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or most of Georgia’s contingent Bulldog Ryuji Imada. FedEdCup and ninth on the final money the top 50 in the World Rankings and a
on the PGA Tour, the 2008 The rest of Georgia’s PGA Tour mem- list with almost $4 million. Masters berth.
season was not a particularly bers had to wait another week or two to Cink’s ‘08 season was divided into two Imada scored his first PGA Tour win in
memorable one, although there start their ’09 campaigns, with a common disparate halves; before and after his win in four seasons in Atlanta, but will not get the
were some exceptions. theme the hope that this year will be a Hartford. Other than his participation on opportunity to defend his title in the
Duluth’s Stewart Cink more successful one than 2008. the Ryder Cup team, Cink’s post-victory defunct AT&T Classic. Imada had a pair
and Sea Island’s Davis On the surface, Cink’s ‘08 season was an highlights were non-existent. And as well of runner-up finishes among three top-
Love opened the extremely successful one. He scored his as he played the first six months of the fives early in ’08 and a near win in the Fall
2009 season in the first win in five years in Hartford, the site season, he let a win get away in Tampa and Series, ending the season 13th in earnings
Mercedes-Benz of his first PGA Tour victory as a rookie in did not put up much of a fight in the with over $3 million. Imada’s success
Championship in 1997. He was part of a victorious Ryder Match Play finals against Tiger Woods. stemmed largely from an outstanding year
Hawaii, a reward Cup team for the first time in four starts, Statistically, it was a solid season for the with the putter, which produced a succes-
for winning a tour- and enjoyed his best ever finish in the former Georgia Tech great. But he con- sion of strong final rounds and offset some
Masters (solo third). Cink was fifth in the tinued to miss fairways at a surprisingly awful stats in the ball striking categories.
PGA Tour’s all-around statistical category, high rate (181st in driving accuracy), while The 32-year-old Imada closed out 2008 by
struggling with his short game (142nd in helping lead Japan to a third place finish in
scrambling). the World Cup.
Love was headed for his worst season in The list of Georgians who would just as
20-plus years on the PGA Tour before a soon forget 2008 begins with Augusta
late surge in the Fall Finish revived his native Charles Howell. His earnings
career at the age of 44. After a season-best ($1.45 million) were the lowest of his eight
finish of T19 in his first 17 starts, Love seasons on the PGA Tour, with two of his
placed sixth or better three times in his last four top-10 finishes coming in the Fall
six starts, including a season-ending win at Series. As usual, Howell missed lots of fair-
Disney, the 20th of his career. ways and putts, with his only redeeming
After finishing 154th in regular season stat a first place finish in scoring average
FedExCup points to miss the playoffs, on par 5s. Howell turns 30 in June, and
Love ended ’08 with almost $1.7 million there are probably not a lot of PGA Tour
in earnings (48th). But other than driving followers who would have predicted he
distance, his stats were pretty dismal across would have just two victories in his 20s.
Davis Love III
STEVE DINBERG
Georgia
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By Ted Fort straight through stroke with a square face. dition of the left wrist. Although it is impor-
John Barrett
PGA Golf Professional It’s similar to the action of a dog’s door, and tant to have a flat left wrist in the full
some equate the motion to that of a pen- stroke, it’s not as important in the putting
EDITOR Mike Blum
Marietta Golf Center
dulum. The following things tend to be the stroke. But, it’s extremely important the
case for this player: sees the wrist remain in the condition that it began.
CONTRIBUTORS
Have you ever played with
someone that couldn’t putt putter head move on a straight Maintaining a flat left wrist would be
Ted Fort
the ball in an ocean with three line, keeps the face square, placing a ruler under your watch and not
Jackie Cannizzo, Women’s Golf Editor
chances? Even more impor- holds the grip in the middle of breaking it. A bent left wrist would be
Steve Dinberg
tantly, are you that person? the palm, holds the club very breaking the ruler. If your left wrist starts
Lake-Finlay Image Group
Anyone that has ever played upright, feels no release, and flat or bent, keep it in that condition during
Joseph Field
the game understands the aligns the face of the putter to the entire stroke. We will define releasing
Georgia Golf Course Owners Association
whimsical nature of putting. the hole. as the closing of the face while main-
Cindy Acree, Executive Director
Even some of the greatest Player B: Others allow taining the left wrist condition, and the
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
golfers in history, like Hogan the face to open and close, word we use for this is roll.
