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Ben Martin Wins First Professional Title |
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Greensboro, NC – Miraculously, it took 12 tournaments and 846 holes of golf for the eGolf Tour’s first playoff of the 2010 season to occur. On a balmy Saturday afternoon at cherished Forest Oaks Country Club, Ben Martin of Greenwood, SC, competing in just his second professional event, won his first professional title with a birdie on the second playoff hole to defeat 54-hole leader Brett Munson of Evans, GA and collect the $34,900 first-place prize.
Martin, who earned national acclaim when he finished runner-up in the 2009 U.S. Amateur, began the final round of the Forest Oaks Classic trailing Munson by one shot in the $235,000 event. The two players, paired with 36-hole leader Daniel Woltman of Beaver Dam, WI in the day’s final pairing, would set out for an exciting back-and-forth battle that would require overtime to settle.
Munson, the 2010 Jack Nicklaus Award winner as the nation’s top Division II golfer at the University of North Alabama, opened his final round with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 to quickly pull two shots ahead of Martin. A bogey-birdie-double bogey stretch by Munson on Nos. 5-7 would be amplified by back-to-back birdies at Nos. 6 and 7 for Martin to create a complete flip of the leaderboard. In the span of 45 minutes, Martin had gone from two down to two up.
The two players would trade shots for much of the closing nine before coming to the par-4 16th even for the tournament at 17-under par. For the final round, tournament officials had moved the tees up to 305 yards on No. 16 to tempt players into driving the green. A pond lining the entire left side of the hole took it’s fair share of victims during Saturday’s final round, and Martin was almost one of them.
“I pulled my tee shot and thought it was going in the water, but luckily it carried,” said Martin, 22. “I made a good up and down and thought I was going to get one on him, but he chipped in and we stayed tied with two to go.”
Munson had indeed chipped in for birdie on 16, matching Martin’s aggressive birdie without ever using his putter.
At the long par-3 17th, Martin was left with an 8-foot par putt to stay tied with Munson after he two-putted for a routine par himself. With nerves only a 22-year old could exhibit, Martin knocked his par putt square in the back of the cup.
With one hole to play and tied for the event, both players aggressively went for the green on the lengthy par-5 18th, with Martin going long right and Munson finding the front left of the putting surface. A stout up-and-down by Martin and a brave two putt from 60 feet by Munson would send the two players into a playoff.
On the first playoff hole, the par-4 first, both players hit their approach shots on the green and left themselves somewhat routine two-putts for par. After matching fours, the two headed back to the 18th to continue the playoff for yet another hole. Following their respective tee shots, Martin would be the first to try and go for the green.
“I short sided myself with a 4-iron after turning it too much,” said Martin, who watched as Munson’s approach settled on the back right of the green. “I had one foot in the bunker and one foot out, but hit a good shot to 5 feet. I thought I needed to get up and down just to keep the playoff alive, let alone try and win.”
Martin’s bunker shot to 5 feet put plenty of pressure on Munson, who left his first putt 6 feet short of the hole. First up with a chance at birdie, Munson watched in disbelief as his birdie came to a halt just shy of the cup. He had left it short.
Munson’s unfortunate miss set the scene for Martin, who looked like a seasoned professional when lining up his winning putt amongst the gallery and tour officials. With little to no break from 5 feet, the former Clemson Tiger standout calmly rolled in the winning putt, thus ending the tour’s first playoff since the 2009 Tour Championship.
The win was worth $34,900 to Martin, who in turn moved up to No. 15 on the 2010 money list after only two events. Munson earned $18,805 for his runner-up finish. The former Division II college star made the most of his first made cut in five starts on the eGolf Tour, and almost came away with a win.
For Martin, the win was further validation of a stellar amateur career that put him into the living rooms and TVs of countless American households. His runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur came with a few perks, and those perks may have contributed to his level of comfort on that second playoff hole.
“It’s great to be off to a good start,” said Martin. “My tournament before the Southern Open (last week) was the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, so it definitely helped to have two U.S. Opens (2009 and 2010) and a Masters under my belt before I started my pro career.”
The shy and un-assuming kid from sleepy Greenwood, SC is somewhat of a rock star back home. When word got out that he had earned a spot in the Masters Tournament via his U.S. Amateur finish, a billboard went up in town wishing him luck at Augusta National in the spring. In small Southern towns, people tend to gravitate to their own and find a hero in every athletic star, but even Martin couldn’t have predicted his sudden success as a pro.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to start off. I knew I could play well out here, but I didn’t assume it would happen this fast,” Martin said after his round. “I never thought I’d be in the Tour Championship after just two events.”
The eGolf Tour Championship on August 4-7 in Gordonsville, VA is limited to the top 50 members on the member earnings money list. It would have been difficult for Martin to crack that top 50 in just two starts, but when your name is featured on billboards, it almost comes with the territory.
When asked if this was the best he had ever played or if something just clicked this week, Martin shrugged his shoulders and gave the “aw shucks” response that best fits a well-raised Southern boy.
“I’m just doing what I’ve always done – hitting it like I always have, just starting to finally make some putts,” he said.
There is “making some putts” and there is making “the” putt. Ben Martin obviously has no problem doing the latter.
Jay McLuen, Scott Parel and Daniel Woltman each finished tied for third, one shot out of the playoff with 72-hole totals of 18-under 270.
McLuen, a two-time eGolf Tour winner and current Nationwide Tour member, bogeyed his first hole of the final round and was forced to settle for an outward nine of even-par 36. The Athens, GA resident would bounce back strong on the closing nine with five birdies against zero bogeys for a 31 en route to a final-round 67. It marked the third top-10 of McLuen’s 2010 season and his best finish on tour since a T3 effort at the 2009 Spring Creek Championship.
Parel entered the final round trailing Munson by three shots and made somewhat of a charge with four birdies in his first 14 holes to get to 4-under and 17-under for the event. An untimely bogey at the arduous par-4 15th put him back to 16-under, but to his credit, comeback birdies at 16 and 18 allowed him to tie fellow playing partner McLuen for the early clubhouse lead.
Parel, at age 45, is one of the most experienced players on the eGolf Tour. A native of Augusta, GA, Parel is a two-time U.S. Open participant (2002 and 2005) and was a member of the Nationwide Tour in 2003 and 2005-2009. Through his career, Parel has collected 124 Nationwide Tour starts with a combined eight top-10 finishes, including a T4 effort at the 2007 Xerox Classic and a solo fourth-place finish at the 2008 South Georgia Classic.
For Woltman, Saturday will be remembered for a day of what could have been. Trailing Munson by one entering the final round, the former University of Wisconsin “All American” put himself behind the eight ball early with bogeys at Nos. 1 and 6 – the latter being a reachable par-5. He was able to stay in contention with birdies at 11 and 16, but could only watch as Munson and Martin matched his birdie at 18 to eclipse his four-round total by one.
Drew Weaver, Brian Duncan, Edward Loar and Jonathan Fricke all finished tied for sixth at 17-under 271.
For Weaver, the 2007 British Amateur champion, the week was a bit of a homecoming as he was able to stay at home in High Point, NC and compete as a professional for the first time on his home course, Willow Creek Country Club. Willow Creek served as co-host of the event for the first 36 holes.
- With his runner-up finish, Brett Munson earned a spot in the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper on August 12-15, 2010. The exemption marks the fourth Nationwide Tour spot granted to the eGolf Tour for 2010, with the first coming at the South Georgia Classic in April (Jason Kokrak), the second coming at the BMW Charity Pro-Am in May (Clint Jensen) and the third coming at the Price Cutter Charity Championship (Tommy Biershenk). Munson was the low participating player for this week’s exemption (Martin did not sign up for the exemption). It will mark the first Nationwide Tour start of his career.
