Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Friday, August 29, 2014
Karma Pays back Arizona’s Tyler Mason at the WGAT Tour Championship
Tyler Mason steels the headline from Jerry Edwards who won the 2014 National Order of Merit points race. Jerry, the gentleman he is, has no problem stepping aside for this story to be told.
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| Jerry Edwards Flight 1 Tour Champion |
Tyler Mason who was leading the points race heading into the last major of the year and only had a 6 point lead over Carlos Gonzalez. With a spot on Team USA on the line Tyler left Arizona on Friday August 15th to make his tee time in Plymouth Indiana the next day on Saturday the 16th. While boarded on the plane in Chicago for his last leg to arrive in South Bend Indiana Mason was all settled in his seat listening to his favorite music on his playlist with his headphones firmly nestled into his ears.
After the last passengers boarded the plane who appeared to be an older gentleman and his son it was evident they were rushing to make their flight. A few moments later Tyler heard screaming that overpowered the music playing in his headset. He removed his earphones to asses the situation to find out that the older gentleman was having a heart attack and stopped breathing. Tyler jumped out of his seat and rushed to the back of the plane where the two were seated to find the son in shock and frozen staring at his father while others around were in a panic.
Having been trained in CPR as a job requirement Tyler immediately took action and placed the Gentleman on the floor in the isle of the plane and started to pump on the mans chest. Instructing the son to give mouth to mouth Tyler repeated the cadence out loud one, two, three, four.....
After several cycles and no response Tyler applied more pressure in his compressions, as trained he was aware of the sounds he heard were the that of the gentleman's ribs separating from the mans sternum, again with no success the flight attendant brought the air planes AED unit which Tyler used. After the 2nd shock the gentleman was resuscitated......Tyler had just saved a strangers life..........
BUT WAIT!!!! the story does not end there. While waiting for the paramedics the flight attended provided the gentleman with the planes emergency oxygen. When the paramedics arrived they kept the man on the oxygen as they rushed him to the hospital. As the plane prepared to take off they realized the oxygen was gone and due to FAA regulations a plane can not take off with out one. Due to the late hour the flight had to be cancelled.
The next flight for Tyler the next day would make him miss his tee time and be disqualified from the points race. As fate would have it Tyler over heard one of the passenger say he was going to rent a car to drive to Plymouth Indiana. Tyler jumped in and asked for a ride and since Tyler was the hero of the moment the fellow plane passenger gladly said yes.
When it was all said and done Tyler finally arrived at 4:00am Saturday morning to only get a few hours sleep before he had to tee off to protect his fist place position. Day one did not work well for our hero who shot a 91 for a net 78 dropping him from 1st place to 6th place on the Order of Merit. Randy Bryant who had been on fire had continued his stellar play to take the lead at net 70 and jump from 6th place on the NOM to 1st.
With 5 players ahead of Tyler in the standings he had his worked cut out for him and he took on the challenge by shooting a 79 for a net 66 the 2nd lowest net score of the score of the day. But his former teammate at the 2013 World Championship Jerry Edwards was to steady both days shooting net 72, 70 to win the National Order of Merit and a spot on Team USA and beating Tyler by two stokes preventing his rise to first.
I know your asking yourself “HOW DID KARMA PAYBACK TYLER.” The man saves other mans life, that results in two hours sleep contributing to a day one poor performance, with a valiant effort on day two that falls short to only be a brides maid?....
WHAT KIND OF KARMA IS THAT????
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| Jerry Edwards and Tyler Mason 2014 WGI USA Team |
On Saturday the WGAT Tour Championship was two players short to award a 2nd spot on Team USA. Mark Thomas a member of the 2012 USA Team and new tournament director for Michigan contacted all 16 players in the field that were in contention of winning the national order of Merit race. In short he proposed to have two players drive up from Michigan Saturday morning to enter the field. However they could not afford the entry fee. All 16 WGAT members volunteered to chip in $50.00 each to have these two play so a 2nd person could be awarded a spot on Team USA.
KARMA........Tyler won that spot.........
With Jerry Edwards fight one win and Tyler's KARMA the two will be reunited again as teammates at the 20th anniversary World Golfers Invitational in Durban South Africa. They both will try to make the World Golfers Championship team at the National Championship next month. If they succeed then Andres Jacob and Randy Bryant will take their place since they finished 3rd and 4th.