and Watson, became frustrated with it. It’s which would be similar to the action of a To keep this article shorter than“War and J.R. Ross, Sales Representative
a part of the game that allows all players, saloon door. This player sees the putter Peace”, we are going to end with two addi- Rick Holt, Corporate Sales
amateurs or pros, males or females, begin- head making a blurred arc on the ground. tional points. Firstly, the feel of roll exists for
ners or veterans, to empathize with the For this player, these characteristics tend to those using heel shafted putters. And, the ART DIRECTOR
Tour player that misses a four footer. exist: sees the putter head move in an arc, feel of no roll exists for those using a face Lori Montgomery
One thing to understand is that there’s allows the face to open and close, holds balanced putter. The shaft will rotate lorimontgomery@mindspring.com
no “one way” to accomplish the task of get- the putter closer to the fingers than the around a club’s center of gravity. Therefore,
ting the ball in the hole. But, with this in palm, holds the club flatter, feels a release, if the club is face balanced, the shaft runs GEORGIA SECTION, PGA OF AMERICA
mind, it’s important to understand that and aligns the face of the putter slightly to through the club’s center of gravity. And, it PRESIDENT
some characteristics go together. Without the right of the hole. results in the feeling of no roll. Jim Arendt, Chicopee Woods Golf Course
For those that like to keep things Secondly, because the ball compresses
VICE-PRESIDENT
going into infinite detail, I will explain what
some strokes have in common. In order to uncomplicated, player “A” should play with against the face, there is a small interval of
choose a putter that matches your style, a face balanced putter. And, player “B” time in which the ball is stuck to the face. Patrick Richardson, Wilmington Island Club
you must understand how to qualify your should play with a heel shafted putter. If For the player that uses a closing face, it
style. you’re a “feel player” and that’s all you need should be open at address, open at impact, SECRETARY
Player A: There are players that attempt to know, stop reading. and square at separation (when the ball Brian Stubbs, Country Club of Columbus
to keep the face of the putter square The two putters in the top of the picture leaves). For the player that keeps the face
during the entire stroke. These are the are face balanced, one with an S shaped square, it should be square at address, HONORARY PRESIDENT
players that feel a straight back and shaft and one with a center shaft. And, the square at impact, and square at separation. Danny Elkins, Georgia Golf Center
two putters in the bottom of the picture For this reason, it is IMPERATIVE to have
are heel shafted or not face balanced. your putter fit to your desired pattern. The BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For others that require a greater depth days of choosing a putter based on name Bud Robison, West Point, Ga
of understanding, we’re going to dig a little brand, cool colors, or price are history. Marten Olsson, The Club at River Forest
deeper. It is not mandatory that all of the And, for the “feel player” that kept Steve Godley, Jekyll Island Golf Club
characteristics listed in player “A” or player reading, I warned you to stop. For the engi- Bob Elmore, Bacon Park GC
“B” have to co-exist, but they tend to co- neers that need more information, I’d be Shawn McKinnon, Berkeley Hills CC
exist. One of the things that I’ve mentioned happy to respond to any questions that Richard Hatcher, Ansley GC
is the release of the putter. We need to you might have. Jeff Dunovant, First Tee of East Lake
define the word “release” as there are many Scott Mahr, Barnsley Gardens Resort
misguided efforts to do so. Ted U. Fort, Jr. Clark Spratlin, Blue Ridge Golf & River Club
I know that Tiger discussed the positive 2006 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year Dan Mullins, Classic Golf Management
effect that releasing the putter had for him. www.mariettagolfcenter.com Josh Williams, Savannah Golf Club
So, to begin, we have to describe the con- tufpgagolf@yahoo.com Rodger Hogan, Royal Lakes Golf & CC
STEVE DINBERG
at ‘09 PGA Tour
[ Continued from the cover ]
PGA Tour
PREVIEW as opposed to playing with an injury produced some drama in limited engage-
that has not fully healed. ments.