- Special thanks goes to Forest Oaks Head Golf Professional Anthony Miller, Willow Creek Director of Golf Jim Brotherton, and their respective staffs for coordinating this event and hosting the tour and our players for the week. Thank you to Forest Oaks Head Golf Course Superintendents Geoff Dail, Bob Swanson and Matt Ayer, as well as Willow Creek Head Golf Course Superintendent David Johnson for their efforts in presenting two great venues in difficult summertime conditions. Last but not least, thank you to the members of both clubs for allowing the tour access to your facilities for the week.
- The tour will take the next week off before heading to Gordonsville, VA for the eGolf Tour Championship. The event will be limited to the top 50 members on the member earnings money list and will feature $100,000 of added purse money. Following the conclusion of the Tour Championship, eGolf will pay for PGA TOUR Q-School for the top 20 members on the member earnings money list.
Forest Oaks Classic
Forest Oaks Country Club
Par 72; 7,197 yards
High Point Country Club (Willow Creek)
Par 72; 6,972 yards
Final Results
1. x-Ben Martin, Greenwood, SC, $34,900.00, *65-69-67-67-268 -20
2. Brett Munson, Evans, GA, $18,330.00, *70-66-64-68-268 -20
3. Jay McLuen, Athens, GA, $11,749.67, *68-68-67-67-270 -18
3. Scott Parel, Augusta, GA, $11,749.67, *67-67-69-67-270 -18
3. Daniel Woltman, Beaver Dam, WI, $11,749.67, *64-68-69-69-270 -18
6. Drew Weaver, High Point, NC, $6,356.25, *66-68-72-65-271 -17
6. Brian Duncan, Mount Pleasant, SC, $6,356.25, *68-70-68-65-271 -17
6. Edward Loar, Dallas, TX, $6,356.25, *62-72-68-69-271 -17
6. Jonathan Fricke, Covington, GA, $6,356.25, *70-67-66-68-271 -17
10. Brian Harman, St.Simons Island, GA, $4,277.50, *67-70-68-68-273 -15
10. Matt Mincer, Knoxville, TN, $4,277.50, *68-67-69-69-273 -15
12. Peter Malnati, Dandridge, TN, $3,842.00, *69-68-71-66-274 -14
12. Chad Wilfong, Thomasville, NC, $3,842.00, *70-68-69-67-274 -14
12. Drew Stoltz, Scottsdale, AZ, $3,842.00, *68-64-71-71-274 -14
15. Tim O'Neal, Savannah, GA, $3,050.20, *71-65-71-68-275 -13
15. Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, HI, $3,050.20, *70-70-69-66-275 -13
15. Roberto Castro, Alpharetta, GA, $3,050.20, *70-67-69-69-275 -13
15. Matthew Ryan, Santa Clarita, CA, $3,050.20, *66-69-70-70-275 -13
15. Nathan Stamey, Bluffton, SC, $3,050.20, *68-65-69-73-275 -13
20. Jerry Richardson, Raleigh, NC, $2,796.00, *69-66-69-72-276 -12
21. Chip Lynn, Fayetteville, NC, $2,588.50, *71-69-68-69-277 -11
21. Adam Mitchell, Atlanta, GA, $2,588.50, *69-70-70-68-277 -11
21. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $2,588.50, *67-71-70-69-277 -11
21. Ryan Gildersleeve, Clearwater, FL, $2,588.50, *69-69-68-71-277 -11
21. Lee Williams, Alexander City, AL, $2,588.50, *72-66-68-71-277 -11
21. Hugh Royer III, Myrtle Beach, SC, $2,588.50, *69-68-68-72-277 -11
27. Corey Nagy, Charlotte, NC, $2,376.00, *68-68-71-71-278 -10
27. Greg Sweatt, Irmo, SC, $2,376.00, *68-69-74-67-278 -10
29. Joel Hendry, Bluffton, SC, $2,251.00, *70-70-68-71-279 -9
29. Blake Trimble, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, $2,251.00, *69-69-68-73-279 -9
31. Zach Sucher, Mobile, AL, $2,013.17, *70-67-72-71-280 -8
31. Ryan Dillon, Desert Hills, AZ, $2,013.17, *71-69-68-72-280 -8
31. Kevin Grady, Aiken, SC, $2,013.17, *69-68-70-73-280 -8
31. Daryl Chappell, Sutherland, VA, $2,013.17, *67-69-70-74-280 -8
31. Jon Kennedy, Hawkinsville, GA, $2,013.17, *75-63-68-74-280 -8
31. Nico Bollini, Yorba Linda, CA, $2,013.17, *71-68-72-69-280 -8
37. John Kelly, St. Louis, MO, $1,759.75, *71-66-71-73-281 -7
37. Emmett Turner, Augusta, GA, $1,759.75, *68-68-73-72-281 -7
37. Martin Ureta, Chapel Hill, NC, $1,759.75, *70-70-70-71-281 -7
37. Bennie Van Der Merwe, South Africa, $1,759.75, *68-72-71-70-281 -7
41. Grant Waite, Ocala, FL, $1,514.33, *70-69-70-73-282 -6
41. Jamie Hall, England, $1,514.33, *71-69-69-73-282 -6
41. Grant Sturgeon, Louisville, KY, $1,514.33, *66-70-74-72-282 -6
41. Tyson Alexander, Gainesville, FL, $1,514.33, *70-68-73-71-282 -6
41. Daniel Fox, Little Rock, AR, $1,514.33, *68-70-73-71-282 -6
41. Steven Brame, Wilson, NC, $1,514.33, *68-69-75-70-282 -6
47. Phillip Mollica, Anderson, SC, $1,356.67, *68-68-75-72-283 -5
47. Tyrone Mordt, Arlington, TX, $1,356.67, *69-70-73-71-283 -5
47. Tommy Rymer, Sarasota, FL, $1,356.67, *73-65-76-69-283 -5
50. Douglas Hurson, Bethesda, MD, $1,257.00, *71-68-70-75-284 -4
50. Chris McCartin, Arlington, VA, $1,257.00, *71-69-70-74-284 -4
50. Jhared Hack, Sanford, FL, $1,257.00, *71-69-71-73-284 -4
50. Bill Rankin, Lexington, SC, $1,257.00, *71-68-73-72-284 -4
50. Jordan Cox, Redwood City, CA, $1,257.00, *69-70-74-71-284 -4
55. Billy Hurley, Annapolis, MD, $1,204.00, *69-70-72-74-285 -3
55. Derek Oakey, Atlanta, GA, $1,204.00, *70-69-72-74-285 -3
55. Joey McLister, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,204.00, *72-66-74-73-285 -3
55. Kent George, Granite Falls, NC, $1,204.00, *71-69-73-72-285 -3
55. Chris Gallagher, Charlotte, NC, $1,204.00, *69-69-76-71-285 -3
60. Chase Carroll, Knoxville, TN, $1,175.00, *68-70-71-77-286 -2
61. Andy Goodwin, Safety Harbor, FL, $1,156.67, *69-70-72-76-287 -1
61. Fielding Brewbaker, Salem, VA, $1,156.67, *73-67-72-75-287 -1
61. Michael Henderson, Orlando, FL, $1,156.67, *68-71-77-71-287 -1
64. Paul Brown, Hartsville, SC, $1,145.00, *73-67-74-75-289 +1
65. Kyle Slattery, North Pownal, VT, $1,140.00, *68-72-75-75-290 +2
66. Ryan Willis, Alpharetta, GA, $1,135.00, *71-69-78-74-292 +4
67. Braxton Hunter, Rockford, TN, $1,125.00, *66-74-74-80-294 +6
MDF
MDF. Jimmy Lytle, Ocean Ridge, FL, $232.32, *71-70-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Alex Hamilton, Aiken, SC, $232.32, *70-71-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Josh Gallman, Gaffney, SC, $232.32, *70-71-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Hank Kim, Jonesboro, GA, $232.32, *70-71-0-0-141 -3
MDF. David Robinson, Sandersville, GA, $232.32, *69-72-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Bruce McDonald, Mount Pleasant, SC, $232.32, *73-68-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Matt McQuillan, Canada, $232.32, *72-69-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Derek Fathauer, Jensen Beach, FL, $232.32, *71-70-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Andy Bare, West End, NC, $232.32, *66-75-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Frank Wrenn, Greenville, SC, $232.32, *72-69-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Brian Anderson, Jupiter, FL, $232.32, *71-70-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Tommy Schaff, Savannah, GA, $232.32, *73-68-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Chris Wolfe, Warner Robins, GA, $232.32, *73-68-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Thomas Smith, Chattanooga, TN, $232.32, *72-69-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Trevor Fisher, Arlington, TX, $232.32, *70-71-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Clark Brown, Navarre, FL, $232.32, *71-70-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Adam Long, Lake Saint Louis, MO, $232.32, *73-68-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Nic Ondriska, Naples, FL, $232.32, *72-69-0-0-141 -3
MDF. Paul Cormack, Orlando, FL, $232.32, *71-70-0-0-141 -3 |
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Hack Claims Second Career eGolf Tour Title |
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Kannapolis, NC – As a junior golfer, Jhared Hack was one of the country’s top players, claiming wins at the 2006 Western Junior and 2007 Western Amateur – a rare double in amateur golf. As a professional, he won his first title at the eGolf Tour’s Snap Fitness Open in 2009. In 2010, the steady progression has continued with a stellar performance at the sixth annual Southern Open and his second tour title.
