The Edwin Watts Amateur Tour opened the 2009 season under mostly sunny skies and mild conditions on March 20 at Walkabout in Mims. 103 players showed up for opening day of our 13th season. Just hours before the season began, we learned of the passing of Jeff Kronauge, a member of our senior tour several years. Please join us in extendng our sympathy to his family. You can read a brief release from his most recent employer, Kissimmee Utilitiy Authority, below. Mark Kinder posted a 75 to lead the way in Championship flight. That was four better than Ray Vigeant and two-time Player of the Year Chad Frank. They were the only three players to crack 80 from the back tees. Maybe the best round of the day came from Alan Neal in A flight. His 77 was good for a two shot victory over Eric Baker. Andy Baker was third at 80 and Michael Lee put up an 81. In the B flight, first year player Michael Cerami posted an 81 and coasted to a four shot win over Dan Lambdin and William Cope. Another stroke back were John Pringle and Tim Sobitz with 86's. Len Benedetti started off in fine form in the C flight by shooting an 87 to take top honors. John Byrd was next with 90. Chase Forsyth and Brian Mack tied for third on 91. DJ Rende captured the D flight with 89. He was 10 betten then Wayne Weaver. Hud Hudson was next with 102. Dennis Brady shot even par 72 to take the top spot in Senior Championship flight. Dan Gladman was second with 75. Alan Neal's 77 was three better than David Welland's 80 in Senior A. Dan Lambdin shot 85 to edge past John Pringle and Tim Sobitz by one stroke in Senior B. As we noted earlier, we lost a member of the tour and a friend to all: KISSIMMEE, Fla., March 23, 2009 – Kissimmee Utility Authority is mourning the loss of one of its own. Jeffrey L. Kronauge, a nine-year employee of the utility, died suddenly on March 19 from an aortic aneurysm. He was 54. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Kronauge worked as a power plant operator/mechanic in the utility’s power supply department. "We are experiencing this loss with profound sadness," said KUA president and general manager Jim Welsh. "We will deeply miss Jeff's friendship, boundless energy and quick wit." A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 at Dove Funeral Home, 4310 Curry Ford Road, Orlando. A burial with military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. Kronauge’s death marks the second employee death this month for the utility. Power plant operator/mechanic Roger Wisler passed away on March 4 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Founded in 1901, KUA (www.kua.com) is Florida's sixth largest community-owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to 64,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla. The next stop on the Edwin Watts Amateur Tour is April 4 at Providence.