Most of the early commentary on The U.S. Open is back at Bethpage State
Woods’ return leans in the direction Park in suburban New York, where Woods
of his being better than ever thanks bested Phil Mickelson by three strokes in
By Mike Blum to having two fully functional knees for the 2002, the first time the public course had
first time in a while. But there is the matter hosted a major event. The course is very
s the PGA Tour began its 2009 of Woods adjusting to his surgically much tailored to power hitters, but is
tournaments were decided in either a for the Sea Island event. six, but his recent success has overshadowed
playoff or by one stroke, concluding with The three majors with rotating venues the fact that no other European player has
an entertaining battle between the odd visit courses that have not hosted that won a major in the 21st century.
couple of Davis Love and Tommy “Two many championships, but all three have
W
hen the PGA Tour unveiled awarded for making the cut in the first two
the FedExCup prior to the tournaments, which resulted in some players
2007 season, the hope was making big moves without doing much,
that the addition of three while those who missed the cut were severely
new “playoff” events would help produce a penalized. Vijay Singh
dramatic conclusion at the Tour This time, Vijay Singh won the first two
Championship. playoff tournaments and had the FedExCup
The PGA Tour set up a points system for title wrapped up before the Tour up with one that rewards players who per-
both the regular season and playoffs, but the Championship. Even though Camilo form well during the regular system,
initial attempt failed to produce much Villegas won the third playoff event plus the increases the benefits to those who play the
interest during the regular season or volatility Tour Championship, a missed cut in the best in the playoffs and ensures that no one
once the playoffs began. A handful of top playoff opener left him second behind will wrap up the FedExCup title prior to the
players dominated the playoff events, with Singh. Tour Championship.
Tiger Woods hoisting the first FedExCup With no Tiger and no drama, the Tour The Tour Championship appears to be absent from East Lake after missing the first
trophy despite skipping the first of the four Championship drew minimal media cov- the biggest winner in the process, largely due two cuts in the playoffs.
tournaments. Woods placed second, first and erage (almost all of it negative) and to the change in when the FedExCup points There will still be a chance for players to
first in the next three, including a runaway minuscule TV ratings, so it was back to the are reset. make big moves in the standings in the play-
win at East Lake to end what little suspense drawing board again for the PGA Tour. The previous two years, points earned offs, but they will have to play extremely
existed in the points race. This time, the numbers crunchers who during the regular season were reset prior to well to do so, not just make the cut to move
The points for the playoffs were tweaked devised the previous two formats have come the start of the playoffs, with players past players who don’t.
awarded a specific number of points based And most importantly from the stand-
on their position on the points list. point of the Tour Championship, there is no
This year, points earned during the reg- chance the FedExCup championship will be
ATLANTA’S OUTDOOR CENTER ular season will carry over to the playoffs,
but will be greatly reduced from the num-
decided prior to the tournament, with mul-
tiple players having the opportunity to win
770-476-0777 bers awarded the first two years of the
FedExCup. Instead of tournament winners
the title with a victory.
There are a few other changes this year
USAHOMEWORKS.COM earning 4,500 points, they will now receive involving fields and tournament sites. The
just 500, with slightly more for World Golf playoff opener in suburban New York moves
Dreams Built Championships (550) and major champi- from the well-received Ridgewood CC to a
much-hyped newer facility (Liberty
Since 1977 onship winners (600).
Winners of the playoff events will receive National). The field has been reduced from
144 to 125, matching the spot on the
Gazebos
2,500 points each, but to prevent one player
Decks from locking up the title prior to the Tour
Championship, the points will not be reset
money list required to retain exempt status
for the next season.
until after the BMW Championship, the The Deutsche Bank Championship will
third of the three playoffs events leading to again be played Labor Day weekend in the
East Lake. Boston area, with the only change a reduc-
As a result of the new reset date and the tion in the field from 120 to 100. The
change in points distribution, if any player BMW Championship (formerly Western
in the top 5 after the reset wins the Tour Open) returns to its traditional home in
Championship, he will also win the Chicago at a renovated Cog Hill, with the
FedExCup. Mathematically, all 30 players in field remaining at 70.
the Tour Championship field will have a The Tour Championship will be played
DY Sept. 24-27, giving its 30 qualifiers one week
WW OO OO
chance to win the FedExCup, but the
Porches Arbors players near the bottom of the list will need
a lot of help from those at the top, who
off after a grueling stretch of golf. With a
WGC event and the PGA Championship
would have to play poorly at East Lake for just prior to the start of the playoffs, most of
that to happen. the golf’s top players will have played five
FAMILY OWNED The changes instituted this year seem to times in six weeks before the week off.
& OPERATED have solved the various problems the Many of the players in the Tour
FINANCING Championship field will be back in action in
AVAILABLE FedExCup has encountered in its brief
history. the Presidents Cup after a one week respite,
Having regular season points carry over making it seven high profile events in 10
PHOTOS BY STEVE DINBERG
through the first three weeks of the playoffs weeks. With the Ryder Cup played the week
gives those events greater stature, and should before the Tour Championship last year,
Landscaping
prevent a repeat of last year, when two-time some players were competing for the seventh
Sunrooms major champion Padraig Harrington was time in nine weeks at East Lake.
