- Jesse Hutchins Rallies to Win Members Only Shootout -
- Final-Round 61 Lifts Veteran to First Victory -
- Eustis, Fla. - Friday, February 18, 2011 - Over the past six seasons, Jesse Hutchins has paid entry fees into well over 100 NGA/Hooters Tour events. His next 20 are on the house.
Hutchins, of Kirkersville, Ohio, fired a final-round, tournament-low 61 to come from behind and win the “Members Only” Shootout at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Fla., by four shots over second-round leader Stuart Anderson.
With his win, Hutchins, a former Wright State golfer, will receive free entry fees for the entirety of the 2011 Pro Series season (20 events) and $2,000.
“This is definitely going to make it easier for me to go out and play golf,” said Hutchins, whose previous best finish on the NGA/Hooters Tour was second on two occasions.
In the final round of the first of 24 scheduled NGA/Hooters Tour events, nearly everything looked easy for Hutchins.
Hutchins started the final round two shots off the lead, but he used a front-side 33 to cut Anderson’s lead down to one shot at the turn. On the back side, Hutchins ran off four consecutive birdies on the first four holes to take the lead.
“I started off the round making some putts, then I started hitting everything real close,” said Hutchins. “Once I got out front, I knew that Stuart would try to come back, but I kept hitting it close.”
Hutchins added two more birdies and an eagle over the final four holes en route to an 8-under 28 on the backside and a four-shot margin of victory. Hutchins carded rounds of 65-67-61 for a 23-under 193 total.
“I got to witness some great golf today,” said Anderson,
who will receive free entry fees for half of the Pro Series season (10 events) and $1,500 for his runner-up finish. “I’m still excited to have 10 events paid for. My schedule is going to be a pretty good balance between the NGA/Hooters and Canadian Tours.”
Anderson, of Victoria, British Columbia, finished with rounds of 62-68-67 for a 19-under 197 total.
David Johnson, of Palm Bay, Fla., shot a 6-under 66 in the final round to finish solo third and earn $4,975. Matt Savage, of Louisville, Ky., used a 7-under 65 in the final round to move from T7 to fourth. Savage took home $3,925. Veterans Ted Potter, of Silver Springs, Fla., and Robert Streb, of Edmond, Okla., finish T5 and pocketed $3,087 each.
Tadd Fujikawa, of Honolulu, Hawaii, turned in an impressive outing in his first NGA/Hooters Tour event. Fujikawa, who became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2005, finished at 11-under par and T7.
“It felt good to get back in competition,” said Fujikawa. “My short game was good this week, but I struggled with my putting.”
Several top college players from this past year found mixed success in their first career NGA/Hooters Tour starts. Two 2010 All-Nicklaus team members, Diego Velasquez (Orlando, Fla.,) and Justin Yoder (Warrensburg, Mo.), failed to make the cut, while 2010 Byron Nelson Award Winner Brendan Gielow (Muskegon, Mich.) finished 3-under par and T28 in his first NGA/Hooters Tour event.
“It was nice to play with this caliber of competition,” said Gielow. “The weather was great out here, and I’m ready for the season.”
NGA/Hooters Tour “Pro Series” members will have the opportunity to compete in 32 events this season. In addition to the “Members Only” Shootout, the season will feature 20 GUARANTEED $200,000 Purse Pro Series Events, 3 Q-School Prep Series, and 8 of 14 Carolina Series events that take place during off weeks of the main Pro Series (Pro Series members automatically receive membership into the Carolina Series).
The 2011 Killearn Country Club Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., is the next stop on the NGA/Hooters Tour Professional Series. The event will run Feb. 28 through Mar. 6, 2011.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the No. 1 recommended developmental tour by more PGA and Nationwide Tour Professionals than any other tour in the country.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the Third Largest Men's 72 Hole Professional Golf Tour in the United States behind the Nationwide and PGA Tours and has helped hundreds of professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide, and Champions Tour cards. In fact, NGA/Hooters Tour Alumni have won an incredible Twelve (12) “Major” Championships.
