WINCHESTER — After hitting an approach shot from 118 yards away that veered right and quickly hit the ground, Jack Windle jogged up to the green area on The Rock’s third hole on Friday and remarked to a media member with a camera, “I hope you didn’t get my shot.”

As badly as that stroke went for Windle, he soon got to experience the beauty of captain’s choice golf. Partner Todd Heck’s approach landed on the green above the hole, and Windle was first in line to putt. He watched his 35-foot strike find the bottom of the cup for a birdie on the 323-yard, par-4 hole, and he suddenly had something else to celebrate on Friday besides his 29th birthday. He raised his arms triumphantly.

Windle didn’t actually realize the invite he received through work to play golf at Rock Harbor Golf Course was for the 28th HoneyWay Apple Blossom Classic presented by Bank of Clarke. The Winchester resident thought he was just going to play a regular round of golf.

But after taking up golf three weeks ago for the first time in 15 years, Windle hopes he can be a regular at the event.

“I saw 100 cars and was like, ‘Is this a tournament?’ and then I saw the [tournament] flags,” said Windle, who works at H&W Construction in Winchester. “I was a little bit nervous when I came here and saw it was a tournament. I actually did a lot better than I thought it would. It’s a little bit easier to be in a best ball scramble like this. I like that a lot better.

“I’m in it now. This [tournament] has sunk me back in, for sure.”

There were a lot of smiles to be had on Friday, especially since the weather allowed this year’s event to kick off the 97th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival as opposed to last year, when cold and rainy weather postponed the tournament until June. It was a warm event to play in on Friday, but the awards ceremony that typically takes place under the pavilion was moved inside due to the wind creating cool weather.

The tournament again featured 24 teams of four golfers for a total of 96, with the field divided into three flights of eight. The top four teams in each flight received gift certificates and cards to local businesses, and all participants received a golf ditty bag to hold items to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.

The winning group featured four members of Rock Harbor, including former club pros Rick Miller (Carper’s Valley Golf Club, 20 years) and Scott Causby (Winchester Country Club, eight years). The 73-year-old Miller and 55-year-old Causby were co-chairs of the event, and they were joined by 78-year-old Larry Heishman and 34-year-old Dustin Peters of Martinsburg, W.Va. Though they all know each other, it was the first time they all played in the same group. They combined to shoot a score of 55 to win by two strokes over two other groups.

The foursome teed off on the first hole of the shotgun start tournament. Peters made four or five putts on the front nine — generally ranging from 15 to 30 feet — to get the group going, but Peters said it was a true team effort.

“We all contributed equally,” said Peters, who has been a member at Rock Harbor for four years and plays the course once or twice a week. “Everyone kind of stepped up when they needed to. Golf is an individual sport, but in these circumstances, you play all as one. Having to piggyback off each other definitely helps. Larry Heishman hits the ball as hard as a lot of the younger guys I’ve seen. It’s impressive a gentleman at that age can hit it as well as he does.”

Making some tough and long putts early made a difference for everyone.

“We all just starting getting energized to play and to score,” Causby said.

“[With the putts], you play out here a lot, and eventually they fall,” Peters said. You hit enough of them, and eventually some go in. And there’s some subtle breaks out here where being a member helps.”

Since he enjoyed himself on Friday, Windle — whose wife is Winchester City Council member Emily Windle — likely won’t have to wait 15 years for another big golf moment. His first memorable shot was helped by anger during his first-ever round of golf, which took place with his father and brother on Father’s Day at Winchester Country Club when he was 14.

“I’m used to being pretty decent and good at sports, so I was pretty upset, because I was sucking at golf,” Windle said. “At [the par-3] hole No. 8, I hit it, and it goes maybe an inch. I just go Happy Gilmore, angrily walk up and hit it, and it goes right in the hole. So that was pretty cool.

“Today was a great time. It was awesome.”

The two teams that shot a 57 were Julian Menk, Barret Evans, Tommy Evans and Terry Mumaw; and Amy Wheeler, Andrew Fletcher, Nate Crandell and Steve Eckert. Menk’s group took second on a tiebreaker.

Wheeler received an award for the female longest drive on the par-5 12th hole, and Victor Adamson of Silver Spring, Md., had the longest male drive on the par-5 No. 8. Closest pin awards went to Brian Snow (8 feet, 5 inches on the 160-yard No. 2 hole), Miller (4-4 on the 132-yard No. 7) and Trace Ferre (6-3 on the 157-yard No. 13). William Orth won the putting contest and Wheeler took second.

The other flight winners were Jim Elsea, Mike Nicewarner, Ted Johnson and Denny Johnson in the second flight (62); and Brian Eichelberger, Chuck Fetty, Matt Vokes and Kevin George in the third flight (67).