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Professionals
on Nationwide Tour
$458,000, it was not enough to retain his
status on the PGA Tour, and he returns to
the Nationwide Tour for a fourth season.
in earnings. BellSouth Classic after playing his way into is a Thomson native and long-time
After a number of years on the mini-tour the tournament in a Monday qualifier. Peachtree City resident and was a teammate
circuit, this will be Robinson’s first Albany’s Josh Broadaway enjoyed his of Claxton on the Georgia golf team.
Nationwide Tour season. Robinson fin- best Nationwide season in ’08, ending up Five Georgians finished between 77 and
ished ahead of only 15 players in the finals 36th with $172,880. Broadaway, 30, had 94 on the 2008 money list to retain non-
of PGA Tour qualifying, and will begin the not finished in the top 90 in his first three exempt status for the ’09 season.
season with limited status on tour. years on tour, but posted five top-10 fin- Recent Georgia Bulldog standout Chris
Robinson shot 67 in both the second and ishes last year, tying for third in Miami and Kirk of Woodstock was 77th in his rookie
third rounds of qualifying, but was over par contending in one of the tour’s top events season as a pro, highlighted by a runner-up
in each of his four other rounds in southern in Columbus, Oh. Broadaway, who hits the finish in Knoxville, where he lost in a
California. ball cross-handed and putts left-handed, playoff. Other than that, however, it was
Heading up Georgia’s veteran contingent was fourth in putting in ’07 and seventh in not an especially productive first year for
is Duluth’s Scott Dunlap, who is playing the par breakers category. Kirk, although he made the cut in all three
his sixth straight season on the tour and Four Georgians who won on the tour in PGA Tour events he entered, including the
eighth overall. Dunlap won the 2007, including two who played on the U.S. Open.
Scott Dunlap
Nationwide Tour’s season opening event in PGA Tour last year, will be Nationwide
[ See Nationwide Tour, page 17 ]
Panama last year, but did not post another Tour members.
T
he Champions Tour will not be out of the same mold. strikers among his peer group, with put-
returning to Atlanta in 2009, Many of the more prominent players to ting still his main nemesis.
but it will be back in Savannah turn 50 in recent years have either ignored Larry Mize and Bob Tway could easily
for a seventh straight year. the Champions Tour (Greg Norman, Nick wind up competing for Rookie of the Year
The over-50 tour welcomed a Georgia Faldo), not played especially well (Nick honors, with Mize enjoying a three-month
native late last year, with a less well known Price, Curtis Strange, Mark O’Meara) or head start. Mize was not a factor on the
Georgian regaining his full time playing can’t decide whether to stick it out on the PGA Tour after 2001, and will have to re-
privileges this year and a former state resi- PGA Tour (Fred Funk). acquaint himself with the feeling of
dent making his debut early in the season. It’s been quite a while since an American playing under pressure. He was respectable
Larry Mize, who was born and raised in player with marquee appeal has turned 50, in his first four Champions Tour starts, but
Augusta and is a long-time Columbus res- and this year is no different. Tom Lehman will need to card a few more scores of 66
ident, made his Champions Tour debut in and Tway are the only two players with any and 67 if he hopes to win for the first time
the latter stages of the 2008 season, sort of resumes to join the tour this year, in more than 15 years.
making four mostly uneventful starts. Larry Nelson and neither is going to greatly enhance the Tway kept his game in shape deeper into
Duluth native and Dillard resident tour’s status. his late 40s, and turned in a number of
James Mason, who has played on the Among the tour’s top players last year strong efforts last year, finishing the among
Champions Tour since 2001, posted a top- played since 1978, and its initial success were such non-household names as R.W. the scoring leaders on the PGA Tour. Tway
5 finish in the finals of the tour’s qualifying was largely responsible for the creation of Eaks, Bruce Vaughan, Mark Wiebe, D.A. also ranked among the leaders in several
tournament and will be fully exempt for the Senior Tour a few years later. Weibring, Denis Watson and Eduardo other categories, most notably putting,
the first time since the ’03 season, the year After making several changes in sites, the Romero, with those six combining for 10 and rattled off a string of scores in the mid-
after he scored his lone tour win. tournament landed at the Westin Savannah victories, including three of the five majors. 60s, including a 62 in his final event of the
Bob Tway, who lived in suburban Cobb Harbor Resort in 2003 and has remained Lonnie Nielsen, Brad Bryant, Gene season. He will miss the first nine
County for most of his teens, will make his there since, with the format returning to its Jones, David Eger and Michael Goodes all Champions Tour events of the season, but
Champions Tour debut in early May, and original team concept last year. qualified for the Tour Championship. look for him to make a big impact once he
is expected to be a very competitive player The Champions Tour was supposed to A number of familiar names – Gil turns 50 in May.