Alumni include Jim Furyk, the 2010 FedExCup winner and PGA Tour Player of the Year; Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open Champion; Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open Champion; Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion; Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA Champion; Ben Curtis, winner of the 2003 British Open; Lee Janzen, a two-time US Open winner; John Daly, a British Open and PGA Champion; Tom Lehman, winner of the British Open; David Toms, a past PGA Champion; Chad Campbell, the 2003 Tour Championship winner; Vaughn Taylor, a two-time Reno Tahoe Open winner; Craig Perks, winner of the TPC, and many, many more. At this year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School, 46% of the players that earned full exempt status on the PGA Tour (including 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year Michael Thompson) and 52% of the players that earned status on the Nationwide Tour have spent time on the NGA/Hooters Professional Golf Tour. In 2011, 23 former NGA/Hooters Tour players will be advancing to the PGA Tour.
For more information on the NGA/Hooters Pro Golf Tour, please visit www.NGAHootersTour.com or contact the Tour Office at (800) 992-8748.
For Full Results from the "Members Only" Shootout click here.
| The "Members Only" Shootout at Black Bear | ||||||||
| Black Bear Golf Club, Eustis, Florida | ||||||||
| Wednesday February 16 thru Friday February 18, 2011 | ||||||||
| Pos | Professional | Hometown | Total | Thru | R1 | R2 | R3 | Strokes |
| 1 | Jesse Hutchins | Kirkersville, OH | -23 | F | 65 | 67 | 61 | 193 |
| 2 | Stuart Anderson | Canada, | -19 | F | 62 | 68 | 67 | 197 |
| 3 | David Johnson | Palm Bay, FL | -15 | F | 67 | 68 | 66 | 201 |
| 4 | Matt Savage | Louisville, KY | -14 | F | 66 | 71 | 65 | 202 |
| T5 | Ted Potter | Ocala FL | -13 | F | 67 | 69 | 67 | 203 |
| T5 | Robert Streb | Edmond, OK | -13 | F | 67 | 69 | 67 | 203 |
| 7 | Ryan Henry | Broken Arrow, OK | -12 | F | 66 | 71 | 67 | 204 |
| 8 | Tadd Fujikawa | Honolulu, HI | -11 | F | 69 | 68 | 68 | 205 |
| 9 | Nick Rousey | Pensacola, FL | -10 | F | 70 | 67 | 69 | 206 |
| T10 | Jordan Blann | Bowling Green, KY | -9 | F | 71 | 68 | 68 | 207 |
| T10 | Lee Williams | Alexander City , AL | -9 | F | 69 | 69 | 69 | 207 |
###
- Jessie Hutchins closes to within two shots -
- "Members Only" Shootout Second Day Recap -
Eustis, Fla. - Thursday, February 17, 2011 - Canadian Stuart Anderson backed up his opening round 62 with a 68 in the second round of the season-opening NGA/Hooters Tour “Members Only” Shootout at Black Bear Golf Club and holds a two-shot lead going into Friday’s final round.
Anderson, of Victoria, British Columbia, threatened to run away from the field after shooting 33 on the front side, but the former Illinois State University golfer had a double-bogey on the par-4 11th hole. Anderson rebounded with three birdies over his next six holes and finished at 14-under 130.
The winner of the season-opening “Members Only” Shootout will receive free entry fees for the entirety of the 2011 Pro Series season (20 events) and the runner-up will receive free entry fees for half of the Pro Series season (10 events). After the second round of the first of 24 scheduled NGA/Hooters Tour events this season, it appears that Anderson and Jesse Hutchins are in the driver’s seat to receive the big paydays.
Hutchins, who has two second-place finishes on the NGA/Hooters Tour
, opened the tournament with a 65 and picked up one shot on Anderson with a 5-under 67 in the second round. The Kirkersville, Ohio, golfer will start the final round just two shots off the lead.
David Johnson, of Palm Bay, Fla., and James Vargas, Miami, Fla., are T3 after two rounds. Johnson shot a 4-under 68, while Vargas fired 2-under 70 in the second round. Both golfers are 9-under par and five shots off the lead going into the final around.
NGA/Hooters Tour veterans Robert Streb and Ted Potter are T5 and 8-under par after two rounds.
Playing in his first NGA/Hooters Tour event, Tadd Fujikawa shot a second round 68 and is tied for seventh with Matt Savage and Devin Snipes.
