Clemson’s Crawford Reeves wins Members Shootout at Kinderlou Forest, 1st event of NGA Tour Season

Rookie tops Pro Series winner & former Gator Tyson Alexander in 2nd hole of sudden death to earn free entries for 2014 season

(Valdosta, Ga.) – A Shootout in golf is usually known as a winner take all style event and, while there was a purse for this year’s NGA Tour Members Only Shootout, every player entered this weekend’s season opening event trying to get the top prize; Free Pro Series Entries for the 2014 season! After two rounds of play at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta, Ga., host site to the Web.com Tour South Georgia Classic, two players stood above the rest at 5 under par, veteran and past NGA Tour winner Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) and rookie Crawford Reeves (Greenville, S.C.), starting his first full season as a professional after a stellar career at Clemson University where he became Clemson’s first player to be named to the Academic All-ACC team for four consecutive years. After 2 holes of sudden death it would be the rookie who would come out on top over the former Florida Gator, earning a total first place prize valued at $18,145.

While Reeves surely has a leg up in the Rookie of the Year race, if history is any indicator, he may have his sights set on bigger goals for the year. Last year’s Shootout winner, Vanderbilt alum Jon Curran, went on to win twice more on the NGA Tour Pro Series, garner Player of the Year Honors, and earn exempt status onto the Web.com Tour for 2014 via the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.

“(The win) takes a lot of pressure off. You don’t have to worry about that extra little bit every week (winning the free tournament entry fees),” exclaimed Reeves, “That’s pretty much one of the biggest expenses we have and to be able to have that taken care of is a big deal.”

Reeves shot an opening-round 2-under-par 70 March 1 followed by a 3-under-par second-round 69 March 2. Alexander shot 5 under par Saturday to grab the first day lead followed by an even par 72 Sunday to stay in the playoff.

Chris Fyffe (Winter Garden, Fla.) and NGA Tour Pro Series winner Erik Barnes (Cape Coral, Fla.) finished tied for 3rd at 3 under par, two shots out of the playoff. Five players, Major Manning (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Trent Whitekiller (Sallisaw, Okla.), Ryan Brehm (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), Travis Klutts (Kiowa, Tex.), and Brendon Ehlers (Ocala, Fla.) finished tied for 5th at 2 under par. 2010 NGA Tour Money Title Winner Matt Harmon (Grand Rapids, Mich.) finished alone in 10th at 1 under par.

For full NGA Tour Members Only Shootout results please visit: http://www.ngatour.com/finalresults/pro2014005/#.UxYWLT9dVh4