after some solid showings on the PGA make a return to the Atlanta area this year, Morgan, Jim Thorpe, Ben Crenshaw, Jim Dent notched 12 wins in his first 10
Tour last year. but the faltering economy ended the hopes Bruce Fleisher, Fuzzy Zoeller, Irwin – are seasons on the Champions Tour, but his
They join Champions Tour veterans for landing a title sponsor for the event. on the downside of their Champions Tour last win was more than a decade ago. Dent
Allen Doyle and Larry Nelson along with The tour has not visited the north Atlanta careers, and the players replacing them on has earned almost $9 million during his
relative newcomer Tim Simpson in com- suburbs since 2000, with Country Club of leader boards are not exciting any more fans Champions Tour career and led the tour in
prising the bulk of Georgia’s contingent on the South and Golf Club of Georgia than they did. driving distance six straight seasons. Dent,
the tour. Augusta native Jim Dent, who serving as hosts and Nationwide Insurance Langer and Romero, who spent his career who made just 13 starts last year, begins
turns 70 this year, remains exempt, but has the title sponsor. playing primarily in Europe and his native the 2009 season 20th in career Champions
not been a competitive player for a number This year’s Champions Tour schedule will Argentina, were the only players to win Tour earnings.
of seasons. consist of 26 tournaments, the fewest three times last year, with six others winning Tim Conley, a long-time Braselton resi-
The tour makes its lone Georgia appear- number in more than two decades. The twice each. Haas has been the tour’s top dent and the 2005 Georgia Open
ance in late April with the tournament that tour lost three events from 2008 in Hawaii, player over the last three seasons with 10 champion, tied for ninth in the finals of
started what was then the Senior Tour. The suburban Boston and New York, and did victories and two money and Schwab Cup qualifying last year, and will have limited
Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf has been not add a new tournament for ’09. As a titles each, but does not exactly strike fear status, playing in the tour’s Monday quali-
result, the tour will have only one stretch into the hearts of his fellow competitors or fiers in an effort to get into the
Allen Doyle the entire season when it will play more boost attendance totals. tournament fields. Conley, who played on
than three straight weeks, with the frequent Other than Simpson and the new- both the PGA and Nationwide Tour prior
off weeks likely to result in stronger fields comers, Georgia’s Champions Tour to turning 50, has made 19 starts the past
for the remaining tournaments. contingent is showing a little age. two seasons, 13 of those as a rookie in
In recent years, the Champions Tour has Allen Doyle turned 60 last year, and has 2007. His earnings fell from $127,000 to
attracted a decreasing amount of attention, not won since scoring his second straight $36,000, with a tie for 30th his best
as the star players who made the tour what U. S. Senior Open title in 2006. After showing in ’08.
it was have long since ceased to be compet- eight straight seasons among the tour’s top Javier Sanchez, who lives in the Lake
itive players. Arnold Palmer, Jack 20 players, he has finished around 40th in Oconee area, tied for 20th in the finals of
Nicklaus and Lee Trevino kept the earnings each of the last two years, and did Q-school and will be eligible to compete in
Champions Tour relevant through the not have a top-10 finish in ’08 after the Monday qualifiers. Sanchez has
1980s and ‘90s, but the past decade has not placing second in the season opener. The enjoyed some success in his career as a
been as successful. LaGrange resident has enjoyed a won- mini-tour player, and is best known for
The charismatically challenged Hale derful career since turning pro in his late qualifying for the U.S. Open four straight
Irwin was “The Man” on the Champions 40s, entering the ’09 season sixth on the years, making it through both local and
Tour for most of that stretch, with the all-time Champions Tour money list with sectional qualifying all four times.
14 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM
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or the past five seasons, James Champions Tour on a regular basis. The what players did during their days on the
Mason has competed on the tour expanded the number of spots avail- PGA Tour than performance on the
Champions Tour in a kind of able from the weekly tournament qualifiers, Champions Tour.
limbo. but only a handful of players were able to “That’s just the way the tour was set up,”
Mason’s exempt status for winning a parlay that into a healthy schedule and a Mason says. “They’re looking out for the
Champions Tour event in 2002 expired at sufficiently successful season to earn ones who played the PGA Tour. But if you
the end of the ‘03 season, and since then exempt status for the following year. can play, you can get a spot out here.”
