You have to hand it to the folks at the Maine State Golf Association. When the group’s 103rd State Amateur gets underway Tuesday at Webhannet Golf Club in Kennbunkport, there’s a nice touch in each of the first tee times off holes 1 and 10, courtesy of tournament officials.
Defending champion Caleb Manuel will help start things at 7:30 in a pairing that also features the state’s reigning Mid-Amateur champion, Ronald Kelton, and Senior champion, Michael O’Brien. At that same on the 10th tee, the oldest competitor in the field, Mark Plummer, 70, will be paired with the youngest, 14-year-old Jack Quinn.
Plummer is still fondly remembered as the folk hero who shocked everyone, himself included, by reaching the semifinals of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at Newport CC, then gave then phenom Tiger Woods a real battle before losing, 2 up.
Hard to believe, but it’s been 27 years since he won our hearts that warm August. He fashioned a true, homegrown swing – of his unique grip, Johnny Miller was prompted to say “he looked like a man out watering his lawn” – a big, bushy red mustache, and a quintessential Maine drawl.