Big Dogs, Aces, & Eagles

The Big Dog competitions occur over the period of one year. It starts on the first Wednesday and Saturday events on or after the end of the fiscal year ending on November 1st. the competitions end on Wednesday before and the Saturday of the fiscal year November 1st. For each event, points are allotted to the first, second, and third place – five points for first, three for the second, and one point for third-place finishers. The golfers with the highest accumulation of Big Dog points for the year, one for Wednesdays and one for Saturdays, are declared the Big Dogs. Their prize money is awarded at the banquet for the first, second, and third place for both Wednesdays and Saturdays. The more frequently one plays, the better chance to be a Big Dog winner.

2021 Big Dog Winners / 2020 Big Dog winners

2021 VGA Big Dogs Nov. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021

Wednesdays: Revised 5/5/2021	Points
1st-Tie-Tom Anderson, Fred Baldwin, M Roether	14
2nd-Tie- Paul Mickela, Gary Vance	13
3rd-Tie-Bill “The Carver” Heller, Don Majors	10
4th-Tie- Cox, Dan, Kowalchik, Niblack, Yancy	9
5th-Cathy Harvey	8
Saturdays: Revised 5/8/2021	Points
1st-Mike Roether	21
2nd-Rusty Silverman	18
3rd-Tie-Tom Anderson, Jeff Currie	15
4th-Stephen Jordan	12
5th-Donald Majors	11

Aces and Eagles by VGA Members

Most recent hole in ones scored by VGA players.

August 1st, 2020: Dan Christiansen “Mr. Smoothie” Scored Hole in one on hole # 7 on Las Sendas course.

**July 8th, 2020**, Al Dan Scored a hole in one at Desert Canyon hole # 13.

Ken Slagle Scored a hole in one on June 10th, 2020 at Lone Tree Golf Club on hole # 2.

**On June 3rd, 2020 Paul Mickela scored a hole in one on hole # 7 at the Westbrook Lakes course.**

Wednesday 4-1-2020 April Fools day of all things at Bear Creek GC. Jandy Johnson: It’s my first ever hole in one! It was on the eighth hole, the pin was in the back, so 125 yards shot. I hit my 8 iron flush with a little draw. I couldn’t see the hole, so I didn’t get to see it go in. I knew I hit a good shot, but couldn’t believe it was in the hole! Here’s a pic of me with the ball.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019, Rookie, Jim Cox, joined the VGA on June 20 and struck gold on the 26th of June. He hit a seven-iron on the 152-yard par-three eleventh hole for his first ace. Jim wrote “ I hit the shot perfectly flush and knew it was going to be a good shot, little did I know how good though. The ball landed about a foot past the hole and rolled back into the hole.” Way to go Jim!

Saturday, May 25, 2019, Rusty Silverman scored a hole in one on #7 at San Ignacio during the John Pierce Green Valley Open. Good Job Rusty. Understand Neal Fisel also Aced this same hole at a previous JPO there.

Today September 1st, 2018, Danny Delgado Scored an Ace at hole # 16 at ASU Karsten. On this day no one scored a birdie and Danny won it all.

Neal Fisel forgot to get a picture of his Hole in one today 4/11/2018 at Stone Creek, hole #12 at 176 yards. We were behind them on the tee box we could hear the hooting and hollering. Knew something good happened. Great work Neal.

Wednesday Bear Creek event 11/1/2017: Fred is back and what a way to start off the new VGA fiscal year of 2018 with his 3rd hole in one this calendar year. He didn’t wait long as he did it on #2 hole. Didn’t see his hole in one dance but heard it was a good one. Got 1st place in the event too with a 63 net. Nice round Fred and thanks for the drinks too.

**Today May 27, 2017,** I guess I proved an old golf adage if you roll enough balls toward a par three-cup eventually it will go in. It did today for me at Ocotillo Blue course hole #7. It was playing 126 yards today. I was shooting last and had been playing my usual hellter skelter good bad game but today I had one thing going for me. Luck and I had more than my share of it today. Using a Ping 9 iron which for that shot should have been more than I needed and yellow Callaway Chrome Soft Truvis ball. Fortunately, I sculled the shot and it hooked right into the little swale in that green. It rolled to the top of the swale reversed it’s the course and went directly into the hole. Luck surpasses skill every time. I have made 4 eagles longer than that shot but this was my first hole in one. I hit some other amazing shots today but that was the most thrilling for me.

Fred is back and what a way to start off the new VGA fiscal year of 2018 with his 3rd hole in one this calendar year. He didn’t wait long as he did on #2 hole. Didn’t see his hole in one dance but heard it was a good one. Got 1st place in the event too with a 63 net. Nice round Fred and thanks for the drinks too.

On June 11th, Tom “No Shoes” Hecocks holed it out on Karsten’s No. 16 for his first hole-in-one. Well done Tommy.

Fred Baldwin aced the third hole at Superstition Springs on January 20th with his trusty 9 iron. It was his third ace in five years!

Eagles scored during VGA Events.

