New Dad, Tennessee alum, David Skinns wins Savannah Lakes Village Classic

Self-imposed penalty on 16 costs Florida Southern’s Brian Richey chance at win

(McCormick, S.C.) – England’s David Skinns, a former team captain at the University of Tennessee, finally got the win he’s wanted most on the NGA Tour since he began playing the tour in 2007, securing his first ever Savannah Lakes Village Classic title with a huge come from behind win on Sunday, shooting rounds of 71-69-68-67 for a 13-under par total 275, good enough for a one-shot victory over Florida Southern alum Brian Richey, one of the hottest golfers on the NGA Tour right now. Skinns, who has been celebrating the birth of his first child only two and a half weeks earlier, wanted to keep the celebration going and what better place than in McCormick, S.C. where he first met his now wife and mother to his son. Skinns was first introduced to his wife by friends of his host family in McCormick back in 2009. The eight time NGA Tour Pro Series winner and 2008 NGA Tour Player of the Year now has even more reason for McCormick, S.C. to be near and dear to his heart.

Skinns started the final round six strokes behind third round leader Richey and knew he had to go low to have a chance to contend. And low he did shooting a final round five under par 67. Playing a group in front of Richey, Skinns wasn’t sure where he stood until glancing at the final leaderboard on the course and seeing Richey had fallen a shot behind him. Richey had a costly triple bogey on the par 4 fifth hole which brought him back to the pack. He would birdie 15 to put him into a tie at -13 with Skinns and then the unthinkable would happen. On 16, after Richey addressed his ball, the ball moved forcing him to call a penalty on himself and to fall a shot back of Skinns. Richey still had chances to catch Skinns on 17 and 18 but played the final two holes at par and having to settle for runner-up. Richey has been as hot as any golfer on tour taking a lead into the final round in several events already this season. It seems only a matter of when Richey will get his first Pro Series win and not if.

LSU alum Ken Looper, the 2012 NGA Tour co-Rookie of the Year, finished alone in third, just two shots off the lead, after a final round 66, the low round of the day. UT Chattanooga alum Jonathan Hodge, a member on the Web.com Tour in 2013, finished at 10 under par and in solo 4th. Austin Peay alum Grant Leaver finished alone in 5th while a threesome finished tied for 6th including Missouri alum Jace Long, Auburn alum Patton Kizzire, and Minnesota alum Clayton Rask. Skinns received $15,000 for the win while Richey received $7,500 for runner-up.

Side Note: 2013 Savannah Lakes Village Classic Champion and 2013 NGA Tour Rookie of the Year Blayne Barber was unable to defend his title in McCormick as he was competing in the Web.com Tour South Georgia Classic just a little bit down the road in Valdosta, Ga. where he won this week’s event for his first Web.com Tour title. Skinns, who is also a member of the 2014 Web.com Tour, was not able to get into the Valdosta Web.com Tour event due to his ranking which led to him competing in and ultimately winning the 2014 Savannah Lakes Village Classic. We would like to congratulate both players on an outstanding week.

The NGA Tour would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Monticello and the Savannah Lakes Village, and the town of McCormick, S.C. for once again opening their homes to the NGA Tour Players and Staff and conducting, once again, one of the premier events on the NGA Tour schedule year after year. The NGA Tour picks back up May 8th with the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic at Gordon Lakes Golf Club in Fort Gordon, Ga.

To learn more about the NGATour or the National Golf Association, visit www.ngatour.com or call 800-992-8748.

For full 2014 Savannah Lakes Village Classic results, visit: www.ngatour.com/finalresults/pro2014017/#.U2j-goFdU8w

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