On the eve of the 19th World Golfers Championship Team USA is ready to take on the WORLD!!! To get to know the players who will represent the United States this year and how they made the team here is a brief bio of the players. You can follow the teams success on WGAT USA facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/WGATUSA?ref=hl ).
If there is an ingredient to become National Champion then you will need to look at this years National Champions to find a common denominator. That denominator is success on the local tours and Majors.
Flight one National Champion Todd Eldredge from Estero Florida was the South Florida Tours Local order of Merit Champion with 5 victories in 2013. Eldredge was two strokes back going into the final day behind 2012 National Champion Oscor Rafols and New comer Randy Bryant both from Miami Florida. Todd shot a net -1 while Bryant shot 6 over. However due to a Stars on Ice schedule change Todd Eldredge will not be able to go to South Africa and Randy Bryant will take his place.
Flight two National Champion Jerry Edwards from Louisville Kentucky finished in 3rd place on the National Order of Merit out of 68 players. Jerry played all 5 majors and finished 2nd twice and recorded a 3rd place finish. Edwards had a four stroke lead going into the final round but found him self in a tie after 17 with Steve Swan. With one hole to go, Edwards shot a bogie to win by one stroke while Swan shot a double bogie the par 5 18th.
Flight three National Champion Tyler Mason from Mesa Arizona, Finished in 2nd Place on the Arizona Local order of Merit. Tyler had 2 wins in Arizona. Tyler won in a three way playoff against Michigan's 2nd place local order of Merit winner Mary Hauk and NY local order of Merit Champion along with the National Order of Merit Champion Tom Tower. All finished at net 9 over par. Hauk was eliminated on the first hole of the playoff Mason beat Tower on the Par 5 2nd hole at Coral Canyons Golf Club in St. George UT.
Flight Four National Champion Richard McDaniel San Diego California was California's National Order of Merit Champion with 3 local wins in California and a Major Champion with a victory at the WGAT Players Championship. McDaniel was in a close race with 2008 National Champion Don Lyons but McDaniel pulled away on the back nine to win by 5 stokes at net 6 under par.
Flight Five National Champion Cat Turner From Palm Coast Florida was the North Florida Tour Local Order of Merit Champion recording three victories in 2013. Cat had a 12 stroke lead going into the final round but South Florida's Player of the Year Adam Reynolds surged to take the lead with two holes to go but Cat pulled off a one stroke penalty.
Team Florida defended its title against 7 other teams for back to back National Championship. Experience again showed to be the winning formula. Team members included Cat Turner, Todd Eldredge, Adam Reynolds, Keith Varney and Dan Anderson. All five were in the top 7 of players in the Nation with most events played in 2013. Amazingly the order in which all 7 teams finished was the same exact order of Team's combined experience of rounds played on the WGAT.
World Golfers Invitational- In addition to the five players on the World Golfers Championship Team USA will have a Two man team in the World Golfers Invitational. National Order of Merit Champion Tom Tower will be Teamed up with Team Captain Jim Stockman. Tom will be the star of this fearsome Twosome with his Historic year in 2013, Tom won the NY local order of Merit, National Order of Merit, The WGAT Open and Tied For first before loosing in the playoff at the National Championship.
