MOULTRIE — Bob Windom is a man of few words and when asked about how it felt to lead teams that have lost Pot o’ Gold Pro-am championships on tiebreakers each of the last two years, he just chuckled and said, “We’ve talked about that.”
He wouldn’t say so, but the Sunset Country Club golf professional would love to finally get a championship at club where he learned to play the game some four decades ago.
When he was the pro at Circlestone, he led a team that came in second. But the last two years have been the cruelest.
In 2008, Windom’s foursome finished in a tie with the Carterville Country Club team led by Scott Hamilton. But the tournament rules state the team with the lowest score on the final day of play will be declared the winner.
Hamilton’s team was one shot better on Sunday.
History repeated itself last year when the Sunset foursome and the International City Country Club team headed up by Jarred Reneau finished regulation tied at 185.
The Warner Robins foursome was two shots better on Sunday to win the trophy.
Reneau is back with a different cast of amateurs to defend his team title when the 55th Pot o’ Gold tees off on Friday with 56 teams in the field.
Windom will send out two teams, both of which could make a run at the title.
His Black team’s amateurs are Pot o’ Gold-experienced and include Kevin Blanton, Chad Eunice and Jon Ladson.
Playing for his Gold team are Ernie Venet, Greg Coop and Colquitt County High senior and Valdosta State University signee John Fordham.
Blanton was second among the event’s amateurs last year with a 208. Coop, who played with Newnan Country Club professional Louis McHughes, shot a final-round 70 for a 210 last year.
The field appears to be especially strong this year and includes the two professionals who have the most overall titles.
Marietta Country Club pro Stephen Keppler, who has nine overall titles — including seven as the tournament’s low pro — is back with a team that includes amateurs Hap Flemming, Lanny Clark and Randy Dunahoo.
And Bob Duvall, a longtime Pot o’ Gold regular who has eight overall titles, is playing for the first time in a number of years.
Duvall will be the pro on the Pablo Creek No. 2 team that includes amateurs Lynn Stoner, Rocky Fraleigh and Scott Regner.
Also in the field will be the Arrowhead Country Club team from Montgomery, Ala., headed up by Fred Holton.
Holton was the low pro in 2007 when he shot a tournament-record 199. He also was the low pro last year.
Cartersville’s Scott Hamilton will try to win his second championship in three years.
Andy Blanton will return to his former home club leading the Country Club of Columbus team.
Pot o’ Gold favorite Ed Everett will return with a team from Doublegate in Albany.
Rob Williams, a two-time champion from Valdosta Country Club, also is in the field.
The four top players on the Colquitt County High golf team — Fordham, Billy Edwards, Davis Edwards and Von Stripling— will be playing in the tournament.
Windom’s teams will be chasing Sunset’s first Pot o’ Gold championship since 2004 whe the Kerry Smith-led team shot a 183. Smith’s foursome that year includes Venet, Ladson and Eunice.
The tournament will begin on Thursday with practice rounds, a factory rep show and the popular long-drive competition, which will begin at 3 p.m. at the No. 10 tee.
Blake Clanton, who won last year’s long drive contest with a drive of 342 yards, will be back to defend his title.
Clanton will play for the Gary Clark’s Riverpointe team.
Play will begin on Friday with 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tee times.
The National Beef Players dinner will be held at 7 p.m. Friday.
