tillinghast took first place in the first flight with a 77. Kendall Rathje took second with a 78. Third place went to Todd Ellis with a 78, and Zach Paletta also had a 78 for fourth. Second, third and fourth places were determined by card-backs.
In the second flight, Jon Jamison of Perry took top honors with an 87, winning on a card-back. Second place went to Will Whiton with an 87, and third place was won by Rob McCarger, who also had an 87. John Beals captured fourth place with an 88.
A total of 65 golfers participated in the sixth annual Memorial Golf Tournament.
