2018 DSGO: Annika, John Daly, Blake Shelton & Two-Time Champion Bart Bryant!!!

189In the end, Bart Bryant won the 2018 Dick Sporting Goods Open and became the first two time winner of the PGA TOUR Champions event at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York. But the story lines were strong throughout the week starting with a clinic on Wednesday with World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam! Thursday was the traditional Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast followed by the nontraditional John Daly! Friday night’s entertainment was Blake Shelton. Through in good times meeting family and friends and a few spiedies and another memorable DSGO was enjoyed by all!

Here, in nine social media posts and 191 published pictures, is the wonderful experience of Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary with many thanks to the tournament staff, the volunteers, the professional golfers and my friends outside the ropes!

ANNIKA in the HOUSE!!! In my hometown, Greater Binghamton, NY; Triple Cities- Binghamton, Johnson City, & Endicott! #DSGO.   CLICK HERE for First Meeting Annika Sorenstam in  January 2011!

(Andy Reistetter, 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 1 Pic)

53Always good to come home to the DSGO… see old friends… make new ones! And it is only the Wednesday Pro-Am! And if it IS Wednesday at the DSGO it’s meatball sandwiches from Mario’s Pizza Owego! Annika this evening! Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast and John Daly in the morning! Blake Shelton on Friday! Best golfers in the world age 50 & over right here in the Greater Binghamton area! Hope to see y’all out at En-Joie Golf Course enjoying the golf, the concert, & life! #DSGO Mario’s Pizza Owego

(Andy Reistetter, 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

1WOW, what an amazing evening with World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam on a beautiful Southern Tier of New York evening! With Master of Ceremony Dave Marr it was an exceptional event unlike any other on any tour! Annika’s instructional clinic was amazing & well demonstrated as she holed her very first putt from 30 feet, a downhill, left-to-righter! She also reenacted her four footer to shoot 59! Sinking that one too! Putting is all about pace! Every putt stroked is straight, aim left or right! You can’t hide from your weaknesses. Face your fears! Having a pre-shot routine (her’s is exactly 24 seconds) beats any nervousness! At the end she answered questions and ended with why she left the competitive game… I had found,and climbed my Mount Everest… there were other mountains/passions to pursue, namely marriage, being a Mom & businesses too! As Dave Marr pointed out; the WGHOF golfer made a graceful transition to being a Hall of Famer mother… to which the audience respected Annika Sorenstam with a standing ovation! Inspirational moment! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

55What a fun-filled last five days at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open! First on Wednesday it was the miraculous job by Anthony Chapman and his team to save the golf course from torrential rain and flooding, to the degree that both Wednesday and Thursday pro-ams went on as scheduled! Wednesday evening was ANNIKA Sorenstam’s short game clinic on the 18th green, a definite crowd favorite! Up early Thursday morning for the The Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast at the Kularah Shriners’ Hall!

52David Marr mc’d the spiritual sharing of 1987 Masters Champion Larry Mize and 2010 DSGO Champion and ‘Boss of the Moss” Loren Roberts. With many references to Biblical Scriptures, the trials, tribulations and success living life on tour, and heartfelt story-telling this has become the best fellowship breakfast on tour! I asked Loren and Larry to share their most personal inspiration experiences over the years in the Triple Cities. Loren stated that without a doubt the DSGO is the best community-supported tournament and a not-to-miss event for the Champions Tour players (as evidenced by the strong field every year). Larry said that it happened yesterday when a guy came up to him in the parking lot and offered to pray with and for him and he did! As I like to say this is the “Valley of Spiritual Growth” and an awesome place to be and live whenever you can! Please mark your calendars for the Thursday morning breakfast for the 2019 DSGO! God Bless! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/16/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

83John Daly Day, Thursday of the DSGO, courtesy of Security Mutual! Long John told some great stories! Then there was the Bernard Langer interview which is always a class act! I felt like I lived in St. Andrews, Scotland when he complimented the community for their support of the DSGO and their knowledge of golfer! Then it was off to see the beautiful golf course that was saved from destruction by Anthony Chapman and his team after torrential rain caused severe flooding in the Triple Cities and part of the golf course. Well the fun and games are over as with the end of Thursday comes Friday and the start of the 2018 DSGO! So excited to be here to not only have a fun time but to see some great golf too! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/16/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

Best thing about the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open is enjoying the Lupo’s S&S Charpit SPIEDIES near the 14th tee! EVERY DAY, EVERY WAY… chicken, pork, and throw in a sausage for a little extra spice! Thanks Patti & Pat! See you next year! #DSGO The Original Lupo’s Char-Pit http://www.andygolftraveldiary.com/admittedly-addicted-to-…/

(Andy Reistetter; 8/17/19; Facebook Post with 4 Pics)

121Friday’s first round had some great golf but it was all only a prelude to Sunday’s dramatic finish and the Blake Shelton concert! Doug Garwood opened up with an 8-under par 64 followed by 65s by Marco Dawson and Michael Bradley. Other notable scores included Bart Bryant (68), brothers Jay Haas (68) and Jerry Haas (69), Bernard Langer (70), Joey Sindelar (69), Father Gibby Gilbert (78) and son Gibby Gilbert III (74), and John Daly (73). Yeah Blake Shelton! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/17/19; Facebook Post with 22 Pics)

167Post concert DSGO Round Two on Free Admission Saturday! Whether on the PGA TOUR Champions or Regular, Saturday is moving day! Michael Bradley (1st 65-68), Bart Bryant (T2 68-67), and Marco Dawson (T2 65-70) were moving in the right direction whereas Doug Garwood (T7 64-73), Clark Dennis (T4 66-70), and Woody Austin (T7 66-71) were heading in the wrong direction. Play was suspended for 3 hours from 10 am to 1 pm due to rain and course conditions but all golfers were able to finish their round. Other notable scores included flip-flopping brothers Jay Haas (T17 68-71) and Jerry Haas (T7 69-68), Bernard Langer (T17 69-70), Joey Sindelar (T48 69-73), Jeff Sluman (T17 69-70), Father Gibby Gilbert (76th 78-82) and son Gibby Gilbert III (T42 74-68), and John Daly (T68 73-77). #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/18/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

180Another exciting Sunday finish at the PGA TOUR Champions Dick’s Sporting Goods Open! With a Sunday bogey-free 7-under par 65 Bart Bryant became the first two-time champion of the DSGO! Starting two stroked behind Round 2 leader Michael Bradley, Bryant caught him with his 5th birdie of the day at the par-4 10th hole. Note that Bradley shot a 3-under par 34 on the first nine holes that includes 3 par-5s and only 1 par-3. Bryant birdied the 11th to take the lead only to have Bradley birdie the par-5 12th to draw even again. After matching pars for two holes, Bradley blinked with a bogey on the difficult par-4 15th. Both golfers parred the 16th and 17th and birdied the 18th! What a great week at the 2018 DSGO!

(Andy Reistetter, 8/19/19; Intended Facebook Post with 30 Pics)