Matt Gourgeot wins Spirit of America in a playoff
Matt Gourgeot
(Alabama Golf Association Photo)
DECATUR, AL (July 10, 2016) -- It took four holes but in the end Matt Gourgeot was able to outlast Neil Gannaway in a four hole playoff and win the Spirit of America at Burningtree Country Club. Both players finished even-par for the week.
Gourgeot, the 36-hole leader, reached the playoff after rounds of 71-74-70-69. On the final day Gourgeot started slowly and was 3-over for the day after 12 holes, 4-over for the tournament before turning his around over the course of the last six holes.
Gourgeot got things going with a birdie on No. 14 and then followed that up with an eagle on the par-5 16th. With two holes remaining Gourgeot birdied the 17th to reach even-par for the week and conclude a 4-under in four hole stretch.
Neil Gannaway who recently finished his collegiate career at Tennessee Tech where he played golf and football carded rounds of 73-69-72-70 during the week. Gannaway tallied four birdies and two bogeys during his 2-under final round.
Will Thrash (Huntingdon) was third at 1-over, 54-hole leader Michael Peter (North Alabama) faltered on the final day before finishing fourth at 3-over while Blake Messer (Auburn) rounded out the top-5 by totaling a 4-over score.
ABOUT THE
Spirit of America
The Spirit of America Golf Classic is Burningtree
Country Club's long-running, fundraising
tournament
held annually in conjunction with
Decatur’s Spirit of America Festival, which itself is
one
of the largest, free Fourth of July festivals in the
south. Established in 1967, this unique "college
team
and
individual" format event has been
home to collegiate players and top amateur
players
from across the nation. The format is 72-holes of
stroke play, with a 54-hole
collegiate team division. The "Spirit"
tournament boasts many top graduates, like 1995
Champion-turned-PGA tour player Heath Slocum,
and
1989 Junior Champion-turned-PGA tour player
Stewart
Cink.
Starting in 2020 the golf tournament will be a coed
event. The plan is to have 30 two-woman teams and
30 two-
man teams. The women’s teams will be invited and
not have to pay an entry fee.
View Complete Tournament Information