Top college players from this past year found mixed success in their first career NGA/Hooters Tour starts. 2010 All-Nicklaus team members Diego Velasquez (Orlando, FL) and Justin Yoder (Warrensburg, MO) failed to make the cut while 2010 Byron Nelson Award Winner Brendan Gielow (Muskegon, MI) used a 2nd day 68 to head into Friday's final round tied for 29th.
NGA/Hooters Tour “Pro Series” Members will have the opportunity to compete in 32 events this season: the "Members Only" Shootout, 20 GUARANTEED $200,000 Pro Series Events, 3 Q-School Prep Series, and 8 of 14 Carolina Series events that take place during off weeks of the main Pro Series (Pro Series members automatically receive membership into the Carolina Series).
- Anderson Fires 62 to take early lead -
- "Members Only" Shootout First Day Recap -
Eustis, Fla.- February 16, 2011 - Canadian Stuart Anderson was 1-over par after his first two holes of the season-opening NGA/Hooters Tour “Members Only” Shootout at Black Bear Golf Club. However, over the next 16 holes, Anderson, of Victoria, British Columbia, shot 11 under and finished the day with a 10-under 62 to pace the field in the opening round of the first of 24 scheduled NGA/Hooters Tour events this season. NGA/Hooters Tour "Pro Series" Members will have the opportunity to compete in 32 events this season; the "Members Only" Shootout, 20 GUARANTEED $200,000 Pro Series Events, 3 Q School Prep Series, and 8 of 14 Carolina Series events that take place during the main Pro Series off weeks (Pro Series members automatically receive membership into the Carolina Series). The Winner of the "Members Only" Shootout will receive free entries into all 20 Pro Series Events where the purses are a GUARANTEED $200,000!
And Stuart Anderson is trying to win the race to the big payout at the end of the rainbow by setting the pace Tuesday. After bogeying the second hole, Anderson reeled off four birdies and an eagle over the next five holes to shoot 31 on the front side. The former Illinois State University golfer added five birdies on the back nine en route to another 31 and a three-shot lea
d. The hot start was nice, but Anderson, a former Bridgestone Winter Series winner, has a plenty of competition right behind him.
James Vargas, who had two victories in the Bridgestone Winter Series, opened with a 65. Vargas, of Miami, Fla., toured the front nine in 34 strokes before closing with a 31 on the inward nine.
Jesse Hutchins, who has over 100 NGA/Hooters Tour starts, also opened with a 65. The Kirkersville, Ohio, golfer had eight birdies and a bogey in his opening round.
NGA/Hooters Tour winners Ryan Henry and Will Wilcox are T4 after shooting 66s in the first round. Matt Savage also opened with a 66.
Robert Streb, Ted Potter, Michael O’Neal, Michael Buttacavoli and David Johnson are T7 and five shots back of the leader heading into tomorrow’s second round.
The winner of the season-opening “Members Only” Shootout at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Fla., will receive free entry fees for the entirety of the 2011 Pro Series season (20 events) and the runner-up will receive free entry fees for half of the season (10 events). The event is the first of 24 NGA/Hooters Tour events scheduled for this season.
- Members Only Shootout To Kickoff Season -
Myrtle Beach, S.C. - January 15, 2011 - Aspiring golf professionals around the country spend countless hours searching for investors to lighten the financial burden of chasing their dream of playing on the PGA Tour. Thanks to the NGA/Hooters Tour, several members will have a little less to worry about during the 2011 season by Friday night.
The winner of the season-opening “Members Only” Shootout at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Fla., will receive free entry fees for the entirety of the 2011 Pro Series season (20 events) and the runner-up will receive free entry fees for half of the season (10 events). Both prizes are guaranteed.
“Over the years, we have reimbursed Q-School fees, secured exemptions into Nationwide and PGA Tour events and done many other things to benefit our members,” said Robin L. Waters, NGA/Hooters Tour President. “We believe the ‘Members Only’ Shootout is just another way to reward our members for their continued support of the NGA/Hooters Tour.”
The two players that walk away with the entry-fee awards will have earned them, considering the depth of the field competing this week.
