It was a picture perfect weekend for golf at Mission Inn. Ninety-four players competed ont the Las Colinas and El Campeon courses for the 900 points and crystal trophy that goes to the winner in each flight. For the first time--which will begin a new tradition--the Bob Mirus Memorial will be the first major of each year on the Golfweek Amateur Tour/Orlando. Named in honor of tour director Tom Mirus’ father, the first major of the year provided plenty of great competition. 


John Bessette and John Henry each shot two day scores of 157 to tie for the Championship flight top spot. The two went back out to the tough 18^th hole for the playoff. Bessette’s par proved good enough to notch his second win in a row on tour. In the senior Championship flight, Bill Foster (pictured)opened with a 76 and then held on Sunday to finish at 159 and take a three stroke win over Patrick Fitzgerald.

Tour veteran John Marshall captured the A flight with two identical rounds of 80 for 160. Ed Paterniti birdied his final hole for a two day total of 161 that still left him one stroke back. Three strokes further back were Tom Dillon and Marvin Pressley at 164. Paterniti also competes in the senior A flight and his 161 total was good enough to win the first place crystal. Ed was five strokes clear of second place finisher Howard Tomlinson, visiting from the Hilton Head tour. Mike Lombardo finished third with 167.

Nathan Classon, B-Flight Winner

B flight saw a tour rookie win. Nathan Classon cruised to a three shot win by shooting an 82-87-169. Zack Mihalik and Chet Rakowski tied for 2^nd on 172. Zack took the second place prize on the match of scorecards. Mike Salik and Mike Ferretti were two more back, tied on 174. Chet Parker claimed the senior B title with rounds of 81-88-169. He beat Chet Rakowski (172) by three.

C flight went to Joe Porter. It was his first event after transferring to Orlando from the Myrtle Beach tour. He shot a nice 84-89-173 to take the crystal. Three more first year players were next as Rob Lattig grabbed second place with a 36-hole total of 181, then Dennis Frantz (185) and Gary McElroy (187).

Josh Johnson, D-Flight Winner

Joshua Johnson scored a victory in D flight with a score of 99-102-201. By a razor thin margin, he edged past Dan Salik by a single stroke. After finishing in the top five in five of six events without a win this year, Joshua finally came home with the top prize.

Mission Inn played host to the NCAA Division III Championships two weeks before the Golfweek Tour came through and the courses were in terrific condition.

The tour moves to Celebration Golf Club on June 23.