Walsh Claims Baca Shootout

By John Severance

In playing the Elfego Baca Shootout, it helps to have local knowledge.
Just ask Dennis Walsh, a 1996 New Mexico Tech graduate who is now a systems analyst for Tech’s NRAO.
Walsh won the unique golf event for the second time in four years as he took 15 strokes from the top of M Mountain to a 50-foot diameter finishing hole at EMRTC.
“As far as the golf itself, It was the best I had ever hit the ball,” said Walsh, who also helps out at the pro shop at the Tech Golf Course. “On the flats, I was hitting it 390 or 400 yards. It just worked out. The thing about the tournament is that so much of it is luck. You don’t go into the mindset of winning. I just got lucky.”
Walsh also won the event four years ago when he played with Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly, who wrote about the event as part of his book.
Walsh gave a lot of credit to his spotters.
“They are the most important people on your team,” Walsh said. “They are 30 minutes ahead of you and without them, you are lost.”
Walsh’s spotters were Tony Zimmerly and Jason Metzger, who are engineers at Tech and his brother Tyson Walsh, who took a few days leave from Fort Carson before being deployed to Afghanistan soon.
“They all did a great job,” Dennis said. “Tony and Jason are both engineers up there and they know the mountain so well.”
Dennis said his brother Tyson received a surprise during his spotting duties.
“He was face to face with a rattlesnake,” Dennis said. “It was about three feet away. He was like Whoa. That was the first time we had seen a snake.”
Dennis had his driver and wedge with him along with a piece of used carpet with a plastic tee sticking up from it. In addition, he carried two gallons of water and Gatorade.
Dennis teed off at 8:30 a.m. and was finished by 1:30 p.m.
“We did pretty good,” Dennis said. “Last year, we were done at 2:30.”
Dennis said every golfer should try the event at least once.
And what’s the best part?
“The view at the top of the mountain,” he said. “The view is definitely worth it.”
Finishing behind Walsh were Jessy Taylor (19), Scott Jameson (20), Loren Osborne (24), Primo Pound (28) and Frank Mayer (29).

Picture: Scorekeeper Mika Wild, spotter Jason Metzger, spotter Tony Zimmerly, golfer Dennis Walsh and spotter Tyson Walsh celebrate Walsh’s win in the Effego Baca Shootout Saturday at New Mexico Tech.

Photo by Delilah Walsh

Walsh Claims Baca Shootout