Saturday, May 8th, 2021, Jason Foster scored an Eagle on hole # 2 at the Cave Creek Golf course.

Saturday, April 10, 2021: Steve Richter scored an Eagle on hole # 14 at Francisco Grande GC.

Saturday, March 27, 2021: Tommy “No Shoes” Hecocks scored an Eagle on hole #5 at Aguila Golf Course.

Wednesday, March 2, 2021: Ken Slagle hit an Eagle on hole # 10 at Aguila GC.

Saturday, February 20, 2021: Congratulations to Joey Hochevar who scored an Eagle on hole # 10. Nice going Joey.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020: Dave Dean had an eagle on the 368-yard par-five hole at Verrado Victory on November 25. He hit the driver, three-wood to ten feet from the green tees. Way to go, Dave.

Wednesday, November 25th: Dave Dean had an eagle on the 368-yard par-five hole at Verrado Victory. He hit the driver, three-wood to ten feet from the green tees. Way to go, Dave.

Saturday, October 3, 2020: Ben Hughes had another eagle. His latest was at Southern Dunes on October 3. He hit a three-wood from the tee to 181 yards and then a low seven iron to the back of the green and holed a tricky 70-foot putt for his eagle on the 469-yard hole number three. Quite impressive!

Saturday, October 17, 2020: Tom Hecocks eagled the 493-yard 18th hole at Coldwater on October 17. He hit driver, three-wood to forty feet and made the putt for his eagle. Nice going, Tom.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020, Ken Slagle scored an Eagle on Whirlwind Devil’s Claw course hole #13.

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, Tom Hebert eagled hole #7 at the Troon Monument course.

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, Ben Hughes eagled hole #14 at the Troon Monument course.

Wednesday, June 10th, 2020, Kevin Haskew Scored an Eagle at Lone Tree Golf Club on hole # 3.

Saturday, May 2, 2020, Some fireworks for Steve Richter on # 5 at Aguila today as he nailed an Eagle on that hole. Short par 5 but said he hit a decent drive followed by a wood to 8′ past the pin and dropped a downhill putt for the Eagle.

Saturday, March 21, 2020, Dan Campos scored an Eagle on hole # 10 at Ken McDonald. Two beautiful shots to the Green and an even better putt for the Eagle.

Saturday, February 8th, 2020, Rusty Silverman scored an Eagle on hole # 9 at San Marcos at the VGA event there. Understand he was on in 2 and only had to make a 3 ft putt for the Eagle. Nice work Rusty.

Saturday, September 28, 2019, John Adair scored an Eagle on hole # 5 at Aguila.

Saturday, September 21, 2019, Danny Campos scored an Eagle on hole # 6 at the Wigwam Red course.

Saturday, May 6, 2019, Ben Hughes scored an Eagle on hole # 16 at Union Hills GC.

Saturday, April 20, 2019, Tommy No Shoes Hecocks scored an Eagle on hole # 2 at Cave Creek GC.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019, Steady Freddy Baldwin scored an Eagle on #17 at Palmbrook CC. Well done Fred.

Wednesday, April 10/2019, Zach Hamm scored an Eagle on hole # 15 at Ken McDonald Golf Course in Tempe Arizona.

Wednesday, March the 13 of 2019, Ed Chapman scored an Eagle on hole # 2 on the Legend of Arrowhead Course. Well done Ed.

Saturday, February 23, 2019, Eugene Disque connected for an Eagle on hole # 7 @ Tres Rios.

Wednesday, January 30th, 2019, Rich Golz captures the first Eagle of 2019 on Hole # 4 at Stonecreek today.

Wednesday, November 12th, 2018, John Adair scored an Eagle on hole # 15 of the Verrado Founders course.

Saturday, September 1, 2018, Phil Weideman scored an Eagle on hole # 17 at ASU Karsten.

Saturday, June 30th, 2018, Tony Dalton scored an Eagle on hole number 7 at Wickenburg Ranch CC.

Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, Barry Jennyjahn Eagled # 13 at Falcon Dunes GC. He drove the green pin high right, 5 feet from the pin. That hole is approximately 300 yards.

Saturday, May 26, 2018, Tom Orr scored an Eagle on hole # 11 at Superstitions Springs GC.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018, Tom Willis scored an Eagle at the 500 Club hole # 18. Great finish Tom.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Rusty Silverman scored an Eagle on # 11 today said he was putting so bad he had to chip it in.

Saturday, March 10th, 2018, Ben Hughes shot an Eagle on # 15 hole at Aguila.

Saturday, March 10th, 2018, Kevin Gilmore shot an Eagle on # 5 hole at Aguila.

Wednesday, February 14th, 2018, Tom Giljum shot an Eagle on hole # 5 at Club West GC.

Saturday, February the 10, 2018, John Adair scored an Eagle on hole #15 of the Union Hills GC.

Wednesday, December 17, 2018, Dave Dean scored an Eagle on Hole #5 called the Swale at Troon North Monument Course.

Saturday, November 18, 2017, Tom Hecocks scored an Eagle on hole # 17 at the Palmbrook CC in Sun City AZ.

