Hooters Tour Players Dominate Local US Open Qualifiers

North Myrtle Beach, SC (May 24, 2004)… Fresh off his first ever Hooters Tour tournament win last week at The Michelob Ultra Classic in Urbana, IL, Hooters Tour member Andrew Tschudin (Australia) fired a five-under 67 in the Springfield, Illinois US Open Local Qualifier at the Illini CC Monday.  Fellow Hooters Tour members Stephen Ubernosky (Kingwood, TX), Parker McLachlin (Honolulu, Hawaii), Simon Nash (Australia), and Jean-Paul Hebert (Houston, TX) captured the remaining four spots in Springfield for a clean sweep for the Hooters Tour.

 Just 24 hours after falling just short of his first ever NGA/Hooters Tour victory, former NCAA Individual Champion Nick Gilliam moved one step closer to playing in this year’s U.S. Open.

Monday Gilliam shot a course record tying 64 at Aurora Country Club in U.S. Open qualifying, earning a spot in next month’s sectional qualifier where spots in the U.S. Open will be on the line. He posted the tournaments best score by 7 shots. His round included 5 straight birdies and a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 16.

Springfield and Aurora weren’t the only place that saw dominance by Hooters Tour members, as an impressive 51 current or recent members have advanced past the local qualifiers.

Sean Daugherty-Lake In Hills, Illinois Qualifier
Jamie Broce-Indianapolis, Indiana Qualifier
Jesse Hutchins-Aurora, Illinois Qualifier

DJ Fiese- Atlanta #2 Qualifier

Tyler Williamson-Birmingham, Alabama Qualifier

Jake Reeves- Birmingham, Alabama Qualifier

Nick Cassini-Farmingdale, New Jersey Qualifier

Bryant Odom-Farmingdale, New Jersey Qualifier

William McKenzie-Wallace, NC Qualifier

Michael Letzig- Wallace, NC Qualifier

Mathew Cannon-Wallace, NC Qualifier

Kevin Pendley-Wallace, NC Qualifier

Bubba Dickerson-Dearborn, Michigan Qualifier

Eric Axley-Lexington, Kentucky Qualifier

Joseph Alfieri II- Palm Harbor, FL Qualifier

Rich Morris-Little Rock, Arkansas Qualifier

Pat Nanny Jr-Memphis, Tennessee Qualifier

Akio Sadakato-Valrico, Florida Qualifier

Dan Olsen-Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Qualifier

Danny Norton-Borrego Springs, California Qualifier

Mathew McDougall-Gilbert, Arizona Qualifier

Kyle Owen-Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

Whitten Meares- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

Jason Klein- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier
David Roesch- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

Michael Johnstone- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

John Carlson- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

Bruce McDonald- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Qualifier

The fifty-one players have earned a spot in next month’s sectional qualifier with a chance at moving on to the US Open at Shinnecock Hills GC in Southampton, NY June 14-20, 2004.

Why is it that The NGA/Hooters Tour has produced so many successful players?

Because The NGA/Hooters Tour patterns itself like The PGA and Nationwide Tours with 72 hole events, with a 36 hole cut, a full weeks worth of events including Pro-Ams, practice days, free range balls, players walk (No Carts), and they wear long pants (No shorts).

Players that play the Hooters Tour are battle tested when Q-School rolls around and know what to expect when they make the jump.

Players who play other developmental tours which offer only 54 hole tournaments, which are all in the same area, riding carts, and wearing shorts, get worn out at Q-School. If they do happen to make it through to the PGA or Nationwide Tours, they’re not used to walking for 72-holes, they don’t know how to manage their time on the road, subsequently they play bad and lose their card.