Ted Potter Jr., of Silver Springs, Fla., h
as to be considered one of the favorites after the two-time NGA/Hooters Tour Player of the Year finished the Bridgestone Winter Series with back-to-back victories.
“I’ve been practicing a lot and trying to get ready. It’s finally starting to come around and it's getting better,” said Potter. “The putting is the biggest thing. It’s been holding me back, but it’s getting better. Winning [on the Hooters Tour/Bridgestone Winter Series] is always tough with all the competition, so back-to-back wins gives me confidence heading into [the NGA/Hooters Tour Members Only Shootout] and the rest of the season.”
Jeff Corr and James Vargas were also two-time winners on the Bridgestone Winters Series this season, and both are in the field this week.
Corr, of Longwood, Fla., picked up wins at Orange Tree and Diamond Back Golf Clubs during the season and finished the Bridgestone Winter Series as the leading money winner. Vargas, of Miami, Fla., grabbed victories at Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club and Timacuan Golf Club during the Bridgestone Winter Series.
In addition to Potter, Corr and Vargas, the event will feature a horde of NGA/Hooters Tour stalwarts and plenty of capable newcomers.
The 2010 NGA/Hooters Tour points runner-up Philip Pettitt Jr. (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) will be in the field, as well as NGA/Hooters Tour winners Chip Deason (Lexington, S.C) and Nick Rousey (Pensacola, Fla.).
Accomplished players such as All-Nicklaus Team members Bruno Buccolo (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Chris Wolfe (Warner Robins, Ga.), NGA/Hooters Tour & Canadian Tour winner Will Wilcox (Ashville, Ala.) and Walker Cup Team member Lee Williams (Alexander City, Ala.) will also be competing in the Shootout.
There are several newcomers that will be looking to make the most of their first starts on the NGA/Hooters Tour.
Tadd Fujikawa, of St Simons Island, Ga., will be making his NGA/Hooters Tour debut. Fujikawa became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Open. The following season, just after his 16th birthday, Fujikawa made the cut at the PGA Sony Open in Hawaii to become the second youngest player to ever do so. Recently, Fujikawa won the Turtle Bay Resort Hawaii State Open Championship.
Brendan Gielow, of Muskegon, Mich., was the No. 1 ranked collegiate golfer by Golfweek in March of 2010. The former Wake Forest golfer is a 2010 Byron Nelson Award winner and a member of the 2009 Walker Cup.
Jack Newman, of Des Moines, Iowa, was a four-year 
starter at Michigan State University, won the 2008 US Amateur Public Links earning him exemption into the 2009 Masters where he finished T65.
Diego Velasquez, of Bogota, Colombia, was a four-year starter at Oregon State University. In 2010, Velasquez set a single season scoring record at OSU. He also was named to the All-Nicklaus Team and earned Ping First Team All-American Honors. Velasquez was ranked as high as No. 1 by Golfweek Magazine during the 2010 season.
Justin Yoder, of Warrensburg, Mo., is a first-team All-American and All-Nicklaus Team member. Yoder finished second in the nation at the NCAA-II Championships while playing for the University of Central Missouri. He has won a school-record 12 career tournaments and finished in the top ten 38 times in 47 chances. Yoder was a three-time All-American and was ranked No. 1 in the nation on several occasions as a junior.
The “Members Only” Shootout is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Friday, Feb. 18 at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Fla., located just outside Orlando. The Members Shootout will have a 36-hole cut with a purse being paid to the low 33% and ties. The event will count towards the Official Money and Points Lists for the 2011 Pro Series.
Black Bear Golf Club has in its short history played host to seven U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship events and past NGA/Hooters Tour events.
Black Bear Golf Club opened in 1995 and features some of the most unique holes in Central Florida. The P. B. Dye-designed course is an 18-hole championship venue with a links-style layout, extending over 7,000 yards and playing to a par 72. The course is also known for being the home to a number of PGA and LPGA tour players.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the Third Largest Men’s 72 Hole Professional Golf Tour in the United States behind the Nationwide and PGA Tours and continues to be the No. 1 most recommended developmental tour by PGA and Nationwide Tour Professionals.
The NGA/Hooters Tour has helped hundreds of professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide, and Champions Tour cards. In fact, NGA/Hooters Tour Alumni have won an incredible Twelve (12) “Major” Championships.
