If the wheel was the greatest invention of all-time and coffee the second, rank charity golf outings a close third.

Everybody wins.

And if I could have contributed to a foursome that included Kansas University golfer Tyler Docking, 6News sports director Kevin Romary and Journal-World business editor Mark Fagan, we would have won on the scoreboard in the Cottonwood Classic played Friday at Alvamar Golf Course.

The scramble format – everybody goes to the best shot and hits from there – is supposed to bring out the best in talent-challenged golfers, but it always brings out the worst in me. I guess maybe I just don’t like feeling like a leech.

We shot 61, two strokes off the pace. A better question than who won: Who didn’t?

First, funds were raised for Cottonwood, a community service provider to disabled individuals. Volunteers from Cottonwood enjoyed the sunshine, so they won. Philanthropic businesses that footed the bill for foursomes won in knowing the money was going to a good cause. The golfers won because they had a chance to compete in the sun, instead of sitting at a desk.

Docking, as outgoing a mechanical engineering student as you’re likely to meet anytime soon, counts himself a winner every time he plays in such a tournament.

“It gives you a chance to work on your social skills and a chance to develop some contacts,” said Docking, who once shot a 64 in Hawaii in a college tournament but does not yet have a hole-in-one on his resume. “I’m hoping I can continue to improve enough to play professionally. If not, I’m making a lot of contacts, and I wouldn’t hesitate calling someone I’ve played with to say, ‘I wonder if you might know of any opportunities. …’ It’s a great way to meet people.”

Docking bombed 300-yard drives, nailed a 35-foot putt and generally made jaws drop. On the par-5 eighth, Romary’s drive, Fagan’s 3-iron and Romary’s 10-foot putt gave us an eagle. On the par-4 ninth, Docking hollered at Romary’s approach to “come back!” It did, checking up and rolling back toward the cup, just like you see on TV. Fagan, not the long-ball hitter the other two are, consistently delivered in the clutch. It takes four to win. I didn’t have it.

Oh well, it wouldn’t have been Docking’s greatest victory anyway. That came in a national contest open to professional engineers, design firms and universities. The challenge: making amusement park rides more accessible to people with limited mobility, mostly those in wheelchairs. Docking and fellow KU mechanical engineering students Matthew Hess, Carla Hines and Francis Hitschmann won the $5,000 first prize.

Docking said he did not plan on going into the family business. His great grandfather, George Docking, and great uncle, Robert Docking, both served as governor of the state of Kansas.

“I’m not so much the political type,” Docking said.

For one thing, he’s no Gerald Ford on the golf course. He’s much safer to watch.