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017, Dave Dean Eagled #14 at the Palmbrook Country Club in Sun City. October must be a good month for Eagles had 3 so far this month.

Saturday, October 21st, 2017, Rusty “Golden Boy” Silverman popped in an Eagle on hole #4 on the Wigwam-Patriot course.

Saturday, October 10th, 2017, Danny Campos scored an Eagle today on # 10 hole of the Antelope Hills North course.

Saturday, September 16th, 2017, Dan Campos scored an Eagle on hole # 7 at Wickenburg Ranch. He also won the event with a 61 net.

Saturday, August 19th, 2017, Larry Burton scores an Eagle on hole #5 at the Raven @ South Mountain.

Saturday, August 12, 2017, Ron Amstutz scores an Eagle on #3 at Camelback-Ambiente Course.

Saturday. August 5, 2017, Rusty Silverman scored an Eagle on #18 at the Legacy Golf Resort. Per Rusty, “Bombed 3 wood off the tee. Another 3 wood just short and chipped it to take Freddy’s money”.

Saturday, April 8, 2017: Rusty Silverman hole an Eagle on hole #3 at Cave Creek.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017: Harley Ewing scored an Eagle on #3 hole at Club West. Harley finished the Eagle from the Green fringe area about 60 feet away with a pitching wedge. John Euler birdied the same hole.

Saturday, November 26th, 2016: Dan Campos eagled the 17th hole at Ken MacDonald.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016: Dan Christiansen eagled the 10th hole at Palmbrook GC.

Tony “Mr. President” Dalton eagled the ninth hole, a par five 535-yard hole at the Gold Canyon Dinosaur Mountain course on July 9th. That’s a great eagle!

Rich Golz, a recent new member of the VGA, eagled the second hole, a par four 300 yard hole at Southern Dunes on August 24th. It was a shot to be remembered. Rich hit his drive into a fairway trap 50 yards from the green. He then hit a screamer that bounced over the green and up a steep hill for at least 20 feet. The ball hesitated, and then rolled down the hill, onto the green, and into the hole! Wow!

Ben Hughes eagled the fourteenth hole, a par four 337-yard hole, at GCU on September 3rd. Ben jarred the hole with a wedge. NICE SHOT after four mishits with the same club earlier in the round. It’s a good thing he didn’t throw it in the pond on 13 as some VGA players have done in the past.

John Adair eagled hole number eight at Moon Valley.

Billy “I Can’t See It” Heller eagled the par-five hole number two from 160 yards at Casa Grande. Way to go Billy!

2020 VGA Big Dogs Nov. 1, 2019, to Oct. 31, 2020

Big Dogs for (Wednesdays 2020) rev: 10/28/2020	Points
1st-Dave Dean	37
2nd-Jim Cox	29
3rd-Larry Burton	28
4th-Ken Slagle	27
5th-Tie-Kowalchik, Vutrano	18
Big Dogs for (Saturdays 2020) rev: 10/31/2020	Points
1st-Dan Christiansen	24
2nd-Mike Roether	22
3rd-Dan Clark	20
4th-Bill Heller	19
5th-Ken Baca	18

2019 VGA Big Dogs Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019

Big Dogs for (Wednesdays 2019) rev: 10/30/2019 Final	Points
1st-Warren Meehan	46
2nd-Dave Dean	42
3rd-Larry Burton	38
4th-John Euler	32
5th-Tom Giljum	31
Big Dogs for (Saturdays 2019) rev: 10/26/2019 Final	Points
1st-Dan Christiansen	38
2nd-Fred Baldwin	27
3rd-Rusty Silverman	25
4th-Danny Campos	24
5th-Tie- Burton, Clark, Fisel, Hebert, Storms	19

2018 VGA Big Dogs Nov. 1, 2017, to Oct. 31, 2018

Big Dogs for (Wednesdays 2018) rev: 10/31/2018 Finals	Points
1-Bill Heller	40
2-Tom Willis	35
3-Fred Baldwin	31
4th-Mike Roether	30
5th-Larry Burton	24
Big Dogs for (Saturdays 2018) rev: 10/27/2018	Points
1st-Rusty Silverman	50
2nd-Bill Heller	32
3rd-Tony Dalton	30
4th-Tie-Larry Burton, Ron Gunderson	27
5th-Tom Hebert	26

2017 VGA Big Dogs Nov. 1, 2016, to Oct. 31, 2017

Big Dogs for (Wednesdays 2017) rev: 10/25/2017-Finals	Points
1st-Dave Dean	47
2nd-Rich Golz	34
3rd-Tom Giljum	32
4th-Tony Dalton	23
5th-Burton, Rankin	21
Big Dogs for (Saturdays 2017) rev: 10/28/2017-Finals	Points
1st-Fred Baldwin	28
2nd-Jeff Currie	27
3rd-Tony Dalton	26
4th-Rusty Silverman	24
5th-Tie-Larry Burton, Dan Christiansen and Tom Hecocks	23