(This is part three in a three-part series about the City Golf Tournament.)
By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell sportswriter
SLIDELL — It’s easy to say that golfers who play on a regular basis should have no problem playing well in the Greater Slidell Golf Championship. The three-day event is the Master’s of Slidell where local golfers play 18 holes at all three courses — Royal, Oak Harbor and Pinewood — and try their hand at being named the best in Slidell.
Jack Abney has won the title a stunning eight years in a row, and certainly has a target on his back for this year’s contest.
“Anytime, at least for me, that I have multiple days of golf to play, I?just think the more consistent play is going to win. To go three days and hit well, it’s a lot harder than just one round. You just have to be patient and go with what you’ve got. That’s how it’s gone the last couple of years — people do well the first couple of days but it’s hard to continue doing well for three days in a row,” Abney said.
This year Abney wasn’t even sure if he was going to get to play in the city tournament because a work trip was scheduled at the last minute.
“I?spoke to some folks (Tuesday) and they are going to try and put me in a later flight time,”?Abney said.
He is traveling to Kansas City and tried to catch a red eye on Thursday night but there weren’t any available. So he will be flying in on Friday morning, the same day the tournament begins.
“I’m sure I’ll be tired,”?Abney said.
The eight-time champ said he’s already played more golf this year than he did all last year.
“I got some chances to play at some really nice courses in the Carolinas, the desert and the West Coast, and I couldn’t pass it up,”?Abney said.
Last week, Abney and Robbie Rhodes, who has finished runner-up to Abney four times in the city championships, faced off in the Pinewood Country Club tourney. Rhodes was victorious like he was last year, which will give Rhodes a bit of confidence going into next week’s GSGC.
Abney said he’ll keep playing as long as it’s fun to him.
“When it get to a point where I’m not competitive anymore, I?won’t play. No matter what happens this year, it’s pretty cool to be part of a legacy where your name stays in the books with the best in Slidell. It’s synonymous with our town,”?Abney said.
Comments are closed.