Millers win with record score at 47th Dexter Daniels Parent-Child tourney
Tim and Dalton Miller put on a show in their Dexter Daniels Parent-Child tournament debut over the weekend as the father and son duo knocked off three-time defending champion David Joyner in record-breaking fashion.
Joyner, who had won three straight with daughter Kate, paired up in 2022 with elder daughter Ashlynn, a standout at Southeastern University where David was recently named head coach. Despite an impressive opening round of 6-under par 66 in the modified alternate shot format, the Joyners, found themselves in an unfamiliar position — trailing by a sizable margin.
Tim and Dalton Miller, a former NAIA All-American at Indiana Wesleyan University, absolutely blitzed the Cleveland Heights Golf Course on Saturday. Despite a somewhat mundane start on C Course, playing the first five holes in even par, the tandem caught fire on the seventh hole with a birdie barrage that propelled them into the first-round lead. Additional birdies on eight and nine took them out in 33 to the A side where they absolutely caught fire.
“We kind of started a little slow there,” said Tim Miller, “but then we sort of figured out the greens. After that, we basically made everything.”
After a par on A1, the Millers birdied six of the next seven holes en route to an A-side 30 and a 63 in the opening round, a record for the alternate shot portion of the event. The Joyners’ 66, which would have led in any recent year, trailed by three strokes while Sam and Brett Garber’s 67 put them in third, with Laurel and Kirsten Haake in 4th at -1, 71 going into the final day.
On Sunday, with the final day scramble format, temperatures were up but scores were down across the board. The Millers again started with a couple pars, but turned it on beginning on C4 and birdied five of the last six holes on C-side.
“I was just enjoying watching (Dalton) really,” said Tim. “He has such an effortless swing but still hits it 300, 320. He made it easy on me all weekend, having flip wedge into every green.”
Moving to A side, the duo never took their foot off the gas. They carded seven birdies to post a 29 and a total of 60. Their two-day total of 21-under par is a record for the almost 50-year-old event started by Dexter Daniels Sr. and Jr. It is the largest parent-child event in the area.
“This was our first time playing in an event like this and I have to say, it is just unreal getting to play golf with family. Family, that’s what matters. I was just so proud to be a part of this event. To be able to spend time with Dalton and compete, and have success, is there a better feeling? I don’t think so.”
David and Ashlynn Joyner also enjoyed a strong Sunday, posting an 11-under-par 61 to finish in second at 17-under par 127 which would have a winning score any other year during the past decade. Shane and Carter Willis came from well back to finish third with a 136 total, their Sunday score of 63 bolstered by Shane’s hole-in-one on C8.
Outside the championship flight, which is determined after the first day’s scores, Brandon Gaugh Sr. and Jr. took first place in the 1st flight with a -7, 137. Lynn and Clif Johnson bested flight 2 with a 3-over-par 147, while Ed and Harris Hamilton came from behind to win the 3rd and final flight with a 162 total.
The event, which typically takes place the first weekend after the school year starts, is now firmly on the Miller family radar for future years.
“This is going to be new family tradition for us. Sometimes, life seems to get in the way of doing something like this, you know, playing together. Dalton has two kids, and he lives a thousand miles away. But we won’t miss this one again, not after this weekend. To know that we accomplished something together, as father and son …well, it was pretty dang cool.”
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Miller, Dalton and Tim (63, 60, 123); Joyner, David and Ashlynn (66, 61, 127); Willis, Shane and Carter (73, 63, 136); Garber, Sam and Brett (67, 69, 136); Helm, Jackson and J.D. (73, 65, 138); Marshall, Will and Parker (72, 67, 139); Beck, Steve and Bill (73, 68, 141); Haake, Laurel and Kirsten (71, 72, 143)
1ST FLIGHT
Gaugh, Brandon Sr, and Jr. (74, 63, 137); Osborne, Chris and Will (74, 65, 139); Davis, Robbie and Susie (74, 66, 140); Gainer, Brock and Robbie (75,71, 146); Edwards, Gary and Kyle (75,71, 146); Bosko, Rylan and Cinco (77, 72, 149); Davis-Kohl, Ben and Tony (77, 75, 152); Jarrett, Brian and Will (78, 75, 153).
2ND FLIGHT
Johnson, Lynn and Cliff (79, 68, 147); Bodine, Mark and Jeff (81, 69, 150); Darby, Ben and Riley (83, 71, 154); Pelfort-Dadey, Carlos and Austin (79, 75, 154); Gibson, Rob and Michael (84, 76, 160); Jarrett, Bill and Mark (85-75, 160); Ruger, Tyler and Ty, (82, 82, 164).
3RD FLIGHT
Hamilton, Ed and Harris (86, 76, 162); Larry Miller and Josiah Best (86, 83, 169); Martinez, Jerry and Adam (92, 80, 172); Darby, Tim and Jack (103, 77, 180); Steve Butler and Keegan Bosko (96, 86, 182); Shannon, Bob and Kevin (99, 83, 182); Pearce, Amelia and Duffell (97, 88, 185).
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Millers win with record score at 47th Dexter Daniels Parent-Child tourney
