Fast Greens Challenge Players

Bremerton, WA - The Golf Channel Amateur Tour of Seattle journeyed over the water for the Peninsula Open, held at Gold Mountain.  This week’s course was in great shape, but the true test of the day proved to be the hard, fast greens, that challenged even the best of players.  With player’s highs and lows coming around the green, one player’s celebration of making an eagle putt on the eighteenth hole proved to be the highlight.    

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – The Championship Flight was led by Mohammed Abouelheiga, of Redmond, WA, who was one-over after nine holes.  Mohammed struggled on the back side, and Paul Cooke tried to make up the ground.  But with Mohammed making a great birdie on Hole 16, he was able to stay in the lead.  Mohammed shot 79 to once again become champion.    

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – The Palmer Flight had Ray Henry, of Victoria, BC, make the turn one-over par, and with a two-shot lead over Dan Spinelli.  With a birdie on Hole 10, Alex Cogdall tried to make a move on the back to catch the leaders.  But Alex’s charge wasn’t enough, and Ray managed to keep his lead, shooting a round of 79 to become champion.  This was his first win on Tour.  Dan and Alex finished tied for second place with scores of 83. 

                                                                            

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – The Hogan Flight was tied at the turn, with Mike Knox, Jerry Browning, and Joel Larson shooting 41 on the front nine.  But with Mike’s tradition of coming from behind on the back nine, this gave him the motivation to make two birdies in a row to start off the back.  Mike shot an impressive 38 on the back and pulled ahead of the field.  With a round of 78, Mike became champion, and won his first event during the 2012 season.  Joel finished in second place with a round of 84, and Kim Shek finished in third place with an 87. 

Senior Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – The Senior Hogan Flight was a tight contest, as fifty percent of the field was tied at the turn, shooting 43’s on the front.  As players battled on the back nine, it came down to Jim Howie and Ken Frazier, who both shot rounds of 86.  The two competed in a sudden death playoff, with Ken winning on the first hole.  This was Ken’s second victory in a row. 

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – The Sarazen Flight was a close race after nine holes, with Gregg Teachout having a one-shot lead over Eric Bennett.  But Eric’s impressive putting abilities were shown on the back, and he was able to make up ground.  Eric shot a round of 84 to become champion.  This was his third win this year on tour, and is now qualified for Nationals.  Don Harrell also moved up the leaderboard on the back, and shot 88 to take second place.  Gregg finished in third place with a round of 89.

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – The Jones Flight was another exciting battle to the finish, as Daniel Hedin and Glenn Niemela were tied after nine holes.  With both players making birdies on Hole 10, they proved to fight until the eighteenth.  In the end, Daniel was able to pull one shot ahead, and shot a round of 83 to become champion.  This was Daniel’s first win on Tour.  Glenn finished in second place with an 84.  Fred Corona, Michael Olson, and Jim Fisher finished tied for third place with round of 93.  But the ultimate celebration for the Jones Flight came on the eighteenth hole, when Hank La Luz Jr. drove the green and made his eagle putt.

Snead Flight (20.0 +) – The Snead Flight had all players tied at the turn, making for an exciting back nine.  Jennifer Forsythe, of Kirkland, WA was able to pull ahead of the field on the last four holes as she continued to play steady throughout her round.  Jennifer shot a 98 to become champion.  This was her first win on Tour.

Top Finishers and Payouts

For full field scores and photos please visit www.gcamtour.com. 

Championship

79-Mohammed Abouelheiga ($50 and Trophy)

Palmer Flight

79-Ray Henry ($105 and Trophy)

83-Alex Cogdall ($45)

Hogan Flight

79-Mike Knox ($120 and Trophy)

84-Joel Larson ($70)

87-Kim Shek ($45)

Senior Hogan Flight

86-Ken Frazier ($105 and Trophy)*

86-Jim Howie ($45)

Sarazen Flight

84-Eric Bennett ($120 and Trophy)

88-Don Harrell ($70)

89-Gregg Teachout ($45)

Jones Flight

83-Daniel Hedin ($120 and Trophy)

84-Glenn Niemela ($70)

93-Jim Fisher ($45)

Snead Flight

98-Jennifer Forsythe ($75 and Trophy)

Spring Kickoff Classic Recap

Spring Kickoff Classic Brings on Low Scores

DuPont, WA - The Golf Channel Amateur Tour of Seattle had the Spring Kickoff Classic this week, hosted at The Home Course.  Players showed they have settled into the 2012 season, as competitors shot low scores throughout the day, and two eagles were celebrated. 

