Sunday, June 3, 2012
A Picture Perfect Day at The Highlands in Bella Vista
Bella Vista, Ar - It was a Chamber of Commerce's dream for weather, not to mention great publicity for the future site of the AJGA's Stacey Lewis Open. The AM Tour players that came from Kansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and of course, Arkansas enjoyed the challenging layout and perfect weather. In only a few weeks, the best of junior golfers will be visiting the same course and playing from the new tees which stretch out the course!
Flight Winners:
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| Carter |
Championship Flight (0-3.9) – Scot Carter of Bella Vista, AR and Brent Boland of Hector, AR battled back and forth all day in the championship flight while playing half of the new tees from the tips (#1) and the other half from the blue (#2) tees. In the end Carter made some putts and separated himself as the round finished to win 1st place. It's Carter's first victory on the AM Tour since winning four events in 2009!
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| Smith |
Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – Second through Fourth place were only a stroke apart each in the Palmer flight. However, Brian Smith was not to be denied. Smith pulled out the driver only once and missed only one fairway to shoot the low round of the day 74. One birdied and three bogeys on the par 4's and even par on the par 3's and par 5's from the same tees the Championship flight played was enough to dominate the field. The first place finish is Smith's first in five tries in 2012.
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| Ainsworth |
Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – Apparently The Highlands Golf Course is a course that Richard Ainsworth from Maumelle, AR loves. Ainsworth successfully defended his 2011 title by edging out Michael Quesenberry of Wentzville, MO by two strokes while shooting 77 - the second best round of the day. Quesenberry made three birdies to none by Ainsworth, but a double bogey on #18 broke the tie they shared through 16 holes. Ainsworth credits his victory to a couple of good bounces going his way on top of “getting up and down” really well all day!
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| Hamilton |
Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – The Sarazen flight played a combination of blue and white tees to experience the Highlands. Retirement has apparently been good for Hot Springs Village resident John Hamilton's golf game. He credits his seven stroke victory to the newly found time he has for practicing and to a back to the basics strategy inspired by reading Ben Hogan! Hamilton's 83 was a comfortable margin of victory over second place finisher Danny Neal of West Fork, AR.
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| Merrill |
Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – Stanely Emerson of Topeka, KS was eight strokes behind Craig Merrill of Roland, AR with six holes to play. Emerson made a charge finishing even par in the last six holes with Merrill struggling in the finish. Merrill's “play it safe” strategy paid off to win by two while shooting an 86. This makes Merrill's second victory of 2012.
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| Lynch |
Snead Flight (20.0 +) – The Snead flight made history on the Arkansas AM Tour! Vicki Lynch of Fort Smith, AR becomes the first woman to win on the Arkansas AM Tour. It's also the first event where two women played on the Arkansas AM Tour. Jeanette Potter of Bella Vista AR led the flight by six strokes with 3 holes left to play. Lynch would finish one under in the last three holes to defeat Potter and Chris Smith of Fort Smith, AR.
Lynch said winning was made easier by having a great time playing with great people. Her testimony to the camaraderie found on the AM Tour is shared by players in all flights.
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| Potter and Lynch |
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For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:
Paul C. Gomez
Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour
917-553-3814
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