Hack entered the final round trailing 54-hole leader Todd Murphy by two shots following rounds of 66-67-68—201 over both The Club at Irish Creek and Warrior Golf Club. When Murphy stumbled out of the gates in Saturday’s round at Irish Creek, Hack made his final-round move.
Murphy, a former PGA TOUR caddie playing in the final pairing for the first time on the eGolf Tour, bogeyed Nos. 1 and 3 to immediately give back his overnight lead to the field. It was then that Hack began to make up ground. Birdies on 1, 3 and 6 took him to 15-under for the event and in a tie for the lead with fellow playing partner Martin Ureta – who posted birdies at Nos. 5 and 6 to match Hack.
After making the turn at 3-under 32, Hack went on a birdie barrage starting at the par-4 10th. Four consecutive birdies on 10, 11, 12 and 13 vaulted Hack to the top of the leaderboard at 19-under for the event and into a two-shot lead over Ureta and tour rookie Josh Gallman, who was playing in the group ahead of Hack and was 7-under on his final round.
For Hack, all the leaderboard movement good and bad would be news to him. During the final round, the talent-laced kid from Sanford, FL refused to look at a single board.
“I tried to stay away from looking at the leaderboard and just tried to go play the best golf I could,” said Hack. “I birdied Nos. 1 and 3 and from there just tried to stay patient.”
Patience was certainly able to persevere throughout much of the final round, but the closing four holes at the Davis Love III-designed Club at Irish Creek were constructed to test even the best of players, and Hack was certainly no exception.
“Those are four good holes to finish. I was just trying to hit it in the right spots,” he said. “I hit a bad drive on 16 and wasn’t able to get up-and-down from next to the green, so that bogey added some pressure.”
The bogey at 16 reduced Hack’s lead to one shot over Gallman, who was in the clubhouse with a posted 72-hole total of 17-under 267 following a final-round 64. A well-timed up-and-down par at the par-4 17th kept Hack’s lead at one heading to the 229-yard par-3 18th, which was conveniently playing straight into a 20-mph wind.
With a sizeable crowd looking on, Hack managed to thread a fairway wood between the towering pines flanking the arduous closer to set up a possible tournament-winning two putt.
“I choked up on a 3-wood and tried to hit the center of the green. I pulled it a bit, but I was glad it caught part of the green,” said Hack, who rolled his 40-foot birdie putt 3 feet past the hole. “After my first putt sailed past the hole, I was glad I hadn’t looked at a leaderboard because I was pretty calm over that putt. I had no idea it was for the win.”
As the saying goes, ignorance is certainly bliss, and it was for Hack as he calmly stood over the putt to win $34,726 and rolled it into the back of the cup, not knowing he had won.
“This is huge for me,” said Hack, who had admittedly struggled some with his game this year. “It’s hard for me to put into words right now, to be honest.”
Hack’s win moved him to No. 7 on the 2010 money list with earnings of $52,990.
Gallman, a Gaffney, SC native who recently finished a standout career at USC-Upstate, put on quite a show in his first eGolf Tour start. After a first-round 71 at Irish Creek and a 1-over-through-four start to his second round at Warrior, Gallman played bogey-free golf for the remaining 50 holes of the tournament, posting three follow-up rounds of 66-66-64 to grab solo second honors. He earned $18,240 for his play this week.
Ureta, a native of Chile now living in Chapel Hill, NC, finished in solo third at 15-under 269. Needing a strong finish to catch Hack, Ureta struggled down the stretch with bogeys at Nos. 15 and 18 to close with a final-round 69. He earned $14,335 in just his sixth start of the season. The finish marked Ureta’s third top-5 effort on the year.
Tadd Fujikawa of Honolulu, HI finished in fourth after tying the low final round with a 8-under 64 to finish at 14-under 270. Fujikawa’s round, which featured six consecutive birdies on Nos. 2-7, could have been even lower had it not been for an untimely double-bogey at the par-3 eighth on Saturday. He earned $11,271 on the week, in turn marking his largest paycheck of the season.
For the 20-year-old Hack, the 2010 season has been full of ups and downs, but it was an experience in March that allowed him to grow up quickly and mature into one of developmental golf’s best players.
On March 12th of this year, Hack was awarded with an exemption into the European Tour’s prestigious Trophée Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco. Granted the exemption by the Trophée Hassan II de Golf (ATH), Hack’s status as one of the top young players in America was elevated when his game would be tested overseas by some of the European Tour’s best players.
“That was an incredible trip, I really learned a lot,” said Hack, who finished 64th following rounds of 71-68-76-79. “It’s nice to know you can go out and play with the European Tour guys and hold your own.”
The experience of playing alongside some of the game’s top performers in arguably one of the most beautiful locations on Earth took Hack’s confidence to a new level. There was no longer a sense that he could hopefully compete. At that point, the kid with the eyes wide open knew he could.
“I learned that you really have to play your game and play to your strengths. You can’t worry about what everyone else does; all you can focus on is what you do best,” said Hack. “At the end of the day, players on the European Tour put their pants on the same way we do.”
In the third round of the Trophée Hassan II, Hack was paired with 2009 Maybank Malaysian Open champion Anthony Kang. Throughout much of that round, Kang graciously took it upon himself to help Jhared with advice on life and golf, and how best to approach each week.
“I got to play with Anthony, who won on the European Tour last year,” Hack said. “He talked with me during the round, and he was giving me good advice. He told me it’s a long journey and you just try to improve each week. Regardless of how well you’re playing, you’re not going to win each week and there are times that you need to just learn and move on.”
For an American-born golfer from tiny Sanford, FL, a trip across the Atlantic to Morocco could seem like quite the undertaking, but Hack credited the ATH with assisting him with all of his needs from the moment he stepped on the plane.
“The whole experience in Morocco was really cool,” said Hack, who returned in June to compete in the Challenge Tour’s Moroccan Golf Classic. “The ATH was really welcoming to us and they made us so much more comfortable over there. They literally went out of their way to ensure that we were treated well, and I can honestly say their dedication to making us feel at home was second to none.”
For Hack, a Florida kid who spent one semester at the University of Central Florida before turning professional, learning to travel abroad and the preparation involved was a lesson that is hard to mimic stateside.
