Written by Beaux Yenchik, Manager of Media and Communications
BOISE, Idaho—A pair of Nighthawks stole the show at the opening event of the Idaho Golf Association’s 2023 tournament season Sunday afternoon at Boise Ranch Golf Course.
The duo of Colton Sisk and Gabrielle (Elle) McCord carded the low score of the tournament amongst the three divisions of golfers—shooting 67-68=135 (-7) to with the Southern Hills Flight. The Oak Hill Flight was taken by couple Wade Dishion and Kimberly Darnall who carded a final score of 6-over par (148). And last but not least, the winner’s circle for the Valhalla Flight was claimed by two teams at 23-over par (165): Zackary & Nicole Hall and John & Kelly Ianson.
With the field being nearly double the size in comparison to 2022’s snow out, players from around the IGA grabbed their playing companions in droves to compete in this unique but challenging Chapman format—a team event where two players hit a drive, switch, and play their partner’s tee shot and then play the best ball into the hole from there—as a great warm-up for what will be a fun season of competitive golf for IGA members.
SOUTHERN HILLS DIVISION
Sisk and McCord more than managed the surge of high-quality players who had been breathing down their necks since opening tee shots were struck Saturday morning. After two solid rounds, this power duo from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, claimed an impressive two-shot victory, considering the field strength they had to overcome. Having both length and precision off the tee, these two college players had an advantage that most of us only dream of when hitting the links—playing from parts of the golf course that are infrequently touched.
Gabrielle McCord (left)/ Colton Sisk (right)
With a field-leading nine birdies, Sisk and McCord relied on each other’s strengths throughout the duration of the event. When key-saving par putts fell and nicely tucked approach shots landed within a few feet of the hole, the duo proved early on that they would be the toughest foe for any and all groups playing in the event—just ask any person who competed against the newly-appointed Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year (McCord).
Fellow playing partners Robb Price and current University of Cincinnati player Brooke Patterson, as well as Burke Spensky and Shawnie Dakan, did not make it easy for the eventual victors. The Spensky-Dakan duo holed out for an eagle on the par-4 first hole, while Price and Patterson rolled in their fair share of birdies; however, the Nighthawk duo ascended above the rest in this tough 36-hole event.
“I thought it was really enjoyable,” McCord replied in response to being asked whether or not she and Sisk enjoyed the format. “I feel like we ham and egged it really well. We never both messed up at the same time. It was really nice…We played well together.”
Top-5 for the Southern Hills Division finished as follows:
1- Sisk & McCord (-7)
2- Price & Patterson (-5)
3- Spensky & Dakan (-4)
4- Kenny Walker & Cali Hipp (+2)
5- Tim Damico & Andrea Haney (+4)
OAK HILL DIVISION
A little home-field advantage swung the direction of Sunday’s Oak Hill Division winners, Dishion & Darnall.
Having started the second round with three bogeys in their first four holes, Dishion and Darnall quickly relinquished their two-shot lead just moments into the final round, even giving up sole possession of the lead on the final hole of their front nine.
Divisional runner-ups, Michael Kaes & Dorothy Sells, had chomped at the heels of the eventual winners for most of the final round but found an unpatchable leak in their hull—bogeying six of their closing nine holes—as the team boat eventually sank by the time scorecards were signed and submitted.
Kimberly Darnall (left)/Wade Dishion (right)
Knowing that their competitors were right there for most of the day, the boyfriend-girlfriend combo hung tough for just long enough thanks to some clutch shots in the final stretch of holes.
Having no more than 30 yards left on the par-4 sixth hole, Darnall played a beautiful low pitch off a tight lie to about 10 feet left of the pin. On a shot that could have been majorly chunked or skulled 20 yards over the green, Darnall had just enough zip to her to ball that all Dishion had left was a little left-to-right putt for par.
Then, on the following hole, Darnall found herself with yet again another difficult chip, but this time she was coming out of some thick rough to a flag that was set on the back portion of a “two-tiered” green. (Dishion had done a great job of getting the ball to that point after a gnarly lie in the rough.)
Playing a similar shot but with a little more roll, she again put her boyfriend in a prime position to eliminate any further big numbers on their scorecard—having already made a triple bogey on the difficult par-4 third hole.
Balling out with the championship on the line, Darnall stepped up and earned the title of Lone Ranger as the only player to hit the green in her group on the uphill par-3 12th. Dishion then proceeded to sink the 25-footer for the win—quickly telling his partner they just won the event. (Darnall refused to know anything about the leaderboard until the final putt dropped.) Talk about C-L-U-T-C-H.
Top-5 for the Oak Hill Division finished as follows:
1- Dishion & Darnall (+6)
2- Kaes & Sells (+9)
3-Mike & Dara Alverson (+12)
T4- Heathe & Lisa Pom-Arleau (+14)
T4- Bruce & Tracey Robinett (+14)
VALHALLA DIVISION
Grit and determination would be the best words to describe the efforts put in by the eventual co-winners of the Valhalla Division: the Halls and the Iansons. On a course that definitely showed its teeth this last weekend, competitors like the Halls and Iansons faced long, wet rough and non-traditional hole locations for those who play Boise Ranch on a consistent basis.
Zackary Hall (left)/Nicole Hall (right)
Though they both sat at the top of the leaderboard or near it following the opening round, the second set of 18 holes proved to be a night and day difference for the victors. With only one hole of double bogey or worse between the two groups on Day Two, the teams showed they did not want a repeat of Saturday’s round.
Both teams looked impressive on Boise Ranch’s front nine, each shooting a sub-40 score. With a more difficult back nine awaiting them, the two teams battled it out, despite being in separate foursomes.
“This is probably our first IGA event in a few years, and we just decided to play this one short notice,” John Ianson stated. “We came in with low expectations and ended up working out pretty good…We are pretty accepting of each other’s misses…I am just lucky to have a good partner.”
With a one-shot lead heading into their last hole—having started on hole 17–all the Iansons needed was par, which the Halls had managed to do in the group in front of them—putting themselves in the best position possible to win the event. With a chance to finish alone at the top, the Iansons gave a shot back to the field on the tricky downhill 17th hole and became co-winners with the Halls.
Kelly Ianson (left)/John Ianson (right)
“We’ve done it a few years, and we know what to do and know what not to do,” Zackary Hall said. “We were playing well together and knew we had a chance.”
Top-5 for the Valhalla Division finished as follows:
T1- J. Ianson & K. Ianson (+23)
T1- Z. Hall & N. Hall (+23)
3. Allan & Lynnae Gliege (+25)
4. Les Quinn & Lynn Stroud (+31)
5. Tim & Linda Klena (+32)
FINAL NOTES
The IGA would again like to congratulate all the winners of the 2023 Mixed Couples Chapman and say thank you to everyone who participated in it. A big thank you goes out to Boise Ranch GC for hosting us and helping make this event a success.
CLICK HERE for the final leaderboard.
2023 Mixed Couples Chapman Payout