Former Bama star Nick Rousey wins in Snow Hill for back to back victories while Akron record holder Blake Sattler leads from start to finish at the Emerald
(Myrtle Beach, S.C.) – One is heading to a Web.com Tour event, the other just getting back from one. Former Alabama star Nick Rousey came into the two-tournament Eastern North Carolina run fresh off a win at the SwingThought Tour All-American Championship where he earned exemptions into the Air Capital Classic and Digital Ally Open. As hot as any developmental tour player in the country, Rousey continued his hot streak by winning the 2015 Cutter Creek Golf Classic in Snow Hill and cashing another $20,000 check before he heads to Wichita, Kan. for the Web.com Tour event.
Rousey was never really challenged on the final day after grabbing the third round lead and would go on to win by 5 shots over his nearest competitors, Indianapolis alum Seth Fair and Alabama rookie Bobby Wyatt. The second place finish was the best of the season so far for past winner Fair while this was the second consecutive runner up for Wyatt. Defending Champion Ken Looper, who starred collegiately at New Orleans and LSU, finished alone in 4th while past US Am Publinks Champion Corbin Mills, out of Clemson, finished in solo 5th. Mills had the opening and midway leads after starting with rounds of 64 and 65. We’ll all be watching closely as Rousey represents the SwingThought Tour in Wichita at the Air Capital Classic this week.
In the second event of the run, the New Bern Pro Classic held at the Emerald in New Bern, N.C., it would be University of Akron alum Blake Sattler who would lead from start to finish and grab his first win on the SwingThought Tour this season. Sattler, who last tasted victory on the SwingThought Tour at the 2013 Woodcreek Classic, wasn’t even scheduled to play the event until the last second. The former Zip had just competed in the Web.com Tour Rust-Oleum Championship in his home state of Ohio and wasn’t sure he wanted to make the trip. After four days of solid play, which included an opening round 64, just a shot off the course record held by Tiger Woods, he was glad he did. Malone University alum Justin Lower and Alabama alum Chip Deason stayed close to Sattler all week but just couldn’t catch the former Zip who holds countless records at Akron, still to this day. Sweden’s Jeff Karlsson got into the mix with a third round 64 of his own while Big Break The Beaches runner-up Justin Martinson fired a final round 66 to make their runs but Sattler shot a final round 69 to give him the two shot win over Martinson and Lower.
While Sattler won the $20,000 first place prize it was Lower and Martinson who had to play three extra holes to decide who would be awarded the SwingThought Tour’s event exemption into the Utah Championship. After the brief check presentation ceremony, Lower and Martinson were taken back to 18 to playoff for the spot. Both players would par setting up a return to 18 tee. After both players’ approach shots, play was suspended due to weather. An hour later, after the storm had passed, both players made par and were taken to the par 5 17th hole. After Lower put his approach shot to within 8 feet for birdie, Martinson would roll in a 48 footer from off the green for eagle and the exemption win. The former University of Delaware star was ecstatic as he received the congratulatory handshake from Lower and several hugs from the surrounding crowd. We’ll all be keeping our eyes on Martinson as he gets his shot to compete on the number two tour in the States in late July.
Next up for the SwingThought Tour is the East West Challenge Series in July. Out West, players will be able to compete on the actual qualifier courses being used for the Web.com Tour Boise Albertsons Open and Stonebrae Classic; Ridgecrest GC, Diablo Creek GC, and Boundary Oak GC. Back East, players will be able to compete on Web.com Tour Q School host site Callaway Gardens before and after the PGA TOUR Barbasol Classic qualifiers taking place in nearby Auburn, Alabama. The East Series concludes with a 3-day event being held at past Pro Series host Achasta GC in Achasta, Ga. The leading money winners from each series will receive a free entry into the SwingThought Tour Pro Series event being held August 10-15 at Web.com Tour News Sentinel Open qualifier host Three Ridges GC in Knoxville, Tenn. Competitors may sign up for SwingThought Tour events by contacting the SwingThought Tour offices at 800-992-8748.
For full 2015 Cutter Creek Golf Classic results visit:
http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/pro2015035/#.VYg9OvlViko
For full 2015 New Bern Pro Classic results visit:
http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/pro2015037/#.VYg81_lViko
For more information on the new SwingThought Tour visit swingthought.com or call 800-992-8748. Follow on Twitter @SwingThought and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ngatour.
No comments:
Post a Comment