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – The Championship Flight was a close race, as Paul Cooke made the turn one-over par and in the lead after nine holes.  With Mohammed Abouelheiga only one-shot off the lead, the back side proved to be a battle to the finish.  Mohammed was able to stay even on the back side, and shot an impressive round of 74 and win by two-strokes.  This was Mohammed’s third win of the season and earning a qualification for Nationals. 

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – The Palmer Flight was tied after nine holes, with David Wilsie and Alex Cogdall shooting 39’s on the front.  Sean Dill was only one-shot back and several players on their heels.  The players that went low on the back-side were able to move up the leaderboard easily.  That included Mike Macris’ impressive back nine, in which he was one-under and included an eagle on #16.  But Mike’s charge wasn’t enough to catch Alex, who shot a round of 75 to become champion.  This was Alex’s third win of the season and also qualified him for Nationals.  Mike finished in 2^nd place with a round of 77.  Chris Girouard shot 78 to take 3^rd place.

                                                                            

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – The Hogan Flight had Daniel Zeiler lead the charge on the front nine, shooting a 38.  With three experienced players on his heels and only one-shot behind, the back was a battle to the finish.  Joel Larson, of Fircrest, WA, was one of those players and was able to pull ahead by playing the last six holes one-under par, and shooting a score of 77 to become champion.  Daniel finished one-shot back, and was able to hold on to 2^nd place.  Brian Wimer had a solid back nine, and a scrambling round with three birdies to shot 80 and finish in 3^rd place.  Barry Lauderbaugh shot 81 to take 4^th place. 

Senior Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – The Senior Hogan Flight had players go low on the front nine as Ken Frazier, of Federal Way, WA, shot one-under.  Mitch Cohan also played solid and was even par for the front, and several players were within striking distance.  Dan Wiggins tried to make a run on the back, shooting 39 and making up ground.  But it wasn’t enough to catch the leader, as Ken shot a solid 75 to become champion.  This was Ken’s first win on Tour.  Mitch was able to fight Dan off, and finished in 2^nd place with a round of 76.

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – The Sarazen Flight was led by Ryan Meyer, of Tacoma, WA.  Ryan shot an impressive 39 on the front, which included an eagle on #8 from 112 yards out.  Ted Calico was three-shots back and needed to make a charge on the back to catch Ryan.  But Ryan managed to card a round of 82, and take home his first win of the season.  Ted finished with a score of 84 to take 2^nd place.  And Frank Fladger fought his way on the back nine into 3^rd place with a round of 87. 

Senior Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – The Senior Sarazen Flight was tied after nine holes with Don Harrell and Eric Bennett shooting 40’s.  The two players fought though out the back, but Eric was able to pull ahead by making a birdie on #16 and played the last three holes even par.  Eric shot a round of 80 to become champion, and Don shot an 83 to take 2^nd place. 

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – The Jones Flight was dominated by Jeff Johnson, of Maple Valley, WA who shot a 40 on the front nine, and had a two-shot lead over Glenn Niemela at the turn.  Jeff held steady on the back and shot a great round of 83 to become champion.  This was Jeff’s first win on the Tour.  Glenn shot 89 to take 2^nd place. 

Top Finishers and Payouts

For full field scores and photos please visit www.gcamtour.com. 

Championship

74-Mohammed Abouelheiga ($75 and Trophy)

Palmer Flight

75-Alex Cogdall ($115 and Trophy)

77-Mike Macris ($70)

78-Chris Girouard ($45)

Hogan Flight

77-Joel Larson ($135 and Trophy)

78-Daniel Zeiler ($90)

80-Brian Wimer ($45)

81-Barry Lauderbaugh ($30)

Senior Hogan Flight

75-Ken Frazier ($105 and Trophy)

76-Mitch Cohan ($45)

Sarazen Flight

82-Ryan Meyer ($115 and Trophy)

84-Ted Calico ($70)

87-Frank Fladger ($45)

Senior Sarazen Flight

80-Eric Bennett ($95 and Trophy)

83-Don Harrell ($35)

Jones Flight

83-Jeff Johnson ($135 and Trophy)

89-Glenn Niemela ($60)