MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines from around the Corps competed in a tournament on Cherry Point’s Sound of Freedom Golf Course, Oct. 16–19, to determine who would make the cut and move on to the All-Marine Golf Team.
The winners of the tournament were Capt. David King from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, who became the team captain; Capt. Tony Apperson, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Kubik and Master Sgt. Chris Martinez, all from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; Staff Sgt. John M. Oliver from MCAS Cherry Point; and Lance Cpl. Austin J. Grey from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.
The final six rose above the 28 other competitors.
King, an eight-year veteran and two-year captain of the team, explained the golf tournaments are a three-week process. First, Marines compete for a spot on the All-Marine Team. Once selected, the team competes in the All-Armed Forces Golf Championship against the best players of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The top players of the All-Armed Forces Golf Championship are then selected to the All-Armed Forces team, which ended Tuesday, with the Marines tying with the Navy team for third place.
The third place finish should come as a disappointment to King, who said he was looking forward to playing in the All- Armed Forces Golf Championship.
Grey, who said he played some competitive golf before joining the Marines, said he was excited by the prospect of playing in such a prestigious tournament. This is the first time he made the All-Marine team, and one Grey said he will never forget.
“It was a great experience,” Grey said. “Being able to get back into some competition golf was exciting for me. It was nice to finish and make the team out of so many good golfers that were here. There are a number of good golfers that unfortunately couldn’t make the team. There was a lot of good competition.”
One of his competitors and a fellow finalist was Oliver, the only Marine from Cherry Point to make the team and compete in the All-Armed Forces Championship.
“It’s always good to have someone from your area to represent you on your team,” said Oliver, who is with Marine Unmanned Aerial Squadron 2. “My command is supportive and happy for the opportunity.”
Andy Hinson, the coach of the All-Marine Team from Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island, said he believes that there are many parallels between golf and the Marine Corps.
“The Marine Corps is about honor and integrity,” Hinson said. “We saw that in every round today and throughout the entire week. The game of golf is so unique that the players will actually call penalties against themselves. I don’t think you’ll see that in any other sport. Although the guys are competing against each other, they help each other with coaching and advice. They help the others play their best while still trying to beat them. That’s what the Marines is all about.”
Date Taken: | 10.19.2010 |
Date Posted: | 10.28.2010 11:31 |
Story ID: | 58991 |
Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Web Views: | 741 |
Downloads: | 4 |
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