Mason has competed on an irregular basis. Mason, a Duluth native and long-time Mason has shrugged off the various reg-
He’s gotten into some tournaments but not Georgia PGA member who now lives in ulations that have made it harder for him to
others, and has spent the past two seasons Dillard in the northeast Georgia moun- succeed than former Tour players.
having to rely on his success in Monday tains, took advantage of the resumption of “I have certainly enjoyed it. I’m doing
qualifiers to get into fields for the dwin- the qualifying tournament, but not without something a lot of people wish they were
dling number of tour events. some nervous moments at the end. doing. I can’t describe how good it’s been. If
James Mason
After placing around 40th in three of his With only five spots available on the you had told me when I came out that I
first four seasons, Mason has finished 69th, 2009 Champions Tour, Mason began the would make over $2 million, I would have
62nd and 75th on the money list the last final round in the precarious position of asked you what you were smoking.”
three years, competing in fewer than half tied for fifth. On a difficult day from a Without any scoreboards on the course, Mason hasn’t always played as well as he
the tournaments in both 2007 and ‘08. weather standpoint, Mason played steadily, the players had no grasp of how they stood would have liked, but has done well
A few years ago, the Champions Tour did recording nine straight pars before a bogey coming down the stretch, and Mason enough to stay out there for seven years,
away with its qualifying tournament that on the 18th hole placed him in jeopardy of feared that his closing bogey would cost with hopes of a few more.
allowed players like Allen Doyle and finishing outside the top five. him any chance of a top-5 finish. However, “I’ve persevered. It’s a seven day a week
a number of players contending for the five job, and if you don’t approach it like that,
available spots encountered some serious you won’t do any good.”
stumbling blocks the final day. To his sur- In recent years, Mason has had to make a
prise, Mason wound up tied for fourth and few stops on the not very lucrative senior
in a three-way playoff for two spots. mini-tour circuit, but can concentrate his
After a trio of pars on the first playoff efforts this year on the Champions Tour.
NOW
hole, Mason was the only one of the three Mason will get into just about every tour
Kids Menu
OPEN FOR
to par the second hole, and just like that, he event this season, which he says is “a big
& Catering
DINNER
is again a full-time player on the weight lifted. Hopefully, I’ll play fair
Available Champions Tour. enough to make a lot of money.”
For Mason, the success in the qualifier Mason managed just one top-10 finish in
4055 Old Milton Pkwy • Suite 14 • Alpharetta GA, 30005 came at exactly the right time. He turned each of his last two seasons, but should fare
Next to Old Milton Beverage 58 last month, and realizes “I’ve only got better this year without the week to week
NEW HOURS
one or two more shots at it then I’m headed uncertainty that is the life of the tour’s con-
Monday - Thursday 7 - 9pm • Friday & Saturday 7 - 10pm
back to playing in the Section.” tingent of Monday qualifiers.
Sunday 7 - 3pm
770-754-6202
Even though it’s been a while since Prior to joining the Champions Tour,
Mason has made a serious run at con- Mason was a career PGA club professional,
tending in a Champions Tour event, he still working primarily in the metro Atlanta
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Valdosta. Parel was sixth in the driving stats, money list to earn limited playing privileges
but some putting woes, particularly in the this season.
final round, kept him from retaining his Georgia PGA member Sonny Skinner
It’s Amazing.
exempt status. Parel, 43, will be playing his made it to finals of Q-school and missed by
sixth season on the Nationwide Tour. only three strokes of being fully exempt on
Tommy Tolles, who played with Claxton the Nationwide Tout this year. Skinner, 48,
and Langham on the Georgia golf team two played on either the PGA or Nationwide
decades ago, was 83rd on the money list, Tour from 1990-2005, and made 10 starts
making just 14 starts and not playing late in last year after a strong final round vaulted
the season. Tolles, 42, played on the PGA him into the top 20 in Athens. Skinner, a
Tour from 1995-2002, twice qualifying for teaching pro at River Pointe in Albany,
the Tour Championship, but has played all placed second in last year’s PGA Professional
but one season since on the Nationwide National Championship at Reynolds
Tour. Other than 2003, Tolles has not Plantation, and was named PGA Professional
enjoyed much success of late, but did manage of the Year. Skinner was also the 2006
a pair of top-5 finishes in two of the top Georgia PGA Player of the Year, and was
Nationwide events last year. runner-up last year.