“I have to give a lot of credit to all of the European guys traveling each week, changing currencies, changing countries,” he said. “You learn quickly how to travel like a professional and prepare when you’re playing overseas. I learned so much from my time in Morocco and I think it definitely helps you when you come back to the States. It certainly made me a better player.”
At the fresh age of 20, Hack was able to take an experience, learn from it and apply it towards a second career win. Graced with talent and a newfound global outlook on the game, Hack may just be beginning to tap into his potential.
- A special thanks goes to Irish Creek General Manager Jeff Austin, Irish Creek Head Golf Professional Alan Cress, Warrior Head Golf Professional Brian Lee, and their respective staffs for coordinating this event and hosting the tour and our players for the week. Thank you to Irish Creek Head Golf Course Superintendent Artie Helton and Warrior Head Golf Course Superintendent Mike Marsh for their efforts in presenting two fantastic courses. Finally, the tour would like to thank the members of both clubs for allowing us access to your courses for the week. Without your support, this event would never take place.
- The tour heads to Greensboro, NC next week for the second annual Forest Oaks Classic on July 21-24 at Forest Oaks Country Club (Greensboro, NC) and High Point Country Club – Willow Creek Course (High Point, NC). An exemption into the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper will be awarded to the low participating player.
Southern Open
The Club at Irish Creek
Par 71; 7,099 yards
Warrior Golf Club
Par 71; 6,609 yards
Final Results
1. Jhared Hack, Sanford, FL, $34,726.00, *66-67-68-65-266 -18
2. Josh Gallman, Gaffney, SC, $18,240.00, *71-66-66-64-267 -17
3. Martin Ureta, Chapel Hill, NC, $14,335.00, *71-63-66-69-269 -15
4. Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, HI, $11,271.00, *69-69-68-64-270 -14
5. Trevor Fisher, Arlington, TX, $8,699.00, *65-65-75-66-271 -13
5. Jerry Richardson, Raleigh, NC, $8,699.00, *71-67-66-67-271 -13
7. Hank Kim, Jonesboro, GA, $5,413.50, *67-70-67-68-272 -12
7. Taylor Hall, LaGrange, GA, $5,413.50, *67-68-69-68-272 -12
7. Matt Hendrix, Greenville, SC, $5,413.50, *65-67-71-69-272 -12
7. Derek Fathauer, Jensen Beach, FL, $5,413.50, *68-66-69-69-272 -12
11. Ben Martin, Greenwood, SC, $4,034.33, *69-68-69-67-273 -11
11. Edward Loar, Dallas, TX, $4,034.33, *67-71-67-68-273 -11
11. Alex Hamilton, Aiken, SC, $4,034.33, *68-68-69-68-273 -11
14. Martin Catalioto, Ramsey, NJ, $3,256.25, *68-70-69-67-274 -10
14. Reid Edstrom, Auburn, AL, $3,256.25, *70-68-68-68-274 -10
14. Matt Mincer, Knoxville, TN, $3,256.25, *69-66-67-72-274 -10
14. Todd Murphy, Phoenix, AZ, $3,256.25, *68-65-66-75-274 -10
18. Clint Jensen, Jupiter, FL, $2,900.00, *72-66-66-71-275 -9
19. Fielding Brewbaker, Salem, VA, $2,704.83, *69-70-68-69-276 -8
19. Matt McQuillan, Canada, $2,704.83, *67-68-71-70-276 -8
19. Danny Ellis, Heathrow, FL, $2,704.83, *65-74-67-70-276 -8
19. Daniel Woltman, Beaver Dam, WI, $2,704.83, *72-66-67-71-276 -8
19. Ryan Blaum, Coral Gables, FL, $2,704.83, *72-66-67-71-276 -8
19. Adam Mitchell, Atlanta, GA, $2,704.83, *67-71-74-64-276 -8
25. Joel Hendry, Bluffton, SC, $2,345.33, *71-68-68-70-277 -7
25. Tommy Biershenk,Boiling Springs, SC, $2,345.33, *72-66-70-69-277 -7
25. Joey McLister, Scottsdale, AZ, $2,345.33, *69-67-72-69-277 -7
25. Jeremy Pope, Pawleys Island, SC, $2,345.33, *66-67-75-69-277 -7
25. David Robinson, Sandersville, GA, $2,345.33, *73-66-66-72-277 -7
25. Christopher Cannon, Davenport, FL, $2,345.33, *68-70-66-73-277 -7
31. Kevin Silva, Charlotte, NC, $2,061.00, *75-64-70-69-278 -6
31. Corey Nagy, Charlotte, NC, $2,061.00, *67-72-72-67-278 -6
31. Drew Weaver, High Point, NC, $2,061.00, *68-70-75-65-278 -6
34. Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, S.C., $1,805.12, *69-67-71-72-279 -5
34. Christopher Ross, Ontario, Canada, $1,805.12, *69-69-69-72-279 -5
34. Brian Duncan, Mount Pleasant, SC, $1,805.12, *72-66-70-71-279 -5
34. Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, NC, $1,805.12, *70-69-67-73-279 -5
34. Matt Cannon, Statesville, NC, $1,805.12, *70-67-72-70-279 -5
34. Colton Turnquist, Bradenton, FL, $1,805.12, *64-72-73-70-279 -5
34. Bruce McDonald, Mount Pleasant, SC, $1,805.12, *68-71-70-70-279 -5
34. Patton Kizzire, Tuscaloosa, AL, $1,805.12, *72-67-71-69-279 -5
42. Greg Pieczynski, Kingston, PA, $1,523.00, *70-67-71-72-280 -4
42. Phillip Mollica, Anderson, SC, $1,523.00, *68-68-73-71-280 -4
42. Colin Biles, Columbus, OH, $1,523.00, *69-68-68-75-280 -4
45. Ashdon Woods, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,368.17, *68-70-70-73-281 -3
45. Chris Gallagher, Charlotte, NC, $1,368.17, *71-66-72-72-281 -3
45. Raymond Franz, Mt. Pleasant, SC, $1,368.17, *68-70-68-75-281 -3
45. Chris Scialo, New City, NY, $1,368.17, *67-71-72-71-281 -3
45. Jimmy Lytle, Ocean Ridge, FL, $1,368.17, *69-69-72-71-281 -3
45. Paul Brown, Hartsville, SC, $1,368.17, *71-67-74-69-281 -3
51. Chris Epperson,Hilton Head Island, SC,$1,244.00,*67-72-67-76-282 -2
51. Michael Blodgett, Charlotte, NC, $1,244.00, *68-69-73-72-282 -2
51. Matthew Swan, Montgomery, AL, $1,244.00, *70-68-75-69-282 -2
54. Greg Sweatt, Irmo, SC, $1,213.33, *68-70-69-76-283 -1
54. Peter C. Campbell, Reunion, FL, $1,213.33, *71-68-71-73-283 -1
54. Joe Daley, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,213.33, *68-71-71-73-283 -1
57. Jay Haas Jr, Greenville, SC, $1,195.00, *68-68-74-74-284 E
57. Drew Stoltz, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,195.00, *68-71-73-72-284 E
59. Andy Bare, West End, NC, $1,175.00, *71-67-72-76-286 +2
59. Ryan Zebeau, Cedartown, GA, $1,175.00, *70-69-74-73-286 +2
61. Paul Butler, Gaffney, SC, $1,160.00, *69-70-73-75-287 +3
62. Tyler Todd, Concord, NC, $1,150.00, *70-69-76-77-292 +8
63. Wes Stonestreet, Frisco, TX, $1,145.00, *73-66-73-81-293 +9
DQ. Hugh Royer III, Myrtle Beach, SC, $1,137.50, *-4
DQ. Keith Guest, Augusta, GA, $1,137.50, *-3
MDF. Jonathan Turcott, Raleigh, NC, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Adam Cohan, Savannah, GA, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Tommy Schaff, Savannah, GA, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Reed Darsie, Chapel Hill, NC, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Tyrone Mordt, Arlington, TX, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Brett Munson, Evans, GA, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Nathan Stamey, Bluffton, SC, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Eric Lipson, Lilburn, GA, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Frank Adams III, Salisbury, NC, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Lee Williams, Alexander City, AL, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Michael Henderson, Orlando, FL, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Tyson Alexander, Gainesville, FL, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Tim Martin, Charlotte, NC, $475.00, *-2
MDF. Braxton Hunter, Rockford, TN, $475.00, *-2
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Kokrak Notches Second Win of the 2010 |
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Carthage, N.C. – With every victory on every level of golf, a few good breaks are required in order to break through for the win. On Saturday at the eGolf Tour’s Bushnell Championship, Jason Kokrak wound up with three fortuitous shots that would prove to be the difference in winging and posting a nice finish. The Warren, OH native would utilize those breaks en route to a final-round 67 and his second win of the 2010 season.
