The 18th Amateur World Golfers Championship - part 01 of 02

The 18th Amateur World Golfers Championship - part 02 of 02

WGAT Match Play Championship

Team USA wins 6th place at the 18th World Golfers Championship in Durban South Africa

Marvin Shavers lead Team USA in the fourth and final round with a net 63 to secure USA’s best finish at World Golfers Championship. USA finished in 6th place with 44 participating countries. Individually Marvin jumped 14 spots to 5th place in flight 4, recording the highest USA finish amongst the five team members. Marvin shot a four day gross total of 383 (also 5th best in his flight) for a net 303.

Jim Stockman who was in the final pairing going into the final round tied for second place fell back 4 spots to finish in 6th place in flight 5 with a net 86 on the final round. Stockman had the low team net score for day’s one and three helping Team USA stay in striking distance of placing. Stockman shot a four day gross total of  386 (2nd place) for a net 311.

Bruce Pate recorded the 2nd best four day Team score of net 71 which was instrumental in Team USA’s success. Bruce was the only player on Team USA which all four scores were used in the Teams daily totals. (highest score was not used each day of the five team members) Bruce shot a gross four day total of 368 (12th place) for a net 315 to finish in 7th Place in flight 2.

Mary Hauk who struggled the first three round really came through for the team when it counted, by recording a net 73 on day four. Mary had a gross total of 395 (14th) for a net 325 to finish in 12th Place in flight 3.

Oscar Rafols who recorded the low net for Team USA on day two and a net 78 on day for was also very helpful to the teams success. Oscar may have not had the best of four days but he was the life of the party and eventually got everybody's email address from around the world. Oscar was by far the Teams Spirt chanting USA theme songs. Rafols shoot a gross 370 (22nd place) for a net 338 to finish in 22nd place in flight one.

Team USA slips to 7th place as winds exceed 50 mph

The flight of a Boomerang best describes the path of a golf ball hit into the air today. With conditions that have never been seen by most players, Team USA struggled on day two slipping from 3rd place to 7th place.

 After day one struggles Oscar Rafols led Team USA with a net 80, followed by Jim Stockman with a net 81 and both Bruce Pate and Marvin Savers had net 84. Mary Hauk score was not counted in the team scoring with a net 89. "I have never wanted to get off a golf course other then today" noted Marvin Shavers, "The conditions beat me up" but despite the poor performance by the entire team, USA feels fortunate to be in 7th place and it can only get better from here. Oscar Rafols climbed 4 spots on the leaderboard while Bruce Pate slipped 4 spots to 14th. Marvin Shavers is in striking distance in 6th place while Jim Stockman lost his lead and is currently in 4th.

 "We have got the world right were we want them" said Jim Stockman," tomorrow is moving day and I expect Team USA to play to their potential. I would not be surprised if we have four teammates in the mid to low 70's" Stockman added. Team USA will need a good day on day three, being 51 strokes back of Malysia who increased its lead led by their flight 5 player who shot a net 64 beating the field by 10 strokes.

 After Day two the World Championship enjoyed a dinner and cocktails hosted by Durban South Africa's Sea World, The dinner was hosted in the belly of an old Ship that has been converted into an aquarium. With Great White sharks swimming past the guests tables was a unique experience.

Team Captain, Jim Stockman Leads Team USA to a 3rd place position after day one.

Team Captain, Jim Stockman Leads Team USA to a 3rd place position after day one.

Flight Five Leaderboard
Jim Stockman 1st Place

Team USA Captain
Jim Stockman

One of the guest speakers mentioned that The 18th World Golfers Championship is experiencing  the worst weather Durban South Africa has ever seen this time of year. Wind with gust as high as 50 miles an hour and weeks of rain which has made the host golf courses muddy and soggy to say the least. But the games must go on and Team USA step up to the challenge  positioning them selves in 3rd place.

Flight Four Leaderboard
Marvin Shavers 4th Place

Leading the charge is Team Captain Jim Stockman who is in first place with a net 71 in Flight 5, Marvin Shavers in Flight 4 shot a net 75 to start the Championship in 3rd. Mary Hauk in Flight 3 contributed with a Net 81 for 7th place while Bruce Pate in Flight Two shoot a Net 82. The Team Scores is the best 4 of five scores each day for four rounds, in round one Flight 1 Oscar Rafols net 86 was the high score of the day.

Flight Three Leaderboard
Mary Hauk 7th place

Team USA’s Total is 309 and is 13 strokes off the lead of Malaysia who shot a team total of 296 while Singapore is in 2nd place with a net 307.

On a lighter note Team USA’s Staff bags are the envy of all the Nations, All team members have been approached by various countries to trade uniforms for the bags, Team USA players are truly enjoying the attention.

U.S. team named for World Golfers Championship. by James McAfee

Competing for your country in an international competition is a rare privilege, usually limited to a few elite talented professionals and amateurs. However, five amateurs with handicaps ranging from 3.2 to 23.5, earned this “once-in-a-lifetime” honor when the United States team was decided in the World Golfers USA Amateur Tour’s national finals, a 54-hole competition at the Indiana National Black and Silver Courses at the Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.