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| Angela Walker Tour Championship winner |
In Flight 2 it was all about the Walkers. After day one Jeremy Walker took a one stroke lead with 2013 National order of Champion Tom Tower and 2012 National Champion Andrew Holewinsky with just one stroke back at net even par.
On day two it was all Angela Walker who was two strokes back shot a career round of 85 for a net 63 to win by 5 strokes over her husband Jeremy. Those of you who know the Walkers know Jeremy was a very lucky man he did not win.............
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| Oscar Rafols Low Gross Champion |
Other then Jerry Edwards winning the national order of Merit race, Player of the Year and flight one of the Tour Championship. The event was dominated by South Florida members and Past members of Team USA.
In the Tour Championship Challenge South Florida members Randy Bryant won Low net and Oscar Rafols won low Gross. Along with South Florida’s Angela Walker, South Florida took home three of the four trophies.
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| Randy Bryant Low Net Champion |
In Total there were 7 awards passed out at the Tour Championship and 6 were won by past USA Team members.
Lastly the WGAT Tour Championship concluded the race for National Player of the Year. With Jerry’s 2nd Major win he claimed the prize to earn free travel and hotel accommodations to the National Championship. Jerry has had the best all time year in WGAT USA History. In only 6 National events in the 2014 Season he has won a total of $19,428.00 in prizes and benefits.The WGAT National events in the 2014 season has paid out a total of $100,922.00 to 100 participants. With an average of 28 players per event just imagine the total payouts once the WGAT grows to full fields of 180 pe
Monday, July 14, 2014
Mark Wanke wins 2014 WGAT Players Championship while Tyler Mason takes the lead on the National Order of Merit by 6 points.
This years Players Championship was held in Tubac Arizona at the Historic Tabac Resort home of the filming of Tin Cup. Tubac has nines and the event was held on Ontero and Rancho (Anza was closed for renovations) Prior to the event the Head Proffessional advised that players should score on the Ontero because once they start Rancho the players will be tested especially when they enter the TUBAC TRIANGLE featuring a 463 yard par 4, 255 yard par three and a 651 yard par 5 where players have to negotiate huge tree and water for their approach shoots into the green.
As expected on day one 63% of the field shot par or better but surprisingly 37% of the field shot par or better on Rancho yielding 36% of the field shooting a total par or better. Since the players defeated the course on day one assisted with perfect holding greens, perfect weather, and 3500 feet of elevation, it was decided for the course to fight back. By adding 250 yards to the length and demanding pin placements the course served its sweet revenge by just allowing 50% of the field to shot par or better on Otero and 0% on Rancho yielding only 26% if the field to shot par or better for the entire 36 holes.
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| Mark Wanke Flight 1 Champion |
Carlos Gonzalez led the charge on day one with a net -8 followed by Mark Wanke at -6, but Mark was one of the few to shoot under on day two and finished at -9 a five stroke victory over Carlos Gonzales who finished a -4.
In flight one Wanke won by 7 strokes over Tyler Mason but for Mason his 2nd place victory was victory in itself for it gave in the lead on the National Order of Merit. With one major left in the season Tyler has his own destiny in his hand and the possibility to be the first player in USA history to earn a spot on team USA twice not to mention in back to back years.
3rd place in flight one was a battle and was decided under the most bizarre turn of events. Jerry Edwards, Tim Borgwardt and Yuri Pikover were all tied at +2 and the palyoff hole was a 133 yard island green par 3. Edwards had the slight advantage after his approach landed 12 feet from the hole but after a three put for a 4 it appeared that Edwards was eliminated with Borgwardt and Pikover moving on to a 2nd playoff hole.
However in the process of their pars Pikover fixed the cup with out calling over a tournament official who was available and Borgwardt picked up his ball with out marking it. As a result both Pikover and Borgwardt were assessed a two stroke penalty for 5’s and giving Edwads the victory.
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| Carlos Gonzalez Flight 2 Champion |
In flight two it was all Carlos Gonzalez from start to finish despite his +4 on day two. Carlos won by three strokes over Rich McDaniel and Prashant Paranjape. This is Gonzalez first victory on tour and he earned enough points to jump into 2nd place on the National Order of Merit. Due to the WGAT Growth the last major of the year only needs 30 players for a 2nd player to be chosen to be on Team USA from the National Order of Merit Standings.
In the playoff for 2nd it took 3 playoff hole to determine the winner with Rich McDaniel taking the win.
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| Mike Fair Low Gross Winner |
In the Pre Players Championship Challenge it was new comer Mike Fair from Tuscan Arizona winning low gross with a 76 just edging out 2013 Team USA members Jerry Edwards and Randy Bryant.
