Three First-Time Winners at International Links Miami!

We had a great tournament at International Links Miami on Saturday!  Despite all the rain on Thursday and Friday, the course was in very good shape and the competition was fierce.

The importance of a single stroke seemed to be the lesson of the day.  In the Palmer Flight, a mere five strokes separated the top six finishers.  The Sarazen and Snead Flights were won by a single stroke and only three strokes separated first and second place in the Hogan and Jones Flights. 

Jay Malanga and Stephen Hagerman had the rounds of the day.  Both gentlemen shot 80, with Malanga taking first place in the Palmer Flight and Hagerman winning the Hogan Flight.  It was the first Am Tour win for both players.  Malanga had a very strong front nine, making the turn at 37, while Hagerman caught fire on the back nine, finishing with 38.  Nice rounds, guys – and a great first win!

Alex Ojea had the shot of the day, holing out with a wedge from about 100 yards on the 4^th hole.

In the Sarazen Flight, Gary Ruderman won his first Am Tour trophy, shooting 83 and edging Richard Malcolm by a single stroke.  John Copeland notched his second tour victory in the Jones Flight, shooting an 88 for a 3-stroke win.  Tony Maroon took second place with a 91.

In the Snead flight, Jorge Lorenzo shot a 91 to edge Marvin Kurzban by a single stroke.

John Daglaris was the big skins game winner, taking home $240 for his birdie on 14.  Richard Malcolm pocketed a cool $200 for his birdie on #5 in the Sarazen Flight and Stephen Hagerman (Hogan Flight) walked off with $110 for his birdies on #4 and 14.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Click here for all the scores:

http://thegolfchannel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/thegolfchannel12/event/thegolfchannel1224/contest/28/leaderboard.htm

And click here to see the tournament photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110279361186015030991

Next up is Boca Country Club on November 26^th and The Diplomat on December 3^rd!

Have a great Thanksgiving, and I’ll see you on the course!

Weick Shoots 4-Under Par 68 at Heron Bay!

We had a great tournament at Heron Bay Golf Club on Saturday!  Although the fairways were soft and we had to play lift, clean and place, the greens were in good shape and the weather was perfect!

Jim Weick had the round of the day – and the season, so far.  He shot a 4-under Par 68 to run away with the Championship Flight trophy.  Jim carded five – five! – birdies and just a single bogey during the round.  Congratulations, Jim.  That’s an awesome round!  Nick Fernandez finished second with a 74.

This was another double skins tournament and several players cashed in big!  Including rollover money from Emerald Hills, the Jones Flight skins pool was $520.  John Copeland took home $347 of that for his birdies on 11 & 14 and Keith Varney pocketed $173 for his birdie on #3.  In the Snead Flight, there was $720 in the pool , so George Blanton and Jorge Lorenzo each pocketed $360 for their birdies.  Jason birdied #13 and Jorge birdied #15.  Gene Johnson, Jay Malanga, Thomas Briggs, Tom Porter, Dave Sherry and Terry Willie pocketed $100 apiece for their birdies in the Palmer and Hogan Flights.

Congratulations, guys!

In case you’re wondering, this Saturday’s tournament at Polo Trace is also a double-skins event.

In other action at Heron Bay, Jeff True from Naples, FL broke a two-year drought, winning  the Palmer Flight with a nice 78, while Gene Johnson finished two strokes back at 80.  In the Hogan Flight, Tom Porter posted another great round, shooting 76 to win his second event of the 2012 Season.  Randy Bryant finished second at 82.

Alejandro Scholtz added to his trophy collection by posting an  80 in the Sarazen Flight, edging Chris Nelson by a single stroke for the win.  In the Jones Flight, Keith Varney continues to improve his game after his 2011 promotion.  Keith fired an 83 on Saturday and he needed every putt, with John Methvin finishing just one stroke back at 84.

George Blanton cruised to victory in the Snead Flight, winning by five strokes with a 91.  John Daglaris finished second at 96.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Also, many thanks to the maintenance crew at Heron Bay, who did a great job of getting the course in tournament shape after an incredible amount of rain earlier in the week.

Next up is Polo Trace on the West Palm Beach Tour and then International Links Miami on November 19^th.

Click here for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale photo albums:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110279361186015030991

And click here for the full Miami/Fort Lauderdale Tour schedule:

http://thegolfchannel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/thegolfchannel12/chapter/flmiamifortlaud/schedule/miamiftlauderdale/index.htm

See you on the course!