At the start of the final round, Kokrak and Tommy Biershenk were trailing overnight leader – and eGolf Tour rookie – Chesson Hadley by two shots. Entering Saturday’s round, Biershenk and Kokrak were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the tour’s money list. Hadley, a Raleigh, NC native who had just finished a standout college career at Georgia Tech three weeks prior, would have his hands full in the final round.
After a bogey at the par-4 first for Kokrak, fortuitous break number one would come on the par-3 second when an overzealous chip shot hit the flag and wound up in the bottom of the cup. The alternate option was likely a stressful par putt early in the round and the chance of starting bogey-bogey.
“It was kind of a lucky chip,” said Kokrak. “I hit the chip a little hard and it was going to go 5 or 6 feet past, but then it hit the pin and dropped right in. That was a good break early in the day.”
Kokrak’s chip shot would ignite a quick stretch of standout golf with yet another chip-in for eagle on the par-5 third, followed by a birdie on the tricky downhill par-4 fourth.
Through nine holes, Kokrak still trailed Hadley by two shots when the rookie posted a 3-under 33 on the outward nine of the Dan Maples-designed Little River Resort course. Biershenk, who turned at 2-under 34, was alone in third and trailing Hadley by three shots.
Biershenk birdies at 11 and 13 were well timed as Hadley hit his first rough patch of the day. Forced to take relief from unplayable lies, and in turn incur one-shot penalties each, Hadley posted back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12 when his approach to 11 and his tee shot on 12 proved to be costly mistakes.
Right when the momentum was shifting towards Kokrak and Biershenk, Mother Nature stepped in. A weather delay from 1:38 PM to 4:30 PM due to area thunderstorms forced players to take shelter in the clubhouse and remain idle as lightning and thunder surrounded the course in the greater Pinehurst area. When play finally did resume, the final threesome putted out on the 13th green and moved to the suddenly-drivable par-4 14th.
Normally playing at 330 yards, tour officials moved the final-round tees up on 14 to entice players to try and drive the green on a hole where 3-irons and wedges were the norm. A benign front hole location would tempt countless players into going for eagle, Jason Kokrak included.
“My 3-wood goes 275 yards, all day, no problem,” said Kokrak, easily one of the longest players in golf. “With the tees moved up, it was playing about 278 to the hole, and I actually flew it to the back of the green, but was able to make a nice two putt for the birdie there.”
Kokrak’s towering 3-wood came at the perfect point in the match as it allowed him to pull even with Biershenk and move one up on Hadley.
Hadley and Biershenk posted matching birdies at the par-4 15th, and when all three players pared the par-3 16th, it brought the chess match to the diabolical par-5 17th at Little River.
A forced carry over a small pond on the 17th gave players a risk/reward option in trying to go for the green in two on the 556-yard hole. However, the green sits so far below the players and to the right that the entire putting surface is out of sight. In turn, players are required to take a leap of faith if they are to go for the green in two, as woods and hazards surround all parts of the green.
“I saw both of them layup on 17, and I was like, ‘You know what, this is my chance to make something happen.’ If I don’t cut it, I’m in the hazard; if I over-cut it, I’m just short of the green with an easy chip up the hill,” said Kokrak, who had yet to meet a par-5 he didn’t like. “I hit a flush 6-iron from about 220, and I don’t know what happened. It went left and hit a tree, but luckily it came right down.”
Fortuitous break number two was Kokrak’s towering approach coming to rest just next to the green as opposed to deep into the forest. Fans watching greenside stared in awe as the ball soared into the trees before a loud thud sent it spiraling back into play. From there, Kokrak would get up-and-down for birdie to pull even with Biershenk and one ahead of Hadley.
When all three players found the 18th fairway, Biershenk would be first to play. The storm had left the fairways somewhat damp, and a “mud ball” on the 72nd hole took away some of Biershenk’s normally-stellar wedge control. His approach from 130 yards sailed over the green and set up what would be an otherwise simple chip.
Kokrak and Hadley both hit their approach shots to 25 feet, setting up a possible winning putt for Kokrak and hopefully a tying putt for Hadley.
Biershenk, first to play of the three, hit a delicate pitch to 4 feet and would have that to remain tied with Kokrak.
When the birdie tries for Hadley and Kokrak slid by the hole, Biershenk was left with 4 feet to force a playoff between himself and Kokrak.
Entering the 72nd hole, Biershenk was 82-under par for his last 287 holes on tour. Arguably one of the best golfers in the United States for this stretch, the former Clemson Tiger was one week removed from claiming his third eGolf Tour title at the Bolle Classic. Standing on the green of the 18th hole, the Boiling Springs, SC native had posted an unbelievable 95 birdies in his last 15 rounds (and 17 holes today) on tour. There was simply no reason to think a player with those figures would miss a short putt to force extra holes.
Fortuitous break number three occurred when Kokrak was making plans for a playoff, only to watch in shock as Biershenk’s tying putt slid low and left of the hole.
“I thought it was a straight putt, but it broke hard left on me,” said a dejected Biershenk at the scoring table. “I guess you win some and lose some.”
Stunned and thrilled all at once, Kokrak had collected his second tour title of the season and regained his spot atop the money list after posting the winner’s check for $33,857. His single-season earnings of $97,708 put him roughly $7,500 ahead of Biershenk, who had ascended to the No. 1 spot last week following his win. In addition, the win made Kokrak the tour’s first two-time winner of the 2010 season.
Even after the cards had been signed, Kokrak still couldn’t believe his luck on the final green.
“I really did think Tommy was going to make it, he was just playing so good for so long,” said Kokrak. “I mean, I was already mentally preparing for a playoff, but that’s the way things happen sometimes.”
After claiming his first title at the Cabarrus Classic in March, Kokrak realized that sometimes you’re going to need the powers that be to smile on you when trying to win at this level. On Saturday, three fortuitous breaks turned a good tournament into a great week for the former Xavier University star.
“Everyone played solid out there today, but I caught a few breaks here and there that really made the difference,” Kokrak said. “I’m still surprised that I won.”
Biershenk and Hadley would share second place and earn $14,892 for their play at Little River.
Grant Waite of Australia finished in solo fourth at 16-under 271 on the week. Playing in his first full season on the eGolf Tour, the 1993 Kemper Open champion put together rounds of 65-72-67-67—271 to notch his best finish of the season.
One-over through five holes in his final round, Waite would go on to record six birdies on his round to match Kokrak and Derek Fathauer for the low final round. Waite earned $9,541 for his efforts.
- A special thanks goes to Southern Pines Head Golf Professional Matt Horvath, Little River Director of Golf Marvin Waters, and their respective staffs for coordinating this event and hosting the tour and our players for the week. Thank you to Southern Pines Golf Course Superintendent Scot Sorgent and his staff for their efforts in providing a great venue for the tour this week.