PGA Instruction
his last 15 cuts, but the two times he made it lost their tour status. Edstrom enjoyed a
www.ETCGolf.com
to the weekend in that stretch, he finished handful of solid weeks in his rookie season,
third and eighth. Fricke was among the tour but was only able to get into 14 tournaments.
770.420.0043
leaders in driving distance and putted well, He did manage to uncork the longest drive
but finished well down the list in fairways on the tour last year, belting one that meas-
and greens hit. Fricke reached the finals of Q- ured 416 yards. O’Neal, who was top-60 on
school and shot 63 in the second round, but the money list in three of his first four
finished outside the top 100 and did not Nationwide seasons, made just 4 of 13 cuts 2636 George Busbee Pkwy., Kennesaw, GA 30144
appreciably improve his status for this season. in ’08, with his best finish a tie for 24th. adjacent Town Center Mall
Weinhart second
each posting back-to-back scores of 66. and Kicklighter shot 64 the final round. Professional of the Year honors for 2008.
Tying for fifth at 134 were the teams of Skinner, who teaches at River Pointe
in PGA tournament
After the teams halved the first playoff hole,
Robert Graham and Bill Fedder of the G&CC in Albany, placed second in the
Piedmont Driving Club, Brian Stock and 2008 PGA Professional National
Pro-Pro winners Richard Hatcher (L) Shea Stancil of Champions Retreat, and Eric Championship at Reynolds Plantation,
and Patrick Richardson
Tim Weinhart finished second in a PGA
Reeves of Healy Point and Brandon Winter Tournament Series event at PGA and was a close second on the Georgia
Lovelady of Flat Creek. Reeves and Lovelady GC in south Florida, the best showing by PGA Player of the Year Divots points list. A
were the first round leaders with a 64. a Georgia PGA member in the six-event long time tour pro before becoming a
The tournament was sponsored by series. Georgia PGA professional, Skinner made
Traynor Golf Collection, Cleveland Golf Weinhart, an instructor at St. Marlo, three cuts in his 10 Nationwide Tour starts
and Srixon. shared the first round lead with 68 and in ’08, including a top-20 finish in the
Golf Talk
The most recent addition is the Fairways the State Park courses, with the lone exception Riverdale’s Mariah Stackhouse became
of Canton, which opened late in 2007 as a Friday-Sunday at Georgia Vets in Cordele. the first GSGA competitor to be named
public golf course, but is now a private The State Park courses are also offering Player of the Year in two categories,
course and is the 20th Canongate facility in GreenPass memberships that provide achieving that accomplishment in the Girls
Georgia. unlimited greens fees for a year at a home and Women’s categories.
Canongate family
The course has been renamed State Park course and 50 percent off at other Stackhouse, the 2007 Girls Player of the
Canongate at Laurel Canyon, the name of State Park facilities. Family and junior mem- Year, ended Laura Coble’s 10-year run as
STEVE DINBERG
top 30 in the rankings with his win in the strong tournament showings between now Baddeley, Graeme McDowell, Shingo 2009 qualifiers (through Jan. 25): Riyo
European Tour Qatar Masters, assuring and the Masters to qualify. Katayama, Jeev Milkha Singh, Oliver Ishikawa (special invitation); Pat Perez
Masters qualifiers:
himself of a spot in the top 50 one week Wilson, Soren Hansen, Soren Kjeldsen, (PGA Tour winner); Alvaro Quiros (Top
prior to the Masters. Rory McIlroy, Wen-Tang Lin, Richard 50 World Rankings).
The Masters also issued a special invita- Sterne.
tion to Japanese teen-ager Riyo Ishikawa, 1. Masters champions: Trevor Immelman,
who is closing in on a spot in the top 50 at Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Tiger
Georgia Vets, Cordele; May 16-17 – Bartram 19 – Lacey Fears, Bonaire, 1st, 159; Girls
Trail, Evans; May 27-28 – The Frog, Villa Rica; 12-14 – Isabella Skinner, Cumming, 1st,
June 1-2 — Georgia PGA Junior 167.
Championship, Cartersville CC; June 17-18 At Tallahassee: Boys 12-13 – Derby,
– Barnsley Gardens, Adairsville; July 8-9 — Columbus, 1st, 154; 14-15 – Sepp Straka,
Glen Arven, Thomasville; July 14-15 — Valdosta, 2nd, 151; Sam Straka, 3rd, 153.
