Thanks everyone for coming out for a beautiful day of golf at Tapawingo National Golf Club.
Champ Flight Winner – Blake Heimburger
The young gunner, Blake Heimburger, was back at it again. Coming out on the front nine he was hotter than two foxes cuddling in a forest fire. On the Meramec course he shot a 34 with a clean card, making 7 pars and 2 birdies to make the turn at -2 with a 6-stroke lead over Chris Pestka. Chris carded four pars and two birdies on the front but played holes 8 and 9 at five over, shooting a 40, which made for a tough ladder to climb on the harder nine of the two, the Woodlands. On the back, Chris made his push firing a birdie on 11 but it was some key bogeys down the stretch that got him, posting an 80, +8. Blake came out on the back and played the first two holes at +4. Then he put his game on kill and ran off a streak of 5 pars in a row and added another par on 18 to end his day shooting a 42 on the Woodlands for a total of 76, +4. Great Battle and Congratulations to Blake Heimburger on your first career victory on the Golfweek Amateur Tour.
A Flight Winner – Justen JC Coleman
Second Place – Jason Carpenter
Fresh up from the B flight, JC Coleman, was looking to win two in a row to start his season this year. JC came out playing some steady golf, making four pars, shooting a 42, +6 on the front, to take a two-stroke lead to the back with first year members, Jason Carpenter and Nick Estopare, hot on his heels. Jason Carpenter made five pars on the front, four of them coming in a row, shooting a 44 heading to the back. Coming down the stretch on the backside, he made a couple good pars, but it was the big birdies on the par 5s, 16 & 18, that finished his backside with a 43, putting him in the clubhouse with an 87. JC wanted to make it two in a row today though. Coming out on 10 firing birdie and adding four more pars on his way to his second victory in a row, shooting a 42 on the Woodlands with a total score of 84, +12. Congrats on going back-to-back, JC.
B Flight Winner – Phil Sherer
Phil Sherer came out guns a blazing today making five pars in a row before getting a little loose. He still finished up the front nine with a 42, +6 which was three strokes back of David Terrell who fired a 39 to take a three-stroke lead onto the back. Although Phil started the back with a triple, he got it right back on track making some great pars down the stretch and a huge birdie on the par three, 15, on the Woodlands. Coming home with a 43 on the back nine, making his total for the day 85, +13, holding off Chris Poetz by three strokes. That makes victory #5 for Phil on the Golfweek Amateur Tour. Way to go, Phil. You are the man!
C Flight Winner – Scott Nishimura
2nd Place – Mike Minks
Scott Nishimura pulled up to hole #1 and pulled out his boom boom stick and drove the green to set the tone for the day. Scott made four pars on the front to card a 42, +6. Mike Minks, playing in his 2nd career Golfweek event, started the day with three pars in a row and a total of five pars on the front to shoot a 40, +4 and take a two-stroke lead to the back. On the back, Scottie parred the tough first three holes on the Woodlands including the long par three, 12th, over the water. He also added another par on the par three 15th. Mike started the back with a couple pars, trying to keep pace with Scottie. It was a couple bogeys down the stretch that left the door open enough for Scott to pass him. It was Scott’s birdie on the dog leg par five, 18th hole, that put the dagger in Mike Minks, who shot a 48 on the back, finishing 88, +16. Scott ended with a 42 on the back, for a total of 84, +12 to beat Mike Minks by four-stokes and claim his fourth career Golfweek tour win and second of the year. Great round of golf today, Scottie.
D Flight Winner – Les Mays
Boy did we have a doozey today in the D. First year member, Les Mays, came out on the front to make three pars, including both par threes on the Meramec to shoot a strong 46, +10. Colin Dooley had the lead at the turn, shooting a solid 44 to carry a two-stroke lead to the back. Coming down the stretch, it was a battle between Les Mays, Roddy Finley and Colin Dooley. But it was Les and Roddy who finished the day with a 92, +20, tied to force a playoff. The playoff was super fun to watch. The boys went four holes before Les Mays took the victory, winning his first career event on the Golfweek Amateur Tour. Thank you, Les and Roddy, for letting us come out to watch you two battle it out. Congratulations, Les, way to hang on through all those holes.