- The tour will take two weeks off before retiring to the greater Charlotte area for the sixth annual Southern Open, contested at The Club at Irish Creek and Warrior Golf Club on July 14-17, 2010.
Bushnell Championship
Little River Resort
Par 72; 6,939 yards
Southern Pines G.C.
Par 71; 6,268 yards
Final Results
1. Jason Kokrak, Warren, OH, $33,857.00, *63-66-70-67-266 -21
2. Chesson Hadley, Raleigh, NC, $14,892.50, *64-66-67-70-267 -20
2. Tommy Biershenk,Boiling Springs, SC, $14,892.50,*64-70-65-68-267 -20
4. Grant Waite, Ocala, FL, $9,541.00, *65-72-67-67-271 -16
5. Derek Fathauer, Jensen Beach, FL, $6,585.40, *66-68-72-67-273 -14
5. Ryan Dillon, Desert Hills, AZ, $6,585.40, *67-67-71-68-273 -14
5. Martin Catalioto, Ramsey, NJ, $6,585.40, *68-67-69-69-273 -14
5. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $6,585.40, *63-68-69-73-273 -14
5. Bruce McDonald, Mount Pleasant, SC, $6,585.40, *70-67-66-70-273 -14
10. Jonathan Fricke, Covington, GA, $3,826.83, *70-64-72-68-274 -13
10. Jason Schultz, Dallas, TX, $3,826.83, *71-64-69-70-274 -13
10. Lee Williams, Alexander City, AL, $3,826.83, *66-68-70-70-274 -13
10. Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, NC, $3,826.83, *69-66-69-70-274 -13
10. David May, Auburn, NY, $3,826.83, *69-67-68-70-274 -13
10. Brian Harman, St. Simons Island, GA,$3,826.83, *68-66-68-72-274 -13
16. Matt Hendrix, Greenville, SC, $2,845.57, *68-69-70-68-275 -12
16. Hank Kim, Jonesboro, GA, $2,845.57, *66-71-71-67-275 -12
16. Joey McLister, Scottsdale, AZ, $2,845.57, *67-70-69-69-275 -12
16. Matthew Swan, Montgomery, AL, $2,845.57, *66-66-73-70-275 -12
16. Chris Thompson, Lawrence, KS, $2,845.57, *69-69-67-70-275 -12
16. Dustin Groves, Chapel Hill, NC, $2,845.57, *70-64-71-70-275 -12
16. Andy Bare, West End, NC, $2,845.57, *63-71-69-72-275 -12
23. Adam Long, Lake Saint Louis, MO, $2,447.83, *73-64-70-69-276 -11
23. Billy Hurley, Annapolis, MD, $2,447.83, *63-72-72-69-276 -11
23. Wes Stonestreet, Frisco, TX, $2,447.83, *67-72-68-69-276 -11
23. Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, HI, $2,447.83, *71-65-72-68-276 -11
23. Steven Taylor, Canton, IL, $2,447.83, *67-69-70-70-276 -11
23. Chris McCartin, Arlington, VA, $2,447.83, *66-71-72-67-276 -11
29. Scott Parel, Augusta, GA, $2,098.33, *73-64-70-70-277 -10
29. Chris Epperson,Hilton Head Island,SC,$2,098.33,*71-68-67-71-277 -10
29. Casey Johnson, Monroe, NC, $2,098.33, *65-71-70-71-277 -10
29. Gordon Strother,St. Simons Island,GA,$2,098.33,*68-69-69-71-277 -10
29. Matthew Ryan, Santa Clarita, CA, $2,098.33, *64-68-73-72-277 -10
29. Paul Brown, Hartsville, SC, $2,098.33, *69-66-68-74-277 -10
35. Reid Edstrom, Auburn, AL, $1,770.43, *64-70-72-72-278 -9
35. Danny Ellis, Heathrow, FL, $1,770.43, *66-70-72-70-278 -9
35. Todd Murphy, Phoenix, AZ, $1,770.43, *71-65-70-72-278 -9
35. Michael Derminio, Phoenix, AZ, $1,770.43, *67-69-70-72-278 -9
35. Jerry Richardson, Raleigh, NC, $1,770.43, *71-67-71-69-278 -9
35. Michael Pearson, Alpharetta, GA, $1,770.43, *69-69-72-68-278 -9
35. Christopher Ross, Ontario, Canada, $1,770.43, *69-68-68-73-278 -9
42. Scott Weatherly, Fort Payne, AL, $1,494.25, *71-66-70-72-279 -8
42. Kevin Larsen, Santa Barbara, CA, $1,494.25, *63-71-72-73-279 -8
42. Charles Waddell, Wilmette, IL, $1,494.25, *65-70-73-71-279 -8
42. Doug Ferris, Hernando Beach, FL, $1,494.25, *65-70-70-74-279 -8
46. Kevin Grady, Aiken, SC, $1,373.67, *70-65-72-73-280 -7
46. Daniel Woltman, Beaver Dam, WI, $1,373.67, *70-69-71-70-280 -7
46. Taylor Hall, LaGrange, GA, $1,373.67, *64-71-76-69-280 -7
49. Clark Klaasen, Grand Rapids, MI, $1,266.80, *69-69-69-74-281 -6
49. David Sanchez, Pinehurst, NC, $1,266.80, *68-69-71-73-281 -6
49. Matt McQuillan, Canada, $1,266.80, *70-66-70-75-281 -6
49. Michael Henderson, Orlando, FL, $1,266.80, *69-70-72-70-281 -6
49. Matt Mincer, Knoxville, TN, $1,266.80, *69-67-76-69-281 -6
54. Jarred Texter, Millersville, PA, $1,208.33, *68-69-70-75-282 -5
54. Eddie Olson, Aptos, CA, $1,208.33, *70-64-74-74-282 -5
54. Cortland Lowe, Charlotte, NC, $1,208.33, *67-69-73-73-282 -5
57. Phillip Mollica, Anderson, SC, $1,169.00, *67-69-71-76-283 -4
57. Ryan Gildersleeve, Clearwater, FL, $1,169.00, *71-67-68-77-283 -4
57. Tommy Rymer, Sarasota, FL, $1,169.00, *66-71-72-74-283 -4
57. James Sacheck, Fort Worth, TX, $1,169.00, *68-69-73-73-283 -4
57. Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, S.C., $1,169.00, *75-64-71-73-283 -4
57. Ashdon Woods, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,169.00, *73-64-75-71-283 -4
63. Michael Feuerstein, San Diego, CA, $1,131.50, *65-73-70-76-284 -3
63. Raymond Franz, Mt. Pleasant, SC, $1,131.50, *63-73-75-73-284 -3
63. Blake Trimble, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, $1,131.50, *72-65-74-73-284 -3
63. Bob Sowards, Dublin, OH, $1,131.50, *72-66-75-71-284 -3
67. Tyrone Mordt, Arlington, TX, $1,107.67, *69-67-73-76-285 -2
67. Clint Jensen, Jupiter, FL, $1,107.67, *73-66-70-76-285 -2
67. Jhared Hack, Sanford, FL, $1,107.67, *70-68-74-73-285 -2
70. Brad Helton, Mount Juliet, TN, $1,095.00, *70-68-74-74-286 -1
71. Nathan Stamey, Bluffton, SC, $1,046.67, *67-71-74-75-287 E
71. Jamie Hall, England, $1,046.67, *66-73-73-75-287 E
71. Keith Guest, Augusta, GA, $1,046.67, *69-70-76-72-287 E
74. Tommy Gibson, Pilot Mountain, NC, $1,012.00, *68-71-75-74-288 +1
75. Tommy Schaff, Savannah, GA, $985.00, *72-67-79-74-292 +5
76. Jason Hickman, Fort Myers, FL, $977.00, *64-75-72-89-300 +13
WD. Colin Biles, Columbus, OH, $953.50
WD. Stephen Thomas, Sarasota, FL, $953.50 |
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Biershenk Claims Third eGolf Tour Title |
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Salisbury, NC – Just two months ago, Tommy Biershenk of Boiling Springs, SC was working a side job in between tournaments on the eGolf Tour. Helping a friend on his farm was a way for him to add a few dollars and make ends meet. A final-round 62 in the eGolf Tour’s Bolle Classic on Saturday made that job somewhat irrelevant, as Biershenk finally broke through for a win, capping off one of the best stretches of tournament golf anywhere.