Stone Mountain GC; August 15-16 At Wilmington Island: Boys 16-19 –
—Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain; Sept. Skeadas, 1st, 145; Tyler Erickson, Bonaire,
12-13 — Wilmington Island, Savannah; and Austin Graham, Powder Springs, 2nd,
Oct. 10-11 — Georgia Club, Statham. 147; 14-15 – Howard Hickey, Savannah,
STAFF: Patrick Richardson is the Golf Professional; Don Hemmerle is the Superintendent.
PAR/YARDAGE: Wilmington Island plays to a par of 71 with four sets of tees: Blue (6,672
yards); White (6,274); Gold (5,658) and Red (5,152).
COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 72.5/133 (Blue); 70.7/129 (White); 67.7/120 (Gold); 70.8/129
(Red).
ABOUT THE COURSE: One of the state’s most historic courses, the club has undergone
many changes over the years, including its name and several renovations to the layout.
Formerly known as the Savannah Inn & CC and later the Sheraton Savannah Resort, it
became Wilmington Island Club in the 1990s after the once nationally known resort fell
on some lean times. The club has since rebounded with the addition of a first class club-
house and some major renovation work that has put much of the shine back on the
classic Donald Ross layout. The original Ross design dates back to 1927, with Willard Byrd
overseeing the first re-design in the mid-1960s. The course became a popular tournament
site for the Georgia PGA and GSGA, serving as host for the Georgia Open through the
early 1990s, as well as the GSGA Championship in 1979. The club has also hosted the
GSGA 4-Ball Championship four times since 1991, most recently in 2006, and is a regular
stop on state and regional junior tours. The most recent renovation work came earlier this
decade, and included some significant changes. The first and 18th holes were switched,
with the former par-5 18th now a par 4 beginning with a tee shot over a pond. The new
18th is now a demanding par-4 with a pond fronting a small green that presents a very
difficult target to hit. The nines have been reversed, with holes 2-9 now 10-17 and 10-17
now 2-9, with the front nine now playing to a par of 35. A ditch that winds through the
course was expanded in several spots, enhancing the appearance and adding a little
more challenge to the predominantly friendly layout. Water is in play on more than half
the holes, including a trio of scenic, short-to-medium par 3s. A variety of coastal trees
border almost all the fairways and place a premium on driving accuracy, with the well-
guarded greens complexes including some bunkers that can produce some nervous
glances with water looming just off the putting surface.
STAFF: Richard Korytoski is the Director of Golf; Matt Heitmueller is the Golf Professional.
PAR/YARDAGE: Green Island CC is a par 71 with five sets of tees: Blue (6,435 yards); Member
(6,215); White (5,968); Ladies Member (5,335) and Red (5,095),
COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 71.9/136 (Blue); 71.1/133 (Member); 70.0/129 (White); 72.9/132
(Ladies Member); 70.8/129 (Red).
ABOUT THE COURSE: Green Island has a proud tradition as a tournament host of both
professional and amateur events, including the PGA Tour for more than 20 years (Southern
Open, 1970-90) and a Champions Tour event in 2003. The GSGA has played its champi-
onship there three times, and will play its second Senior Championship at the club this year.
Prolific golf course architect Joe Lee created the original design in 1961, with some renova-
tion work done in the 1990s. Despite its absence of length, Green Island held its own
against the Tour players, with the distinctive old-style layout requiring players to handle a
variety of uneven lies on the rolling fairways. With a number of short par 4s along the way,
scoring opportunities abound, but sound strategic thinking, a healthy dash of accuracy and
a deft short game are required to capitalize on them. Many of the greens are elevated and
open up towards the back, usually behind bunkers that can make for some very testy
approach shots. Among the most recent design changes was the reduction of some of
more severe slopes on the putting surfaces, which made things a little easier on one hand,
but has also resulted in some new pin positions that can be difficult to attack. Offsetting the
short 4s and one rolling but inviting par 5 are a pair of long par 5s with water in play, as well
as two stout, uphill par 3s. A scenic, downhill par 3 with a pond in front will test your dis-
tance control and the sloping green will challenge your putting touch. Among the
highlights of the unique layout is the par-4 10th, which played as the opening hole for the
tour pros. Starting from a small tee along side a pond, the hole offers all sorts of problems
beginning with an angled, uphill tee shot that has to avoid overhanging trees and find the
right portion of the fairway to provide an unobstructed approach to a wide green guarded
by trees left and a hazard short. Good luck if you miss a shot or get out of position.
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