(OFCC photo)
OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL (May 25, 2018) - Rob Laird and Tyler Hunt of Tulsa, OK captured the 2018 Olympia Fields National Four-Ball Invitational, holding off the team of former Furman University teammates Braden List and Garland Ferrell by two shots.
Laird is a former University of Tulsa player who won last year's Oklahoma Mid-Amateur.
Playing the par-70 North Course at Olympia Fields in round one, Laird and Hunt took a one-shot lead with a 4-under 66.
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Tyler Hunt & Rob Laird |
Moving to the par-72 South Course, the Tulsa duo shot a 5-under 67, good for a tie for the low round of the day, to finish 36 holes at 9-under 133.
List and Ferrell shot rounds of 68-67 to finish second at 135.
Three teams tied for third at 5-under 137. Blake Vinson, who won last year's championship with partner David Klaudt, teamed with Blake Johnson to shoot 70-67. Johnson came into the tournament suitably warmed up, having played the rain-delayed final match of the Chicago Mid-Amateur on the morning of the first round of the Four-Ball.
Chris Noel / Billy Lowery (70-67) and Mike Cushing / Jeff Niepagen (69-68) joined Vinson and Johnson in the third-place tie.
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John Finnin & Dave Ryan |
In the Senior Division, 2016 U.S. Senior champion Dave Ryan (Taylorville, IL) teamed with John Finnin (Mokena, IL) for a six-shot win over Lee and Reed Kolquist (Geneva, IL). The winning team posted the only under-par round at the North Course, a 69, and then added a 66 at the South Course.
In the Super Senior Division, Robin Rubrecht and Jim Webb won in a playoff, defeating Scott Blasie and Tim Cox on the third extra hole. Both teams finished at 2-under 140. Ken Kee and Michael Alsup finished one shot out of the playoff.
Olympia Fields has established itself as a formidable championship test, having hosted 2 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships, 5 Western Opens, 1 U.S. Amateur Championship and a U.S. Senior Open.
View results for Olympia Fields Four-Ball
ABOUT THE
Olympia Fields Four-Ball
**Will return in 2024 after a course renovation and
hosting the BMW Championship.**
Tournament is 36 holes, 18 on the North and 18 on
the South. The North course is the more famous,
having hosted the U.S. Open. But the South
Course, renovated in 2008 is now the preferred
club of the members and is slated to host several
important professional and amateur tournaments in
the coming years.
This is an invitational event with entries
usually being sent to U.S. Mid Amateur qualifiers
and
other players of note. Combined team index of 6.0
or
less is required to be accepted into the tournament
field.
Mid-Am Division: One or both competitors between
25 and 49 years of age
Senior Division: Both competitors between 50 and
59
years of age
Super Senior Division: Both competitors 60 years of
age or older
View Complete Tournament Information