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Chad Schmitt hits his ball onto the 16th green during matchplay at the 85th annual Elmer Sears Lettuce Tournament on Sunday at the Del Rio Country Club in Brawley. (PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ MAMER / February 27, 2013) |
BRAWLEY — Usually you can find Chad Schmitt patrolling Sacramento’s freeways, but this past week the California Highway Patrol officer was making his rounds at the Del Rio Golf Course fairways as he clinched the 85th Elmer Sears Lettuce Tournament title on Sunday.
Born and raised in Brawley, Schmitt returned home to claim the badge of honor and the trophy he had been dreaming of since he was a kid.
“I look out in this crowd and see so many friends and family members I’ve looked up to my entire life, and I thank you for being here to see me play,” Schmitt said. “This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.”
With six birdies under his belt after 18 holes, Schmitt took an early lead by defeating Yuma’s Dave Sellers, winning the championship division on the 30th hole of the scheduled 36-hole match.
Windy conditions didn’t slow him down or any of the competitors as they finished the match play for the tournament Sunday afternoon.
In the championship consolation bracket, it was Chad’s brother, Brian Schmitt, who prevailed over Milas Russell III. Brian came on strong during the first nine of his 18th-hole battle to outscore his opponent and win the match on the 15th hole.
The stage was set earlier in the week as 34 low-handicap golfers qualified for 16 spots in the championship division.
Trevor Tagg of El Centro was the low qualifier. After all was said and done, 184 golfers played matches in their respective flights Thursday and Friday. Half the field was eliminated for the semifinals Saturday and the final drive Sunday.
“It was another great tournament with a full field of tough matches and I congratulate all the golfers,” said tournament director Bruce Smith, and grandson to the tournament’s late founder, Elmer Sears.
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