Nathan Kimsey
A week before the first major of the
professional golf season, another major in the
amateur world took place.
Nathan Kimsey
prevailed over top-ranked junior
Robby Shelton and a loaded field full of
junior, collegiate and mid-amateur
stars at the 2013 Terra Cotta Invitational at
Naples National Golf Club.
The co-leaders entering the the final round,
Shelton and Kimsey were tied on the par-5
18th hole. Shelton found trouble off
the tee and missed a par putt, leaving the
door open for Kimsey, who converted his par
for the one-shot victory.
The Terra Cotta field included 13 AJGA All-
Americans, including Beau Hossler (T-13), who
contended into the final round at
last year's U.S. Open. U.S. Mid-Amateur
runner-up, Garret Rank (T-18), No. 2-ranked
junior and U.S. Junior champion Jim Liu
(T-7) and mid-amateur Walker Cup hopefuls
Kevin Marsh (T-35) and Todd White (T-13)
were also part of the impressive field.
FORMER MLB PITCHER MARK MULDER
WINS GOLF CHANNEL WESTERN MASTERS
Maybe it's the thrill of hitting the ball instead
of trying to throw a ball by someone that's
trying to hit it. Whatever the case,
professional pitchers often take to golf and
become quite good at it.
The all time leading money winner on the
Celebrity Players Tour is former MLB All Star
Rick Rhoden. And John Smoltz, also a
pitcher, is now considered one of the world's
best celebrity golfers.
For Mark Mulder, who retired from professional
baseball in 2010, The Golf Channel Amateur
Tour has become a way to keep
the competitive juices flowing, as opposed to
taking prize money in celebrity tournaments
(which ends amateur golf
eligibility).
At PGA West over the weekend, Mulder posted
rounds of 72-68 in the Western Masters, for a
three stroke victory over first
round leader and former professional (golfer
that is) Tom Isaak of San Diego.
HASSE
WINS PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL
AMATEUR
Bryan Hasse rallied after a slow start to win
the 12th annual Palm Beach International, a
Stableford-scoring event held at
Ironhorse Country Club in West Palm Beach.
After 10 holes in Saturday's opening round,
Hasse was 8-over but turned it around with
seven birdies on the back nine. His
hot play continued Sunday with a 67, which
converted his Stableford score to 89 for the
event.
With four more birdies and an eagle in the final
round, Hasse's total was four shots better
than Daniel Russo, who finished
alone in second place.
AMATEURGOLF.COM CALIFORNIA MEDAL
PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Nick Moore rallied for three consecutive birdies
to close in style Sunday in the final round,
taking the Mid-Amateur Division by
one shot over David Ober at Stevinson Ranch.
In the overall field, St. Mary's redshirt junior
Cody Robinson captured the overall victory
with a 75- 70=145 total. Robinson
had 4 birdies and an eagle (11) in his Sunday
round.
CHATMOSS INVITATIONAL: DECKER,
DAVIS TAKE TITLES
Keith Decker shot a final-round 70 to come
from behind and win the 2013 Chatmoss
Invitational at Chatmoss Country Club.
Behind a first-round 73, Decker trailed leader
Dylan Jensen and Jon Hurst by four and three
shots, respectively. His Sunday 70
upended the leaders.
In the senior division, Dave Davis won with
ease, firing rounds of 70-73 for a three-shot
victory. He beat Bill Nunnenkamp,
who finished alone in second place.
JOHN PIGG/EDDIE LYONS WIN CROWN
COLONY INVITATIONAL
John Pigg and Eddie Lyons defended their title
over the weekend in the 54-hole Crown Colony
Invitational at Crown Colony
Golf Club. Posting 208, they bested two teams
by three strokes.
Jim Martin and Gary Seaman, both over 65
years old, were only 5 strokes from the overall
title and they easily captured the
super senior title.