IF ONLY JASON Dufner wore a bucket hat out on the course.
What with the hair (I have heard this style referred to as ‘Bama Bangs — perfect for an Auburn Tiger grad) and the slight but perpetual smirk, he resembles the bratty Spaulding Smails character from the golf classic “Caddyshack.”
Yes, I am a fan of the slightly round, really laid-back Dufner, who, at least in golf terms, worked his way up from humble beginnings.
He walked on to the Auburn golf team, bounced around on the Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour early in his career, earning his PGA Tour card after finishing tied for 11th place at Qualifying School in 2009.
Dufner’s five-shot lead on the 15th hole of the final round of the 2011 PGA Championship, is well-documented.
He hit water off the tee, got up and down for bogey, but the wheels were off and he eventually lost in a playoff to Keegan Bradley.
His two wins in 2012 and his 3-1 record in the Ryder Cup gave me confidence that he still had some game left in him.
He certainly proved that over the weekend. That course-record, tied-for-lowest-ever-round-in-a-major 63 on Friday was a sight to behold.
Dufner came out hot on the front nine Sunday, taking the lead back from Jim Furyk by hole No. 8, and never relinquishing it, even with two hiccups on the final two holes.
He gets criticism for the lack of emotion and for his penchant for an ever-present dip of tobacco (from many people who laugh at the cigar antics of Miguel Angel Jiminez) but I think that’s just jealousy.
Right now he’s on top of the world, a major trophy, a beautiful wife and a legion of new-found fans.
Cedars Demo Day
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim is holding what It is calling the “Biggest Demo Day in Dungeness History” from noon to 4 p.m. Friday.
There are free hot dogs, so I’m inclined to readily agree with that little piece of potential hyperbole.
Along with the free hot dogs, representatives from TaylorMade, Adams Golf, Callaway, Ping and Cleveland Golf will be on hand with the latest in equipment.
A tent sale is planned, and there will be no-host beverages available to wash down the hot dogs.
Beery memorial event
The ninth annual Mike Beery Memorial Golf Classic will be held at Cedars on Saturday.
Beery, a Port Angeles resident and Jefferson County firefighter, died in a June 2005 climbing accident on Mount Rainier.
To honor Beery, the Mike Beery Memorial Children’s Fund was created in his honor, and the annual golf tourney is the charity’s largest fundraiser.
Proceeds from this year’s event will help Chiara, a 4-year-old girl stricken with leukemia.
Saturday’s event is a four-person best ball scramble with sign-in starting at 11:30 a.m. and a 1:30 p.m. tee time.
Registration is $100 per person, $400 per team. Players will receive 18 holes of golf with cart, range balls, an event T-shirt, a sack lunch and a steak dinner following play.
Can’t play but want to help? Send donations to the Mike Beery Memorial Children’s Fund (or “MBMCF”), P.O. Box 1111, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
For more information about the tourney, visit www.mbmcf.org/golf.html or phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
Ludlow kids day set
Port Ludlow will hold a Kids Day for ages 5 and older from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Kids of all skill level are encouraged to attend the event, where instruction will be provided by Ludlow’s PGA professionals.
To register, or for more information, phone 360-437-0272.
Captains Cup winners
Port Ludlow member Sheila Schoen checked in with some information on the club’s annual Captain’s Cup Tournament.
This year’s tournament took a little more time to complete because of scheduling conflicts, but we finally have the winning results.
The champion is Barb Cason and the flight winner is Joy Herring.
The consolation winner is Barb Berthiaume.
There were 30 participants this year rounding out two flights of 15.
Congratulations to all!
PT Men’s Club champ
Mitch Black paced the field at last Saturday’s Port Townsend Golf Course Men’s Club Championship, winning the gross title with a 36-hole total of 147, 13 strokes ahead of second-place Brian Lux (160).
Port Townsend was set up for a longer-than-usual yardage and pin placements were also tougher than normal.
Woody Woodley was third with 162 and Mike Hammers fourth at 168.
On the net side, Gene Yantz came out on top with a 132, followed by George Cave (135) and Russ Jerabek (141).
The players enjoyed a steak dinner following play Sunday made by Vicki Handyside and Denyse Tonan.
Black and Yantz each earned coveted Men’s Club Champion parking spots directly outside the clubhouse.
If Port Townsend and Chimacum play a golf match against each other next year, Black, the Cowboys’ golf coach, can swing the Chimacum van right into that spot.
SunLand champions
SunLand Golf & Country Club general manager Tyler Sweet passed along his course’s list of 2013 champions.
Winners are:
■ Men’s Championship Gross: Mike Novotny.
■ Men’s Championship Net: Dennis Powell.
■ SunLand Womens Golf Association (SWGA) Championship Gross: Witta Priester.
■ SWGA Championship Net: Sherry Meythaler.
■ Jacobs Cup: Fritz Field.
■ Lady Niners Gross: Christie Wilson.
■ Lady Niners Net: Kathy Tiedeman.
■ Super Seniors Men Gross: Mike Novotny.
■ Super Seniors Men Net: Mike Mckenna.
■ Super Seniors SWGA Gross: Carol Goodman.
■ Super Seniors SWGA Net: Cynthia Edel.
■ Associates Gross: Tracy Dunlap.
■ Associates Net: Mike Schmidt.
Dove House benefit
A second Dove House Bluebill benefit golf tournament will be at Port Ludlow Golf Club on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Registration is due by Thursday.
For more information, phone Michael Graham at 360-437-5052 or Port Ludlow golf course at 800-455-0272.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.