In the low net devision a playoff was needed to decide the winner between Jerry Edwards and Logan Bryant. Logan won on the first hole with a tap in par. Logan who is just 14 years old had dedicated his short life to baseball, but after going to the World Championships with his Father last year in Durban South Africa, Logan swears that motivated him to take up the game of golf so one day he follow in his fathers footsteps and also be a member of Team USA.
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| Logan Brant Low Net Winner |
Randy, Logan's father has another story to Logan’s new dedication to golf. It wasn't until logan met a beautiful 14 year old girl who happen to play golf. From that point on Logan can be found at the golf course 8 hours a day practicing.
Which ever story you wish to believe the fact remains that 8 hours a day has paid off. Logan started the year with a 20.5 index and within the last month alone he has improved to now being a 10.7 index. Who would have thought that 8 hours a day practicing would make us better golfers. There is a lesson for all of us in Logan’s story. It’s not practicing 8 hours a day will make us better, its finding a girl our age who plays golf to motivate us to practice 8 hours a day.
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| Jenner Austin Winner of the "Belt" |
Finally in an unofficial win, the winner of the “belt” may have meant more to Grant Stanis and Jennifer Austin then winning the Players Championship. Let me explain....Stanis and Austin have to award each other the belt after each round they play against each other. The last round prior to their trip to come to Tubac Arizona Grant had won the belt back from Jennifer. To show respect to the meaning of the belt Grant bought a plane ticket for the belt to be placed in the middle seat between Grant and Jennifer. Jennifer then had to look at the belt for 6 hours being reminded she was beaten. Well Jennifer won the belt back at the Championship and I personally look forward to hear what happens next.........to be continued.
2014 Final Standings for National Player of the Year
National Player of the Year
Win Free Airfare and Hotel to the 2014
WGAT USA National Championship
(Prize value can not exceed $750.00 to confurm with amateur status under rule 4-2g.)
The National Player of the Year is a separate points list of that of the National Order of Merit. Points earned are not by where you place, but if you win and the amount of prizes won. Below is the breakdown.
- 50 points for every major played
- 100 points for every flight win
- 200 points for every Tournament win (awarded with fields of 37 or more players)
- 1 point for every dollar won in side games, gift card winnings and exemptions.WinningsWinningsWinningsWinningsWinningsWinningsTotalNational PlayerTeam USAAverageNameEventsFlightTournNationalMatchThe WGATThe WGATPlayersTourWinningsOf the yearBenifitsWinings perPlayedWinsWinsChampionshipPlayMastersOpenChamp.Champ.StandingsstartJerry Edwards83$1,525.00$188.00$0.00$656.00$399.00$776.00$4,294.004,99415000$2,411.75Mark Wanke62$1,104.00$648.00$1,833.00$0.00$3,585.004,085$597.50Randy Bryant821$128.00$608.00$1,267.00$214.00$612.00$2,829.003,6297500$1,291.13Gregory MacGraw6$541.00$94.00$212.00$1,338.00$77.00$2,262.002,562$377.00Richard McDaniel311$1,930.00$156.00$2,086.002,5367500$3,195.33Rob Henning511$1,728.00$0.00$37.00$1,765.002,315$353.00Angela Walker31$676.00$1,109.00$1,785.002,035$595.00CAT TURNER31$1,624.00$0.00$102.00$1,726.001,9767500$3,075.33Tyler Mason72$823.00$0.00$120.00$31.00$302.00$135.00$1,411.001,96115000$2,344.43Andres Jacob7$55.00$572.00$305.00$100.00$502.00$1,534.001,884$219.14Todd Eldredge22$750.00$665.00$1,415.001,715$707.50Adam Reynolds41$428.00$970.00$15.00$0.00$1,413.001,713$353.25Dan Souheaver41$55.00$0.00$1,302.00$0.00$1,357.001,657$339.25Frank McInerney41$240.00$170.00$427.00$500.00$1,337.001,637$334.25Eddie Stephens31$102.00$1,097.00$102.00$1,301.001,551$433.67Carlos Gonzalez61$43.00$0.00$205.00$120.00$599.00$0.00$967.001,367$161.17oscar rafols71$0.00$94.00$0.00$422.00$335.00$851.001,301$121.57Aleem Khan6$823.00$0.00$189.00$1,012.001,312$168.67Michael Scarpuzzi81$0.00$0.00$166.00$31.00$0.00$489.00$686.001,186$85.75Brian