Daytona Beach, Florida- The NGA Hooters Professional Golf Tour’s Winter Series kicked off its season opener at LPGA International Golf Club’s Champions Course this week.  Dan Stone (St. Petersburg, Fl.) won the series’ first event by beating Palm Harbor’s Brett Weeks and Nationwide Tour veteran John Elliot of Glastonbury, Connecticut in three holes of a sudden death playoff.  Stone, a 2-time All American from the University of Florida, found himself leading the tournament at 11 under par going into the 54^th hole but missed a 6 foot par put on the 18^th to drop himself into a 3-way tie at 10 under par with Elliot and Weeks.  The sudden death playoff began on the 18^th hole.  Stone hit his second shot into the 18^th about 35 feet away from the hole while Elliot and Weeks found themselves playing their third shots from greenside bunkers.  After 2 wonderful bunker shots and Stone’s 2 putts for par, all three players made their way back to the 18^th tee for the second playoff hole.  Stone and Elliot’s tee shot found the thick, wet rough while Weeks’ tee shot found the fairway.  After Stone failed to get his approach shot on the 18^th green in regulation and Elliot’s second shot found the greenside water hazard, it appeared that Weeks would only need 2 putts to pull off the win.  But Stone wasn’t ready to give up and when he holed his 11-foot par saving putt, the pressure was put back on Weeks who had to make his 4 footer for par to stay alive.  With a confident stroke, Weeks holed the 4 footer and the two players proceeded to the third playoff hole.  Weeks and Stone both found the fairway of the 401 yard, Par 4 first hole of the Champions Course.  Stone hit his approach shot to less than 3 feet and would go on to birdie the hole to beat Weeks who made his par. 

            The Winter Series moves into the Orlando area next week for the 2^nd event of the season, which will be held at Rock Springs Ridge GC in Apopka, Florida on November 11-13. 

Dan Stone – 54 Hole Scorecard