Biershenk entered the final round at the Country Club of Salisbury trailing overnight leader Drew Weaver of High Point, NC by two shots. Fellow playing partner Lee Williams on Alexander City, AL was alone in second, one shot behind Weaver and one clear of Biershenk. The three players would trade blows for much of the opening nine, but it was Williams who seized the lead at the halfway point.
An outward nine of 4-under 31 gave the former Auburn University star a one-shot cushion over Biershenk, who opened with 31 himself. Weaver struggled on his opening nine with a 1-under 35 and quickly wound up three shots behind Williams with just nine holes to play in the tournament.
When Biershenk birdied Nos. 10 and 11, a two-shot swing over Williams gave the former Clemson University “All American” a one-stroke cushion with seven holes to play. For the time being, it appeared as though a duel between Biershenk and Williams had been set up, with Weaver still searching for answers in the final threesome.
“I just wanted to go give myself opportunities on the back nine, and then I birdied 10 and 11 to get to 6-under and had some momentum going,” said Biershenk, one of the tour’s most popular players. “I was having fun out there.”
A birdie by Williams at the par-4 12th would briefly tie him with Biershenk. Surprisingly, all three players would record pars on the reachable par-5 13th, but then Biershenk and Weaver would birdie the par-3 14th. The entire threesome would birdie 15, setting up a dramatic three-hole finish.
Trailing Biershenk by a shot, Williams hit his approach to the par-4 16th long and out-of-bounds. Biershenk finally had the cushion he needed, or at least he thought he did.
When Weaver birdied 16 to get within two shots of Biershenk, it was his third consecutive birdie. When the former Virginia Tech star stiffed it on 17 for yet another birdie, it was time to pay attention.
“I was thinking ‘He’s not doing all that well today,’ so I was really focused on Lee. Then he hit it out-of-bounds on 16, and I had to focus on Drew,” said Biershenk, taken aback by the clinic Weaver was putting on. “He came from nowhere to put pressure on me and force me to try and make another birdie.”
Standing on the tee of the par-4 18th, Biershenk led Weaver by a single shot with a relatively benign hole in front of them and a devilish front-right hole location tempting them. First to play from 130 yards, Biershenk’s approach with a pitching wedge narrowly missed the hole and nestled down 5 feet from the cup. After running to the top of the fairway to get a better view of his approach, Biershenk was in prime position to see Weaver’s shot from the same distance land 1 foot from the cup, and stop. A possible two-putts-for-the-win scenario had evacuated Biershenk’s head. He now had to make it to avoid extra holes.
“That putt was not easy,” said Biershenk, who admitted to owning a shaky putter in the past. “It was outside the right edge, and with my putting, I just had to trust it and take care of business.”
With fans looking on, Biershenk calmly rolled in the winning putt as his caddie – and little brother – Nicky let out a small cheer for the family. The win was the third of his eGolf Tour career and first since the 2008 season.
Biershenk’s final-round 62 set a 72-hole eGolf Tour scoring record at 26-under 258. In his last three tournaments, Biershenk has recorded T3, T2 and 1st-place finishes. During that stretch, he accumulated 12 consecutive rounds in the 60s and was an unbelievable 61-under par. With his winner’s check of $34,140, Biershenk moved ahead of Jason Kokrak to overtake the tour’s money list with 2010 earnings of $75,385.
“I’ve been putting myself in position to win golf tournaments. I’ve been posting some good numbers, but these kids out here are tough,” said the 37-year-old Biershenk. “These fields are so good; I certainly didn’t think I’d have to shoot 62 to win.”
With four top-5 finishes and six top-20 finishes on the year, Biershenk was knocking on the door all season long, frequently threatening to win but never quite sealing the deal.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence right now. This little stretch right now is the best I’ve ever played, bar none,” said Biershenk. “I played (the) Nationwide (Tour) for five years or so, won all over, but this is the best it’s been. I’ll tell you what though, it’s been tough.”
Tough would be an understatement for Biershenk, who spent the majority of the winter working on a friend’s farm and spells between tournaments doing the same in order to help make ends meet.
“Two months ago I was spending as much money as I was making, so I wasn’t making any money,” said Biershenk. “These past few weeks helped out a lot, that in and of itself takes a lot of pressure off you.”
With financial pressures mounting, Biershenk began his side job as a way to end boredom through a difficult winter in which practice conditions in Upstate South Carolina were far from ideal. A harsh winter blanketed the southeast and left more players indoors than out – not something Tommy Biershenk could easily swallow.
“You sit around playing golf for a living, and in the winter when it’s cold, you have to do something. I can’t just lay around the house all day,” he said.
With over $58,000 earned in his last three starts alone, Biershenk just might be able to take a hiatus from his backup job on the farm. It seems as if golf is paying just fine these days.
“We might have to take a little break from that, I’m alright for a while,” he said with a laugh.
With his second-place finish, Weaver collected $16,975 and moved up to No. 14 on the money list with earnings of $29,694. The finish marked his second consecutive top-10, dating back to a T6 effort in his last start at the HGM Hotels Classic two weeks ago.
After a standout amateur career in which he captured the 2007 British Amateur Championship, Weaver seems to have finally settled into his professional career. There aren’t many professional rookies who could lose hold of a lead and battle back like that, but there is a little bit of grit and determination inbred in all successful match play golfers – a fact not lost on Biershenk.
“Man, he just wouldn’t go away,” said Biershenk of Weaver’s charge. “That kid just stripes it. That was pretty fun out there.”
Williams, who recorded a double-bogey at 16 after his approach wound up out-of-bounds, finished in solo third and earned $13,563 on the week. After holding the 36-hole lead at 14-under 128, Williams likely would have thought closing rounds of 67-67 would do the trick, but perfect greens and flawless scoring conditions made red numbers the norm over the final 36 holes.
Finishing solo fourth was former Nationwide Tour player Edward Loar of Dallas, TX. Loar posted rounds of 67-65-66-66—264 to collect the best finish of his eGolf Tour career.
- With the victory, Tommy Biershenk earned a spot in the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper on August 12-15, 2010. The exemption marks the third of four Nationwide Tour spots granted to the eGolf Tour for 2010, with the first coming at the South Georgia Classic in April (Jason Kokrak) and the second coming at the BMW Charity Pro-Am in May (Clint Jensen). Biershenk played the Nationwide Tour full time from 2000-2003, finishing as high as 29th on the money list in 2000. It will mark his second Nationwide Tour start this year after finishing T32 at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, thanks in part to a third-round 62.
- A special thanks goes to C.C. of Salisbury Head Golf Professional Randy Padavick, Sapona C.C. Head Golf Professional Marshall Stott, and their respective staffs for coordinating this event and hosting the tour and our players for the week. Players raved about both courses this week, and that is the result of countless hours of work by the host superintendents and their crews. Thank you to Salisbury Head Golf Course Superintendent Ron Bivins, Sapona Head Golf Course Superintendent Keith McKenzie and their crews for their efforts in presenting two fantastic courses.
- The tour will move east to the greater Pinehurst, NC area next week for the second annual Bushnell Championship, contested at Little River Resort (Carthage, NC) and Southern Pines Country Club (Southern Pines, NC) on June 23-26.
