Down to the Wire
Hot and Fast!
Paul C. Gomez, Alma, AR (August 21, 2011) Rumors of the demise of the greens at Alma's Eagle Crest were....somewhat exaggerated! They might not have looked great in a few places - but they rolled! It was hot, and they were fast! The story was more about how close many of the matches were as they came...down to the wire!
Flight Winners:
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| Al Smith |
Championship Flight (0-3.9) – After several head to head matches, Al Smith of Cabot, AR overcame Michael Dryer from Bella Vista, AR with steady play that yielded two 1 under par rounds! It was never easy, Smith said, competing against a fierce competitor gave him motivation, but missing only 3 fairways and 3 greens each day probably didn't hurt. With this event, Dryer finishes as the Championship Flight Points leader of the year.
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| Chuck Rummel |
Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – It was anybody's tournament after round 1, but Chuck Rummel of Hatfield, AR did one thing his competitors didn't - he avoided the big number! Never recording more than a double bogey during round 2 and adding two birdies to that secured Rummel his first tour victory! Two 78's with a total 156 was enough to win the Palmer Flight Champion! Brian Smith of Rogers, AR came in second while Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR came in third. Baldwin is the year end Palmer Flight Points Champion.
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| Rob Tillman |
Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – Another tight race was in the Hogan flight. After round 1 only 2 strokes separated four players. At the end of round 2, Brian Buchanan of Cabot, AR was one stroke away from a playoff after a 10 on a par 5. Robert Tillman of Bentonville, AR and Richard Ainsworth of Maumelle, AR went to a playoff tied at a two day total of 168. It only took one hole for Tillman to emerge as the Hogan Flight Tour Champion. While no Hogan avoided big numbers, Tillman credits his victory to not losing his focus after an 8 on a par 3. Buchanan finishes the year as the Hogan Flight Points Champion of the year. Ainsworth finished as the Senior Hogan Points Champion of the year.
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| Michael Petersen |
Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) The Sarazen flight was joined by newly promoted Michael Petersen of Ozark, AR who was the Senior Jones points leader until he broke the 12.0 handicap. Petersen never shot more than a double bogey which gave him his first victory in the Sarazen flight. Jeremey Sudduth of Bentonville, AR was also recently promoted to the Sarazen flight and edged out Craig Merrill Roland, AR of by 3 strokes for second place. Merrill finishes the year as the Senior Sarazen Points Champion of the year. Russell Ingle of Bella Vista, AR finished third place.
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| Joe Tomandao |
Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – With only one big number in two days, and that on the last hole of the tournament, Joe Tomandao of Rogers, Arkansas shot a steady 91-92 to win the Jones Flight Championship. Carl Imhof of Rogers, AR couldn't take advantage on the last hole and finished 4 strokes back for 2nd place. Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR finished third place and finishes first in the Senior Jones Order of Merit.
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| Sam Reeves |
Snead Flight (20.0 +) – Coming from behind from the first day, Sam Reeves of Bentonville, AR shot the exact same score two days in a row to overtake Don Mayberry of Rogers, AR and win the Snead Flight Championship. This makes Reeves second victory in the Snead flight and earns him the Points Champion of the year. David Pemberton of Huntsville, AR came in third place.
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Maximum Performance Tournament Champion - This year's Player of the Year Award came down to the final round of the weekend. We treated the weekend as 3 rounds for the sake of the award to give everyone a chance to make a last minute run. Michael Petersen was the low net winner for round 1 which put him just ahead of Dennis Baxter. Al Smith was the low net winner for Round 2. But the two day total low net winner was Michael Petersen which was enough to earn him the 2011 Player of the Year Award! Congratulations Michael Petersen!
For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page or go to the results site or go to our Picasa web site.
For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:
Paul C. Gomez
Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour
917-553-3814
