Player of the Year Update - Free Injury Evaluation

This year's Maximum Performance Player of the Year  award will be based on tour performance against your lowest handicap against the entire Arkansas field on the day of that tournament.  See prior blog for details.

Below are the standings to date, but first, "a word from our sponsor" about common swing faults:

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Common swing faults occur due to tight shoulder, tightness in the hip joint, spinal injuries, and repetitive strain injuries.When shoulder rotation is restricted the body compensates with excessive spinal rotation. This can result in back injury because most people already lack flexibility in the spine. In addition, golfers will notice that they have difficulties in:

    * Keeping their eyes on the ball.

    * Maintaining an optimal swing plane. 

This results in fat or thin shots. When the golfer attempts to compensate at the shoulder joint, the chances of a hook or slice increases.

Tightness in the hip joint rotational muscles places additional strain on the rotational requirements of the shoulder or spine. Often a golfer will compensate by lifting up during the back swing and then chop down on the ball resulting in a fat shot.

Wrist and elbow injuries often occurs when the body does not have the capacity to effectively compensate at either the shoulder or spine. The wrists are then over-used to drive as well as decelerate the golf club.

These swing faults are often easily corrected by addressing the physical restriction the golfer has in their body.  

AM Tour members qualify for a free injury evaluation.  And, each event's overall "Tournament Champion" qualifies for one free treatment.  Call Maximum Performance at 479-268-6080 for an appointment!

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177.5	Petersen	Michael
160.5	Ulrich	Richard
155.0	Tomandao	Joe
142.5	Dryer	Michael
132.5	Merrill	Craig
130.0	Nieman	Dan
115.0	Badovinac	Jim
107.5	Baxter	Dennis
107.5	Calhoun	Mike
97.5	Baldwin	Wayne
92.5	Smith	Al
86.6	Imhof	Carl
78.0	Freeman	Daniel
65.0	Stringer	Dale
60.0	Snow	David
52.5	Sudduth	Jeremey
50.0	Vess	Keith
50.0	Dial	James
46.6	Ainsworth	Richard
45.0	Buchanan	Brian
44.0	Runions	Patrick
40.0	Holder	Nick
37.5	Smith	Brian
36.6	Badovinac	Jake
35.0	Mayberry	Don
35.0	Tillman	Robert
20.0	Ake	David
20.0	Boland	Brent
20.0	Carter	Scot
20.0	Hecksher	Richard
20.0	Jones	Lance
20.0	Lewis	Mike
20.0	Miller	Danny
20.0	Moore	Charles
20.0	Pemberton	David
20.0	Rummel	Chuck
20.0	Santopietro	Ralph
20.0	Tusieseina	John
10.0	Ingle	Russell
10.0	Loftis	Doug
10.0	O'Neal	David
10.0	Reeves	Sam

Cherry Springs Golf Club Recap

Sooners, Razorbacks, (Cowboys & even a Longhorn) showed up for the first of two dual events for a duel between the Oklahoma and Arkansas Tours. 

Paul C. Gomez, Tahlequah, OK (May 7, 2011)  The sun shone all day and the ever familiar Oklahoma winds blew, but the real story was the challenging layout of the short but tight Cherry Springs Golf Club in Tahlequah, OK.  Representing 60% of the field, the Oklahoma tour took 70% of the flight Championships with 5 of 7 first place finishes.  

Flight Winners:

Jeff Boyer

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – Putting was the key for Jeff Boyer of Oklahoma City, OK who had 28 putts including a three-putt on number 18.  A one under front nine and a one over back nine yielded an even par round.  Curt Howard of Sapulpa, OK had an even par back nine, but it wasn't enough to catch Boyer.

Roland Lewis

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – Although it had been some time since he'd played it, Roland Lewis of Tulsa, OK credited his six stroke victory to course knowledge.  Knowing where to put the ball on a course that can be tricky gave him the edge he needed.  Lewis' 40-40 (80) was six strokes better than Allen Sawvel of Broken Arrow, OK who carded a 42-44 (86).

Todd Chapman

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – It took a playoff hole, but Todd Chapman of Tulsa, OK won his first victory of 2011 by draining a 45 foot putt for birdie in a playoff against Tm Mathis of Edmond, OK who made a birdie on the 18th hole to get into the playoff.  This makes Mathis's third second place finish of 2011.  The entire Hogan field was close at the top with only four strokes separating first from fifth place.

Dale Stringer

Senior Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) Dale Stringer of Russellville, AR won his first event on the Am Tour and put Arkansas on the map with the first flight victory of the day while shooting a 44-40 (84).  Three birdies took the edge off of some holes that might have kept him out of contention.  They were also enough to overtake the lead that Mike Johnson of Tahlequah, OK had on him at the turn on his home course and to resist the charge that Ronald Haddock of Siloam Springs, AR made on the back nine.  Johnson and Haddock tied for second.

Jay Williams

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9)  Jay Williams of Van Buren, AR held on to win with a 41-44 (85) over Allan Barnett of Cheyenne, OK who turned in a 46-44 (90) .  Barnett had climbed back from a tripe-double-triple series on the front nine with three birdies and took the lead from Williams.  Hole 14 proved disastrous for Barnett and Williams played steady on the way in and claimed his fourth victory of the 2011 season.

Joe Tomandao

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – The golf course set up perfectly for Joe Tomandao of Rogers, AR.  He managed his distances well and avoided major trouble until the very last hole.  Tomandao also played the par 3's in even par and shot 39-45 (84) to beat Roger Johnson of Owasso, OK who played his first Am Tour event, and Loyd Welch of McAlester, OK who tied for second.  Welch won a scorecard playoff for the 2nd place prize.

Scott Bundrick

Snead Flight (20.0 +) – After 13 holes, Scott Bundrick of Checotah, OK was one stroke behind Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR and tied with Jerime Parker of Blanchard, OK.  The #1 handicap hole 14 took Baxter out of contention, Bundrick birdied #16, and #18 knocked Parker out.  Bundrick's 46-42 (88) was good by two strokes over three second place finishers and for his third first place finish in 2011.

Maximum Performance  Tournament Champion - This year's Arkansas Player of the Year Award is based on net scores against the entire Arkansas membership based on a player's lowest index to determine the Maximum Performance Tournament Champion.  The Cherry Springs Tournament Champion by four strokes is Joe Tomandao of Rogers, AR who netted a four under par 68.  Congratulations Joe for earning 100 points toward player of the year.  Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR took second place also by four strokes.

Skins Results:

Championship Flight: Boyer (3), C. Howard (3), M. Tackett (3) 

Palmer Flight: D'Wayne Lowery (2) , Roland Lewis (1) , Allan Sawvel (1)

Hogan Flight: C. Blankenship (1), T. Chapman (1), R. Cummins (1), D Freeman (1), D Nieman (1), K Rogers (1)

Senior Hogans: D Stringer (5), M Johnson (4)

Sarazen Flight: A Barnett (4), C Merrill (3), J Williams (2), M Helms (1)

Jones Flight: C Imhof (2), R Johnson (2), J Tomandao (1), R Walker (1), R Ulrich (1), L Welch (1)

Snead Flight:  S Bundrick (3), R Henthorn (2), B Walters (1), D Mayberry (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