Bolle Classic
Country Club of Salisbury
Par 71; 6,665 yards
Sapona Country Club
Par 71; 6,620 yards
Final Results
1. Tommy Biershenk,Boiling Springs, SC, $34,140.00,*68-63-65-62-258 -26
2. Drew Weaver, High Point, NC, $16,975.00, *66-65-63-65-259 -25
3. Lee Williams, Alexander City, AL, $13,563.00, *64-64-67-67-262 -22
4. Edward Loar, Dallas, TX, $9,822.00, *67-65-66-66-264 -20
5. Ryan Linton, Pinehurst, NC, $8,886.00, *66-66-67-66-265 -19
6. Peter Malnati, Dandridge, TN, $7,015.50, *68-66-65-67-266 -18
6. Adam Long, Lake Saint Louis, MO, $7,015.50, *67-65-67-67-266 -18
8. Aaron Goldberg, Encinitas, CA, $5,086.00, *66-66-68-67-267 -17
8. Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, HI, $5,086.00, *67-67-66-67-267 -17
10. Grant Waite, Ocala, FL, $4,026.00, *69-66-68-65-268 -16
10. Chesson Hadley, Raleigh, NC, $4,026.00, *65-69-68-66-268 -16
10. Scott Parel, Augusta, GA, $4,026.00, *69-64-67-68-268 -16
10. Emmett Turner, Augusta, GA, $4,026.00, *63-68-68-69-268 -16
14. Martin Ureta, Chapel Hill, NC, $3,185.00, *68-65-70-66-269 -15
14. Patton Kizzire, Tuscaloosa, AL, $3,185.00, *69-67-66-67-269 -15
14. Matt McQuillan, Canada, $3,185.00, *71-64-66-68-269 -15
14. Brian Duncan, Mount Pleasant, SC, $3,185.00, *67-65-68-69-269 -15
14. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $3,185.00, *63-67-68-71-269 -15
19. Andy Bare, West End, NC, $2,704.83, *67-66-71-66-270 -14
19. Jonathan Turcott, Raleigh, NC, $2,704.83, *69-66-68-67-270 -14
19. Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, NC, $2,704.83, *67-66-69-68-270 -14
19. David Robinson, Sandersville, GA, $2,704.83, *69-63-70-68-270 -14
19. Russell Knox,Jacksonville Beach,FL, $2,704.83, *66-71-64-69-270 -14
19. Adam Mitchell, Atlanta, GA, $2,704.83, *67-66-67-70-270 -14
25. Matt Cannon, Statesville, NC, $2,398.00, *71-67-66-67-271 -13
25. Ryan Vermeer, Lawrence, KS, $2,398.00, *70-68-67-66-271 -13
25. Tyrone Mordt, Arlington, TX, $2,398.00, *67-63-71-70-271 -13
25. Matt Hendrix, Greenville, SC, $2,398.00, *66-67-65-73-271 -13
29. Michael Henderson, Orlando, FL, $2,132.60, *69-69-66-68-272 -12
29. Matt Hill, Ontario, Canada, $2,132.60, *67-70-67-68-272 -12
29. Chris Thompson, Lawrence, KS, $2,132.60, *67-66-70-69-272 -12
29. Rob Grube, Palo Alto, CA, $2,132.60, *70-64-69-69-272 -12
29. Matt Mincer, Knoxville, TN, $2,132.60, *67-69-67-69-272 -12
34. Scott Weatherly, Fort Payne, AL, $1,831.57, *67-67-70-69-273 -11
34. Chase Carroll, Knoxville, TN, $1,831.57, *67-69-70-67-273 -11
34. Jason Schultz, Dallas, TX, $1,831.57, *70-68-68-67-273 -11
34. Taylor Hall, LaGrange, GA, $1,831.57, *67-67-68-71-273 -11
34. Josh Sandman, High Point, NC, $1,831.57, *70-66-71-66-273 -11
34. Ben Kern, Tuscon, AZ, $1,831.57, *71-67-69-66-273 -11
34. Dustin Groves, Chapel Hill, NC, $1,831.57, *70-68-69-66-273 -11
41. Raymond Franz, Mt. Pleasant, SC, $1,455.67, *66-72-66-70-274 -10
41. Matt Hughes, Dalton, GA, $1,455.67, *72-64-68-70-274 -10
41. Jonathan Fricke, Covington, GA, $1,455.67, *69-68-67-70-274 -10
41. Brad Klapprott, Lakeland, FL, $1,455.67, *67-67-71-69-274 -10
41. Matthew Kohn, Altamonte Springs, FL,$1,455.67, *66-72-65-71-274 -10
41. Todd Murphy, Phoenix, AZ, $1,455.67, *69-67-70-68-274 -10
41. Ryan Dillon, Desert Hills, AZ, $1,455.67, *66-70-70-68-274 -10
41. Jamie Hall, England, $1,455.67, *66-72-68-68-274 -10
41. Brian Harman,St. Simons Island, GA, $1,455.67, *70-67-70-67-274 -10
50. Ryan Thornberry, Ceres, CA, $1,251.00, *68-69-67-71-275 -9
50. Alex Coe, La Quinta, CA, $1,251.00, *70-67-68-70-275 -9
50. Phillip Mollica, Anderson, SC, $1,251.00, *68-66-69-72-275 -9
50. Tommy Schaff, Savannah, GA, $1,251.00, *68-70-68-69-275 -9
50. Dustin Bray, Charlotte, NC, $1,251.00, *68-70-68-69-275 -9
55. Reid Edstrom, Auburn, AL, $1,184.12, *71-67-66-72-276 -8
55. Fielding Brewbaker, Salem, VA, $1,184.12, *68-68-69-71-276 -8
55. Tommy Gibson, Pilot Mountain, NC, $1,184.12, *68-66-71-71-276 -8
55. Ben Duncan, Greenville, SC, $1,184.12, *64-70-71-71-276 -8
55. Derek Fathauer, Jensen Beach, FL, $1,184.12, *68-70-68-70-276 -8
55. Niall Turner, St. Paul, MN, $1,184.12, *72-66-69-69-276 -8
55. Billy Hurley, Annapolis, MD, $1,184.12, *66-71-71-68-276 -8
55. Jimmy Lytle, Ocean Ridge, FL, $1,184.12, *71-67-70-68-276 -8
63. Nathan Stamey, Bluffton, SC, $1,140.00, *65-71-69-72-277 -7
63. David Sanchez, Pinehurst, NC, $1,140.00, *69-68-70-70-277 -7
63. Trevor Fisher, Arlington, TX, $1,140.00, *72-66-69-70-277 -7
66. Doug Ferris, Hernando Beach, FL, $1,125.00, *70-68-73-67-278 -6
66. Scott Usher, Johns Island, SC, $1,125.00, *69-69-73-67-278 -6
68. Jeffrey Nieman, Maineville, OH, $1,115.00, *65-73-74-67-279 -5
69. Samuel Cyr, San Diego, CA, $1,105.00, *72-66-71-71-280 -4
70. Alex Wilson, Coral Gables, FL, $1,087.00, *71-64-71-75-281 -3
70. Wes Homan, Cincinnati, OH, $1,087.00, *67-71-70-73-281 -3
72. Wes Wall, Advance, NC, $1,052.00, *69-68-74-71-282 -2
73. Ashdon Woods, Scottsdale, AZ, $1,012.00, *71-66-71-75-283 -1
73. Paul Brown, Hartsville, SC, $1,012.00, *69-67-75-72-283 -1
73. Brad Doster, Winter Park, FL, $1,012.00, *72-66-73-72-283 -1
76. Blake Trimble, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, $971.50, *68-67-74-75-284 E
76. Mike Walls, Greensboro, NC, $971.50, *70-68-73-73-284 E |
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