Neal22$0.00$594.00$256.00$850.001,150$425.00Mark Thomas51$128.00$0.00$599.00$0.00$0.00$727.001,077$145.40Tom Tower7$508.00$0.00$102.00$0.00$0.00$82.00$692.001,042$98.86Keith Varney4$486.00$0.00$147.00$188.00$821.001,021$205.25Chad Schuchmann2$952.00$952.001,052$476.00Jose Martin2$0.00$802.00$802.00902$401.00Jennifer Austin2$665.00$34.00$699.00799$349.50Logan Bryant31$91.00$391.00$482.00732$160.67Grant Stanis7$62.00$188.00$0.00$0.00$58.00$45.00$353.00703$50.43Yuri Pikover3$300.00$247.00$547.00697$182.33Bruce Browne4$0.00$416.00$416.00616$104.00Don Lyons2$503.00$0.00$503.00603$251.50Dan Anderson4$55.00$0.00$204.00$113.00$372.00572$93.00Adam Holewinski5$202.00$0.00$44.00$35.00$281.00531$56.20Randolph Simonson3$128.00$247.00$0.00$375.00525$125.00Tim Borgwardt4$0.00$186.00$115.00$301.00501$75.25Jeremy Walker3$0.00$339.00$339.00489$113.00Edwin Cohen2$306.00$54.00$360.00460$180.00Mike Fair21$244.00$244.00444$122.00Kelly Souheaver2$73.00$264.00$337.00437$168.50Frank Lamadrid3$76.00$0.00$209.00$285.00435$95.00Marvin Shavers5$183.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$183.00433$36.60Mary A. Hauk3$183.00$100.00$283.00433$94.33Mark Benedetto2$257.00$257.00357$128.50Rick Lopiccolo2$232.00$232.00332$116.00Prashant Paranjape3$43.00$116.00$159.00309$53.00Donald Gray2$0.00$188.00$0.00$188.00288$94.00Ramesh Sundaresan1$110.00$113.00$223.00273$223.00John Neader1$205.00$205.00255$205.00Aaron Lott1$205.00$205.00255$205.00Cordy Worth1$201.00$201.00251$201.00Cris Leon2$131.00$15.00$146.00246$73.00Robert Karshner1$192.00$192.00242$192.00Bob Benser Sr1$0.00$188.00$188.00238$188.00Steve Swan1$185.00$185.00235$185.00Terry Schmidt2$134.00$0.00$134.00234$67.00Doug Boler1$174.00$174.00224$174.00Bruce Pate2$122.00$122.00222$61.00Bryan Robinson3$0.00$57.00$57.00207$19.00Don Smith3$55.00$0.00$0.00$55.00205$18.33Joshua Osvold1$105.00$105.00155$105.00Jack Brown1$102.00$102.00152$102.00Chris Astrom1$0.00$102.00$102.00152$102.00Darren Rawlinson3$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00150$0.00CK Fernando3$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00150$0.00Lazaro Martinez1$76.00$76.00126$76.00Shed Hollaway2$16.00$16.00116$8.00Bill Walsh1$55.00$55.00105$55.00Bill Conwell1$55.00$55.00105$55.00Matthew Hathcock1$54.00$54.00104$54.00Mark McDaniel2$0.00100$0.00Chris Van Spankeren1$38.00$38.0088$38.00Jose Delgado1$31.00$31.0081$31.00Joe Basanda1$24.00$24.0074$24.00Greg Wires1$21.00$21.0071$21.00Ty Jacob1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Tom Dougherty1$0.00$0.00$0.0050$0.00Terry Swartz1$0.00$0.00$0.0050$0.00Steve Challenger1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Ralph Anderson1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Nathon Cohen1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Mark Lott1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Josef Strauss1$0.00$0.0050$0.00John Depama1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Jerry Boysen1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Jason Keene1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Frank Monaco1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Donald Sesco1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Don Abreu1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Darren Parker1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Chad Yager1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Anthony McCain1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Mike Abbott1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Michael Brown1$0.00$0.00$0.0050$0.00Angel Sanchez1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Scott Glennon1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Mario Ventrelli1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Marty Kolb1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Johm Lee1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Brian Mraunac1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Carmen Holewinski1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Bill Mckiegan1$0.00$0.0050$0.00Totals256$13,021.00$3,612.00$10,864.00$8,487.00$4,903.00$6,785.00$48,422.00$52,500.00$394.23
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