Photos by Tina Ray/Paraglide Frank Williams practices his putt before the start of the 10th Annual Ryder Invitational Golf Touranment, Saturday, at the course on Normandy Drive. The tournament was a two-day event that lasted Saturday and Sunday.

Johnny Pelsey, 78, has been playing golf for more than half a century. A retired 82nd Airborne Division Soldier, Pelsey joined other competitors Saturday and Sunday in the Ryder Invitational, an annual competition held at the golf course on Normandy Drive.

“Whenever they have these tournaments, I like to compete,” Pelsey said.

John Waller agreed.

“I just enjoying competing,” Waller said. “I don’t ever win them, but I enjoy playing in them.”

The individual, low-gross tournament was open to all active-duty, retired military and Department of Defense employees and their dependents or guests, 16 years and older.

It is the signature competition of the year and is in its 10th year, said Robert Taylor, head golf professional and business manager at Ryder Golf Course.

Participation builds camaraderie between active duty and retirees and brings both Ryder and Stryker golf courses together, Deveault said.

For Frank Williams, the annual tournament also provides an opportunity to “hang out with the guys,” he said.

Gary Hammond, Troy Northcutt, Robert Marks and Dan Stephens, all teed off just after 8:10 a.m. and remained together throughout the tournament.

“It’s an individual tournament, but we’re all playing together,” said Stephens.

In Sunday’s tournament, Northcutt was the closest to the pin winner on hole number 5. The closest to the pin winner on hole five for Saturday was Ed Hunt Sr.

According to Taylor, other proximity winners on Saturday included Frank Williams, Joe Westerlind, Gerald Sanders, Yan Hahn and Chuck Latham.

Sunday’s proximity winners were Jim Adamski, Francis McCahill, Mark Acker, Chuck Ledbetter and Chuck Latham.

Chuck Ledbetter was crowned the “Overall Champion” of the 2011 Ryder Invitational Golf Tournament, scoring rounds of 72 and 75 to finish at three over par 147.

Other flight winners were McCahill, with a two-round total of 149; Hollis Peery with two-round total of 155; Acker with two-round total of 173; Latham with two-round total of 145; and Fred Thompson with two-round total of 167.

Trophies and gift certificates were awarded to first, second and third place winners in each flight.

Williams said he encourages others to participate in golf tournaments on Fort Bragg.
“It’s a nice way to relax and come out and meet a lot of different people,” he said.
For more information about future golf events, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com or call Ryder Golf Course at 907-4653 or Stryker Golf Course at 396-3980.

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