News >> Kentucky Thoroughbred Outruns Field

The Ocala Marion Sports Commission Classic
Presented by Michelob Ultra
Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club
March 4-7, 2010
 
Ocala, FL (March 7, 2010)… Former University of Kentucky golfer Mark Blakefield of Maysville, Kentucky carded a 66 at the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in the final round of the Ocala Marion Sports Commission Classic to capture his second career Hooters Tour title. (tournament champion Mark Blakefield left)
 
Blakefield started the day tied for 5th at even par 216 after carding rounds of 73-71-72. Playing in the penultimate group with Ocala native Ted Potter, the former Wildcat started off strong with birdies on his first two holes and then added two more birdies on holes seven and eight to go out in four-under par 32.
 
“My goal today was to come out and get to at least four-under for the tournament to give myself a chance,” said the twenty-seven year old. “I birdied the first two holes and then got two more on 7 and 8 and thought I may as well keep trucking because I knew he (Potter) was going to make a run on the back.”
 
Blakefield predicted a run by Potter and the two-time player of the year didn’t disappoint. After Blakefield birdied the tenth to get to five-under on the day and the tournament, Potter rallied and birdied the 12th to get to four-under for the tournament before stepping on the tee of the par 5 15th hole.
 
 Potter hit his second shot just short of the greenside bunker and then hit his third into the bunker while trying get cute with a chip shot. Potter, known for making magic happen on the course, then calmly drained the bunker shot for birdie to tie Blakefield at five-under and send the hometown gallery into an uproar. (Runner-Up Ted Potter left)
 
“The crowds today were a blast,” said Blakefield. “Ted and I were battling down the stretch and we were both able to feed off the energy of the crowd and each other.”
 
Both players made pars on the 16th and then Blakefield sealed the tournament with his sixth birdie of the day at the par 4 17th. Blakefield’s six-under par 66 in the final round matched the low round of the tournament and gave him the title with a six-under par 282 total, one better than Potter and Scotland’s Russell Knox.
 
Knox, who grew up in Scotland before coming to America on a golf scholarship at Jacksonville University, carded his third straight under par round (70) to join Potter at five-under par 283 for the tournament. (Runner-up player Russell Knox right)
 
Former PGA TOUR player and Ocala native Grant Waite headed up the remainder of the local players in the Ocala Marion Sports Commission Classic after carding a four day total of six-over par 294. Former Florida Gator James Vargas (Miami) carded his low round of the tournament Sunday with a 68 and finished eight-over par for the tournament, while long time touring pro Roger Rowland (Ocala) finished tied for 26th, one back at nine-over par after a second consecutive 73. After a promising start to his first Hooters tournament, former Gator Will Strickler finished tied for 54th after a disappointing 77 on Sunday.
 
Blakefield takes home $30,000 for his second career win on the Hooters Tour, while Potter and Knox each take home $13,207 for their runner-up finishes.
 
The Hooters Tour heads east on I-10 to Fernandina Beach, Florida and Amelia National Golf Club for the F&S Asset Management Group Classic presented by Michelob Ultra next week.