U.S. team (l-r) Oscar Rafols, Bruce Pate, Mary Hauk, Anders Bengtson, Marvin Shavers, Adam Holewinski

The winners from five handicap divisions—Oscar Rafols, Bruce Pate, Mary Hauk, Marvin Shavers and Adam Holewinski—will travel to Durban, South Africa for the 18th annual World Golfers Championship Oct. 27-Nov. 3. The 72-hole event is scheduled at the Cotsworld Downs, the Durban Country Club, Prince’s Grant Golf Estate and the Umhlali Country Club. The Southern Sun Elangene and Southern Sun North Beach hotels will serve as the host facilities.

Rafols, a 38-year-old business broker and realtor from Miami, FL  captured flight 1 with net 78-78-79—235, overcoming 36-hole leader Lain Dickinson, who ended up tied for second with Christopher Gibson seven strokes back. “I just played my game and kept calm during the final round,” he said. “I had a lot of doubts before going to Indiana,” he added, pointing to a back injury that limited his play to just a few practice sessions. He then didn’t get a chance for a practice round at Swan Lake, arriving at 2 a.m. only seven hours before his tee time. “This is my biggest accomplishment in golf and I feel privileged to get the chance to represent the U.S.,” Rafols said about his first trip to South Africa.

Pate, a 44-year engineer from Germantown, WI claimed flight 2, winning a sudden death playoff from Bill Nitcholas of Carrollton, TX, who represented the U.S. two years ago in Thailand, with a two-putt par on the first hole. Trailing the leaders, John Downey of Illinos and Mike Vandiver of Florida, by six and five strokes entering the final round, Pate and Nicholas finished with net 71 and 70 to tie at 224. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to represent my country and want to help by teammates bring the cup back to the U.S. for the first time,” he added.

Hauk, a 46-year-old farmer from Canton, MI  survived a playoff in a cold rain, making a three-footer for a double bogey to edge Bruce Brown of Arizona for the flight 3 title. She had traveled to South Africa the previous year on her own to play in the invitational tournament. She had an added incentive this year, “I wanted to win my way on the team and get the trip  paid by someone else,” she added. “I’m excited to represent the U.S. and feel that even last year I helped clear up some misconceptions about Americans with golfers from all over the world. While I want to be respectful, I’m competitive, too, and want to win that team title.”

Consistency paid off for Shavers, a 53-year-old teacher and professional photographer from Jacksonville, FL.  He posted a net 72-73-72—217 to win flight 4, using the mindset of “playing the course and not worrying about other competitors” to jump ahead by seven strokes after 36 holes and winding up nine ahead of Don Lyons of Florida. “It’s a dream come true, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting than crossing the pond to represent the U.S.,” he added.

Holewinski, a 50-year-old sales manager for GE from Kingwood, TX  ran away with flight 5, posting net 70-75-74—219 to finish 10 strokes ahead of Mike Aybar of Miami, FL, who also had a bridesmaid role the previous year in San Antonio. Holewinski believes that he will not be intimidated playing in South Africa because of his having traveled and played golf all over the world. “I’m very excited about the chance to represent my country and I want to be a true ambassador for the U.S.,” he said.

“Since our national finals now consist of three rounds instead of two, as it has been in the past, I feel that the team is much stronger and more competitive than in previous years,” said Anders Bengtson, President of the World Golfers USA. “The players seemed to melt well together and will give each other all the support they need to be successful."  Team Captain and National Director James Stockman said "I’m looking forward to see them bring home the World Golfers Championship Trophy this year! Hopefully we can accomplish as Amateurs what the American pros failed to do at the Ryder Cup."

In addition to the five players competing in the World Golfers Championship Team USA will be manning two-two person teams to compete in the World Golfers Invitational. One team will consist of Team Captain James Stockman of Naples Fl and the 2012 National Order of Merit Champion MD Hudon of McKinney TX. The other will be Adres Jacobs of Illinois and Carmon Holewinski of Texas who bought sponsor exemptions.  

Team Florida won the first ever State National Championship and was awarded the Tumba Trophy. The Tumba Trophy was created in the honor of the World Golfers Championship founder Hall of Fame inductee Sven Tumba. 

Team Florida members where (left to right) Don Lyons from West Palm, Bob Benser Sr., Naples, Frank Monicao Naples, Mike Aybar, Miami and Shauna Federico, Wellington.

Team Texas took the early lead after day one with a three stroke lead, and extended it an additional three strokes after day two, but Team Florida roared back in the final round winning by 5 strokes. “My goal was to win a spot on Team USA to play in the World Championship” Frank Monico stated in the press conference, but after shooting a 103 on day one for a net 85, finding my self in last place I was more disappointed that I let Team Florida down then my current individual standings, I am so proud of myself that I was able to bounce back the next two days to help  Florida win the National Championship. Monico added.