Baker wins first Energy Weldfab Classic

July 16--Tyler'sBryan Baker added his name last weekend to the annals of history by winning the 77th playing of the Meadowbrook Classic, known this year as the Energy Weldfab Meadowbrook Classic, the first year the tournament has had a title sponsor.

Michael Clements Jr. of Energy Weldfab presented Baker with the trophy to cap the three-day event on Sunday, here at Meadowbrook Golf and Event Center. Baker shot a 68 on Friday, the first day, and then shot 70 on both Saturday and Sunday, finishing with a total of 208.

Andrew Koonce finished just two shots back from Baker, at 210. Koonce stayed close to Baker with a 67 on Saturday.

B.J. Waters, who also had a 68 on day one, came in third. Waters had a 68, a 71 and a 73 for a three-day 212.

Kirk Hale, Travis Crietzberg and Devin Jackson each shot a 215, a three-way tie for fourth.

Rick Maxey, a four-time champion of the event, had another good championship flight performance. Maxey had a 71 on the first day and finished at 217.

See complete scores for the tournament with this article.

Since 2000, the tournament's additional flights have been named for famed PGA golf courses, or tournaments, and the first flight is the Masters flight. This year, Jeff McBryde won the Masters flight, a three-day 218. McBryde jumped out to an early lead with a 70 on Friday.

Mark Greene shot a 226 to finish second to McBryde, and Logan Russell, who had a 227, came in third.

Chad Powell, who shot a 232 over three days, won the Pebble Beach flight. Jess Stephens was second place with a 236, and Robert Nichols came in third, also having a 236 but Stephens won a scorecard playoff .

Taking first in the St. Andrews flight was Todd Chappell, who had a three-day 233. Scott Clark and Daniel Nichols each finished at 234, and Clark won on the scorecard playoff.

In the Pine Hurst flight, Jeff Long won, finishing up at 255. Eric Carey checked in second, after Long won a scorecard playoff.

Joe Elwood took first place in the Colonial flight (257). Josh Spalding was second (262), and Greg Collins, third (272).

The team of Zane McDonald, Vance McDonald, Logan Russell and Greg Ayers won the team trophy. It was almost a repeat: Zane and Vance McDonald and Russell teamed with David Zapata to win the team crown a year ago.

This year's tournament invitational committee members were Bobby Beane (chairman), Mike Beane, Clements Jr., David Cline, Greg Collins, Will Hale, Melvin Jordan, Harvey McClendon, Daniel Nichols, Kenneth Plunk, Josh Spalding, Ross Taylor, Jack Ward and Tom Watson. Joan Barthelemess again served as secretary.

As mentioned, Energy Weldfab was the tournament's title, or main, sponsor. Platinum-level sponsors were Capco Contractors, Inc., Citizens Bank and J. Michael Beane Consulting. Gold sponsors were Kilgore National Bank, Laird Insurance Agency, Martin Gas, the Meadowbrook Golf Association, the Merritt family, the Plunk family (who won the team competition in 2000, 2010 and 2012), Terry Stembridge and the Ward Agency.

Silver-level sponsors were Austin Bank, Gary and Pat Boyd, Jackie and Vicki Clayton of the Back Porch, KK Mobbs, Maness Furniture of Kilgore, McAlister Printing, Mobbs Real Estate Group, Mobbs Builders, Sabine Pipe, Inc., Sonic Drive-In, county judge Bill Stoudt, and Torch Wireline.

The Back Porch again sponsored the hamburgers on the hill dinner on Thursday night. Citizens Bank and Kilgore National Bank hosted breakfast on each day of the tournament. Bodacious Barbecue was the menu for Friday's dinner.

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