Jeff Klein captures Mullen Pro-Am

Monday, June 6, 2005
Gene Morris/McCook Daily Gazette Steve Gotsche, Great Bend, Kan., left, and Scottsbluff's Jeff Klein placed second and first at the Mullen Pro-Am.

After a wet week that poured more than six inches of rain on the McCook area, the skies cleared out to make way for the 17th Annual John Mullen Pro-Am on Saturday and Sunday.

Jeff Klein finished atop the leaderboard of 32 professionals to take the Pro-Am title. Klein, a former PGA Tour player, fired a 11-under 133 (68-65).

"Jeff had a PGA Tour card just 3 years ago," Heritage Hills Golf Professional Lee Maiden said. "He's a great player that knows and likes the golf course."

Brett Burton/McCook Daily Gazette Omaha professional Justin Herron tees off Saturday at the John Mullen Pro-Am Tournament, which took place at Heritage Hills Golf Course. The 36-hole tournament concluded Sunday afternoon.

Steve Gotsche, a Pro-Am champion in 1997 and 1998, took the runner-up billing with an 8-under 136 (70-66).

Maiden was pleased with the condition of Heritage Hills after the week soaking rain that also brought a lightning strike to the 11th green Thursday night.

For the first time in Pro-Am history the "HorseRace" had to be canceled on Friday night because of thunderstorms.

"The course drained amazingly well," Maiden said. "The pros scored really low. They love this golf course because of the condition of the golf course. These greens couldn't be more fun."

The foursome of Rob Stamm, Dirk Gray, Nona Mullen and Bernie Mullen won the amateur side of the Pro-Am with a 55-under total of 377.

The John Mullen Pro-Am was formed in memory of John Mullen who lost his fight with cancer in 1986 at the age of 23.

In 1987 and 1988 the Mullen family gathered for a family golf outing before it took the form of a Pro-Am in 1989.

Terri Shipshock, executive director of the Community Hospital Health Foundation, found the team victory of John's parents, Dr. Bernie and Nona Mullen, very fitting.

"What a wonderful way to have this tournament," Shipshock said. "It was the crowning achievement for this year."

The rain didn't dampen Bernie's enjoyment of the tournament.

"I thought it was extremely well run," said Bernie Mullen. "It was unfortunate we didn't have the 'Horse Race', but we were very fortunate to get the tournament in after all of the rain.

"The volunteers were great and Dannette Miller, Terri Shipshock and Lee Maiden all did a great job. The key to this tournament is getting the professionals here. Everybody likes playing with professionals."

This year's John Mullen Pro-Am is expected to push the total proceeds raised for the Community Hospital to more than $173,000.

Shipshock said this year's proceeds will go towards a new rehabilitation center at the hospital that will aid in physical, occupational and speech therapies along with cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.

"In my observation, this tournament could never ever take place without the amount of volunteers and sponsorship," Shipshock said.

Maiden echoed Shipshock's sentiments and said he was thankful to Tom Lambing, Dick Loper and George Pearson for volunteering their time to the tournament.

Professional Results

Jeff Klein 68-65 133

Steve Gotsche 70-66 136

Shane Zywiec 69-68 137

Bruce Vaughan 69-69 138

Matthew Zions 69-69 138

Michael Bentley 66-73 139

Ben Portie 69-70 140

Tom Hearn 69-72 141

Tony Giarratano 76-66 146

Steve Grosz 73-73 146

Joel Brueggermann 75-72 147

Dan Sniffin 73-74 147

Matt Shaner 75-73 148

Josh Woods 72-76 148

Greg Ernst 77-72 149

Donnie Keim 76-73

Jeff Tyrell 75-75 150

Anthony Davis 77-75 152

David Remont 77-75 152

Ryan Lanzen 79-76 155

Jim Long 78-79 157

Ken Frear 80-78 158

Ryan Vlasin 76-82 158

Justin Coleman 82-77 159

Victor Martinez 84-79 163

Greg Wiemers 84-81 165

Ryan Thomas 89-80 169

Travis Jones 96-92 188

Amateur Team Winners

1st Place - 377

Rob Stamm

Dirk Gray

Nona Mullen

Bernie Mullen

2nd Place - 382

Tim Olson

Bill Kampen

Roger Pearson

Rob Allen

Tie-3rd Place - 383

Greg Wiemers

Matt Wiemers

T.J. Wiemers

Tom Wiemers

Tie-3rd Place - 383

Charlie Gull

Doug Frank

Brett Brown

Pete Smith

Champions

1989 - Jim White

1990 - Ken Schall and Art Quick

1991 - Greg Moser

1992 - Rennie Sasse

1993 - Rennie Sasse

1994 - Jack Eckardt

1995 - Rennie Sasse

1996 - John Ogden

1997 - Steve Gotsche

1998 - Steve Gotsche

1999 - Rick Cramer

2000 - Shane Zywiec

2001 - Mike Schuchart

2002 - Tom Hearn

2003 - Kurt Osborn

2004 - Travis Hurst

2005 - Jeff Klein

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