Alumni include: Jim Furyk, the 2010 FedExCup winner and PGA Tour Player of the Year; Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open Champion; Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open Champion; Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion; Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA Champion; Ben Curtis, winner of the 2003 British Open; Lee Janzen,a two-time US Open winner; John Daly, a British Open and PGA Champion; Tom Lehman, winner of the British Open; David Toms, a past PGA Champion; Chad Campbell, the 2003 Tour Championship winner; Vaughn Taylor, a two-time Reno Tahoe Open winner; Craig Perks, winner of the TPC, and many, many more. At this year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School, 46% of the players that earned full exempt status on the PGA Tour (including 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year Michael Thompson) and 52% of the players that earned status on the Nationwide Tour have spent time on the NGA/Hooters Professional Golf Tour. In 2011, 23 former NGA/Hooters Tour players will be advancing to the PGA Tour.
For more information on the NGA/Hooters Pro Golf Tour, please visit www.NGAHootersTour.com or contact the Tour Office at (800) 992-8748.
For Members Only Shootout Results please click here.
- Earnings/Points will count towards Official Money & Points List for 2011 PRO SERIES -
- Champion earns paid entry fees for season GUARANTEED -
- By Paul Warner -
BLACK BEAR GC (Eustis, Fla.) set to host event
Myrtle Beach, S.C. - December 20, 2010 - Chasing a dream can be expensive. But for a couple of lucky, and talented, NGA/Hooters Tour members, the financial burden of moving up golf’s ladder will be a bit lighter in 2011.
Today, the NGA/Hooters Tour, recommended by more PGA and Nationwide Tour professionals than any other tour in the country, announced its first-ever “Members Only” Shootout, where the winner will receive free entry fees for the entirety of the 2011 Pro Series season (20 events), and the runner-up will receive free entry fees for half of the Pro Series season (10 events). First and second place prizes are both GUARANTEED!
And the reward will be substantial. The medalist at the inaugural Member Shootout will potentially receive $23,000 worth of paid entry fees and the runner-up will potentially receive $11,500 worth of paid entry fees during the 2011 season. The entry fee for the shootout will be $800 for current 2011 regular NGA/Hooters Tour members.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Friday, Feb. 18 at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Fla., located just outside Orlando. The field will be limited to the first 132 paid members that sign up for the 54-hole event. The Members Shootout will have a 36-hole cut with a purse being paid to the low 33% and ties. In order to participate, Money and Points earned from the event will count towards the Official Money and Points Lists for the 2011 Pro Series. NGA/Hooters Tour members must contact the Tour office at (800) 992-8748. Entrants will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Black Bear Golf Club has, in its short history, been host to seven U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship events and past NGA/Hooters Tour events.
Black Bear Golf Club opened in 1995 and features some of the most unique holes in Central Florida. The P. B. Dye-designed course is an 18-hole championship venue with a links-style layout, extending over 7,000 yards and playing to a par 72. The course is also known for being the home to a number of PGA and LPGA tour players.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest Men’s 72-Hole Professional Golf Tour in the United States behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours and holds to its credit an astounding Twelve (12) "Major" Championships won by alumni. The impressive list of alumni includes:
Jim Furyk, the 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year and FedExCup Champion; Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open Champion; Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open Champion; Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion; Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA Champion; Ben Curtis, winner of the 2003 British Open; Lee Janzen, a two-time US Open winner; John Daly, a British Open and PGA Champion; Tom Lehman, winner of the British Open; David Toms, a past PGA Champion; Chad Campbell, the 2003 Tour Championship winner; Vaughn Taylor, a two-time Reno Tahoe Open winner; and Craig Perks, winner of the TPC. All of whom tested their mettle on the NGA/Hooters Tour before tasting success on golf’s grandest stage.
The NGA/Hooters Tour has helped hundreds of professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide and Champions Tour cards. In fact, at this year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School for the upcoming 2011 season, 46% of the players that earned full exempt status on the PGA Tour and 52% of the players that earned status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA/Hooters Professional Golf Tour.
For more information about the NGA/Hooters Tour, please visit our web site,www.NGAHOOTERSTOUR.com.
