Country Club of Arkansas Results

We avoided the rain and wind and the GCAT of Arkansas came to play!

Paul C. Gomez, Maumelle, AR (April 23, 2011)  Spring golf is full of surprises.  Our surprise was that we got no rain, gentle winds, and a challenging course to play no matter the tee boxes!  The course was green, if wet, and the greens were slick!

Flight Winners:

Al Smith

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – .Al Smith  of Cabot, AR plays the kind of golf game that most would love to play -  predictably boring fairways and greens.  A +2 front and a +2 back yielded him Championship Flight Champion with a 76.  Al played the par 3's one over par, the par 4's two over par, and the par 5's one over par to edge out John Garrett of Cincinnati, OH who finished with a +6 78.  Garrett turned in his best tour performance to date.

Jim Badovinac

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – The Hogan flight remains our largest this year with 11 competitors in Maumelle.  First through third place were separated by only two strokes!  It looked like Dan Nieman of Bella Vista, AR was going to run away with it after 9 when he was even par!  But Jim Badovinac, of Harrison, AR would not relent and turned in a +5 on the back to make up the 3 stroke deficit.  His birdie-birdie start on the back nine gave him the one stroke edge to take first place with a +9 (80).  Brian Buchanan  of Cabot, AR also made a charge, bu the par 5's kept him from taking the lead. His +10 (82) was good for third place!

Craig Merrill

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) Craig Merrill of Roland, AR made hay on the par 3's playing them even par which proved to be the big difference earning him his second victory on the GC Am Tour of Arkansas!  He, Charles Moore of Cabot, AR, and Jake Badovinac of Harrison, AR were only two strokes apart after 9, but Merrill hung in during the back to claim the victory!

Michael Petersen

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – Michael Petersen of Ozark, AR did it again!  Petersen's +5 front nine is what really won him the event leading the field by 4.  Interestingly, the entire flight was only four strokes apart on the back nine, so Petersen's front nine 41 was the buffer he needed for the victory.  Joe Tomandao of Rogers, AR placed second with a balanced 46-47 (93). 

Maximum Performance Tournament Champion  - This year's Player of the Year Award is be based on net scores against the entire field based on a player's lowest index.  Tournament Champion by one stroke with a net 71 was Jim Badovinac, of Harrison, AR who just edged out Craig Merrill of Roland, AR who shot a net even par 72!  Third place with a net +1 (73) was Michael Petersen of Ozark, AR.

Skins Results:

Championship Flight: Ben Loftis (2), John Garrett (1), Nick Holder (1), Wayne Baldwin (1)

Hogan Flight: John Tusieseina (1), Dan Nieman (1)

Sarazen Flight: Craig Merrill (6), Charles Moore (2), Jake Badovinac (3)

Jones Flight: Michael Petersen (3), Scott Bundrick (2), Joe Tomandao (1),  Richard Ulrich (1), Sam Reeves (1)

For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page or go to the results site. 

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez

Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour

917-553-3814

pgomez@GCAmTour.com