Paul C. Gomez, Hot Springs Village, AR (June 6-7, 2015)
One hundred ninety players came from all over the country to compete in the regional major in Hot Springs Village - The Arkansas Championship. The Arkansas Tour had home field advantage and didn't disappoint, dominating the field and bringing home four crystal vase trophies. Every winner and players tied for third qualify for the 2015 National Championship tournament in La Quinta, CA. in September.
 |
| Bob Brooks |
Bob Brooks of Bella Vista, AR fired five birdies on his opening round on the Ponce De Leon golf course with only one bogey to end the first day of the two round competition at four under par 68. He led the Senior Championship flight by five after day one. That lead was never really threatened even though he didn't perform as he would have liked on the Granada golf course shooting a two over par 75. The 68-75 (143) total score is his best two-day total on the AM Tour since joining in 2013. Brooks, the 2013 Senior National Champion, had just won the one-day local event on the Cortez golf course. Bella Vista resident Rick Guptil placed third in the Senior Championship flight.
 |
| Tom Stephens |
The Senior Sarazen flight is for players with a tournament index from 12.0 to 15.9. Tom Stephens, of Bella Vista, AR fought his way to a day one tie during a tough first round at Ponce De Leon. Four players were only two strokes apart at the end of day one. It came down to the last nine holes on Granada and Stephens had to hold on to the lead he had established after 27 holes. He finished the last four holes at even par with one bogey and one birdie to win the flight by five strokes and a two day score of 81-82 (163). This victory earns him his second victory in the 2015 season.
 |
| Steve Rutherford |
The Jones flight is for players with a tournament index from 16.0 to 19.9. After day one at Ponce De Leon, Steve Rutherford of Bentonville, AR was in fifth place and seven strokes behind the leader. He would have to make a charge to challenge the leader. He opened the second round at Granada with a seven pars to shoot a thirty-nine! When he finished the last two holes five over par he just knew he had shot himself out of the championship. He didn't know that he was only three back after 13 holes and that his two closest competitors would have even higher finishes. Rutherford's 95-85 scores totaling 180 earned him a one stroke victory and his first victory at a major championship.
 |
| Dennis Baxter |
Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR plays in the Senior Jones flight for players from 16.0 to 19.9. He finished day one on Granada two strokes behind the leader after a two over par 38 on the back nine for a total of 85. Duplicating the 8 par-one birdie performance would be difficult on day two on the Ponce De Leon course. Day two would see only one par and one birdie and Baxter slid into a playoff with a round two score of 94 totaling 179 for the event. No stranger to playoffs, Baxter outlasted his opponent to earn his first major championship since his last playoff victory in 2013 at the Winstar casino major.
No comments:
Post a Comment