Golf Channel Am Tour Major on the Mississippi Delta

Golf Channel Staff, Tunica, MS (November 10, 2014)  Am Tour Members traveling from 29 different states, Peurto Rico as well as Alberta Canada, converged on the Mississippi Delta for the first Major Championship on the 2014 points year.

Tunica Resorts, once known as Robinsonville, MS has grown to the third largest gaming region in the US behind, Atlantic City and Las Vegas.  Just along the eastern shores of the Mississippi River, 30 minutes south of the famed Beale Street, "Home of the Blues .... Birthplace of Rock N' Roll" in Mempis, TN hosted the first, Fall Classic at Tunica. 

The Hale Irwin designed, The Links at Cottonwoods, with it's knarly bermuda rough and quick undulating greens matched up well with the Links at Tunica National, a Mark McCumber signature layout where water comes into play on 16 of the 18 holes.  Patient and committed play awarded the 12 flight Champions, where over 37 players received 2014 National Championship invitations.

David Feherty's Troops First Foundation was the recipient of $1,510 from the generous 50/50 donations during the weekend.

Results:

Championship Flight:  Georgetown, KY resident Tony Brown came from two strokes off the lead to capture his first Major Championship victory and his sixth win on tour.  Brown, without a birdie at the Cottonwood course, carded three on his final round to finish four strokes ahead of first round leader Chris Bertaut of Morgan City, LA.  Two strokes back of Bertaut, local player Olive Branch, MS member Marcus House, battling sickness,  held on to his first round third place position for the final National Championship invitation.    

Senior Championship Flight:  First round leader Sean Fenton of Fort Worth, TX lead wire to wire for his first Major Champion Title.  Fenton, an accomplished Senior Palmer player with nine wins on tour, consulted with his swing coach after the 2013 season and self promoted himself to the Championship division, winning in his second time out.  Houston Tour member,  Lynn Cormier of Missouri City, TX vaulted himself from the fourth position after day one with a flight low round 74 on the final day to finish in the runner up spot.  Franklin, TN member Michael Healey rounded out the top three, punching his ticket to the Nationals.

Palmer Flight:  Residing within a self proclaimed driver and wedge from the famed TPC Sawgrass, Jacksonville Beach, FL player Clayton Kirkmeyer picked up his fourth win on tour and second Major Championship.  Winner at the rain shortened 2013 Kiawah Island Championship, Kirkmeyer started the final round in the lead group, birdied the par 4 - 10th and came away with a two stroke victory.  Brian Jones of Snellville, GA grabbed the runner up finish with Ackworth, GA member Chris Barnett finishing in the final qualifying spot.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Sumter, SC player, Larry Heishman started the final day tied for the top spot and bettered his first day score to record his seventh win on tour and first Major Championship.  Knotted up in the first spot after the Saturday round, Fierce Oliver of Brentwood, TN held on to the second place finish with Houston Tour member, Dusty Rhodes of Deer Park, TX taking the final invitation to the 2014 National Championship.

Hogan Flight:  Pete Kaufman of Bolingbrook, IL always has a way to get into the mix.  Pete, playing in the final group, birdied the par 4 - 10th to stay just ahead of a hard charging Atlanta Tour member Jp Stenzel by three strokes.  Stenzel birdied the 16th and 17th to take the lead, but found trouble on his 36th hole to finish in the runner up spot.   Wes Hueseman of Town and Country, MO a previous winner at the Pacific Northwest Major Championship  rounded out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Hopkinsville, KY member Rick Boling picked up his third win on tour and first Major Championship.  Boling, starting the final day five stokes out of the lead took three stokes off his first day total to finish one stroke clear of Saturday leader Tom Joy of Aurora, IL.  Mark Bruhn of Fairfield Glade, TN,  and Lee's Summit, MO player Bob Hunter shared the show position and final National Championship qualification.

Sarazen Flight:  Forty year old, Scott Ford of Alpharetta, GA slept on the overnight three stoke lead well.  Ford eased through the front nine in control, birdied the par 4 - 10th to take control, but wained during the 14th and 15th holes to command a two stroke victory, his sixth on tour and first Major Championship. Anthony Guarino of St. Louis, MO and Converse, TX member Ronnie Davis shared the runner up finish and final three into the National Championshp.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Jim Craig from San Felipe, TX recored his twelevth win on tour and fourth Major Championship, wire to wire.   Craig started the final round tied in the top spot and was able to finish off for the victory, one stroke clear of Vic Ferraris of Lexington, KY.  Larry Viktorin, fellow Houston Tour member to Craig battled through the round for the last qualifying position.

Jones Flight: Seymour, IN member Clint Payton won his third Championship in his fourth event on tour and first Major.  Payton stayed clear of runner up Willem Mijnarends of Chicago, IL by two strokes with Canadian, Alan Morgan of Calgary, AB clearing the third place finish.

 

Senior Jones Flight: Andy Capron of Capron, GA led from start to finish recording his first victory on tour.  Capron started the final day with a two stroke margin and held on for a one stroke advantage.  Charles Cox of Austin, TX and San Antonio, TX tour player Robi Jalnos shared the runner up finish and final National Championship qualification.

Snead Flight:  Puerto Rico traveller, Wallace Rodriguez of San Juan, took a six stroke lead into the final day and finished out for his first win on tour. Chicago, IL member Gigi Leonard hustled to stay in the runner up position with Ashburn, VA member Jose Carlos Linares rounding out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight:  Tim Livers from Brandenburg, KY picked up his seventh win on tour and first Major Championship by eleven strokes.  Overland, MO member Mike Huffmon picked up the runner up spot with  Houston Tour member Jim Lamberth of The Woodlands, TX finishing in the show position.