Here is a video recap of the event opening event at Olde Stonewall Golf Club on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011.
Enjoy the video!
Thank you AJ for doing this!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Am Tour Storms the Castle at Olde Stonewall To Begin Season
Ellwood City, PA- The 2011 Golf Channel Am Tour of Pittsburgh got its season off to a royal start as it crowned 6 champions during play of the Season Opening Tournament at Olde Stonewall Golf Club. Playing in light to moderate winds, an ominous but overcast sky all day, and after overnight rain of 1 inch had saturated the grounds 39 players from 4 different Golf Channel Am Tours took to battle on the course.
Starting with the Hogan division, Cleveland tour member Ed Ruper (84) defeated fellow Cleveland rival Dale Thompson (85) by 1 stroke. A charging Thompson came back from 6 strokes down in the final 5 holes and was tied going into the last hole but it was Ruper who eeked out the win.
In the Senior Hogan division, a competitive match between Bob Houghton (87) of the Detroit Tour held off AJ Bolyard Jr. (90) of the Pittsburgh Tour by 3 strokes in a back and forth match where both players had the lead.
The Sarazen division saw another close battle of Cleveland Tour members. Jeff Mast (86) defeated Matt Blum (87) by 1 stroke on the final hole after Blum, who had the lead going into 18, found trouble in the greenside fescue and couldn't get up and down to save the win.
Charles Blasdel (91) of the Cleveland Tour won the Senior Sarazen flight after an ambush attack by 3 other players. Pittsburgh Tour members Keith Miller and Bob Babish both tied for 2nd with a score of 92 while Peter Gitnik was one more stroke back at 93. It was the closest group finish of the day.
The Snead Division title came down to a battle between 3 players. Cleveland Tour player Charles Burger (104) held off fellow Cleveland player Bob Troha (105) and Pittsburgh member Greg Nemchick (105) as all three players were on 18 tee separated by 1 shot.
The best match of the day was from the Jones Division where a playoff decided the title. Pittsburgh Tour player Jerry O'Brien (89) went back out and made a dramatic chip-in par on the 1st playoff hole to defeat Cleveland Tour player Ted Heindel (89). O'Brien got hot down the stretch as he played the last 4 holes of regulation in 1-over par evaporating a 3 shot lead that Heindel had.
This season the Golf Channel Am Tour of Pittsburgh is joining the Am Tour's charitable ways as it is combining with the Cleveland Tour and having a 50-50 raffle along with its traditional skins games at each tournament. The proceeds of the local 50-50 raffles will be collected at each tournament and half of the total amount collected will go to the winner of the raffle and the other half will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The winner of this week's 50-50 raffle was Charles Burger who collected 155 dollars and another 155 dollars was raised and will be donated to the JDRF at the end of the season.
The next event on the Pittsburgh Tour will be played Sunday, May 1st at Bedford Springs. We look forward to another great event and seeing you there!
Starting with the Hogan division, Cleveland tour member Ed Ruper (84) defeated fellow Cleveland rival Dale Thompson (85) by 1 stroke. A charging Thompson came back from 6 strokes down in the final 5 holes and was tied going into the last hole but it was Ruper who eeked out the win.
In the Senior Hogan division, a competitive match between Bob Houghton (87) of the Detroit Tour held off AJ Bolyard Jr. (90) of the Pittsburgh Tour by 3 strokes in a back and forth match where both players had the lead.
The Sarazen division saw another close battle of Cleveland Tour members. Jeff Mast (86) defeated Matt Blum (87) by 1 stroke on the final hole after Blum, who had the lead going into 18, found trouble in the greenside fescue and couldn't get up and down to save the win.
Charles Blasdel (91) of the Cleveland Tour won the Senior Sarazen flight after an ambush attack by 3 other players. Pittsburgh Tour members Keith Miller and Bob Babish both tied for 2nd with a score of 92 while Peter Gitnik was one more stroke back at 93. It was the closest group finish of the day.
The Snead Division title came down to a battle between 3 players. Cleveland Tour player Charles Burger (104) held off fellow Cleveland player Bob Troha (105) and Pittsburgh member Greg Nemchick (105) as all three players were on 18 tee separated by 1 shot.
The best match of the day was from the Jones Division where a playoff decided the title. Pittsburgh Tour player Jerry O'Brien (89) went back out and made a dramatic chip-in par on the 1st playoff hole to defeat Cleveland Tour player Ted Heindel (89). O'Brien got hot down the stretch as he played the last 4 holes of regulation in 1-over par evaporating a 3 shot lead that Heindel had.
This season the Golf Channel Am Tour of Pittsburgh is joining the Am Tour's charitable ways as it is combining with the Cleveland Tour and having a 50-50 raffle along with its traditional skins games at each tournament. The proceeds of the local 50-50 raffles will be collected at each tournament and half of the total amount collected will go to the winner of the raffle and the other half will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The winner of this week's 50-50 raffle was Charles Burger who collected 155 dollars and another 155 dollars was raised and will be donated to the JDRF at the end of the season.
The next event on the Pittsburgh Tour will be played Sunday, May 1st at Bedford Springs. We look forward to another great event and seeing you there!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Powerful Storm Rocks Kingsmill!
Williamsburg, Va --- After the conclusion of play today at the Kingsmill Classic a powerful weather system that had caused many tornados, high winds, and lots of damage across the central United States has swept through the Williamsburg area and has caused damage to the Kingsmill Resort. Reports are that a tornado had touched down on the Kingsmill Resort property at the Woods Golf Course and caused damage to a few holes on the course and also to the Woods Course clubhouse. The storm has not apparently caused any damage to the 2 courses involved in the Kingsmill Classic, the River Course or the Plantation Course, and play will resume for round 2 starting at 8AM on both courses.
Kingsmill Classic 1st round Feature Hole of the day... #17 at the River Course
Williamsburg, Va --- During round 1 of the Kingsmill Classic at the Kingsmill Resort today, 89 of the 180 players had the opportunity to play the 17th hole on the River Course. The 17th hole was set up today as a 178 yard par-3 hole which plays right along side the mighty James River. With cross winds of 25 miles per hour constant and gusting in upwards of 40+ miles per hour, the hole played very tough.
The 17th hole on the River Course and the James River to the right during a tranquil day.
The Senior Palmer flight which has golfers playing off of handicaps of 4-7.9 and age 50+ made 17 play as their toughest hole of the day with a stroke average of 4.40. That is a full 1.4 strokes above par.
The Senior Hogan flight with golfers aged 50+ playing off handicaps of 8-11.9, had a stroke average of 4.23 for 13 players. It was the 5th toughest hole for their flight.
The Hogan flight had 19 golfers attempt to hit the green on 17 in regulation and had a stroke average of 4.10 strokes. The lowest to par ratio of all the groups who played the hole on Saturday. It played to their 7th toughest hole of the round
21 Sarazen (12-15.9 handicap) flight players had a stroke average of 4.66 strokes and played hole 17 as their 4th toughest hole of the day.
The Snead flight got a slight break teeing up from about 133 yards and averaged 4.52 strokes which was their 6th hardest hole.
All in all 89 golfers of all abilities averaged 4.37 strokes on the hole with a low score of par (3) and a highest stroke total of 8. Many balls were either lost to the James River or could not be found on the left towards hole 16. Lots of players had to aim well out over the James to be able to ride the wind and land their ball on the green.
It was a very fun day to play this hole in the gale winds and lots of smiles, shouting, and rejoicing was shared by many who were lucky to hit the green.
Those lucky enough to play this hole on Sunday during round 2 will have it a bit easier as the weather forecast is for only 10-15 miles per hour wind off the James River.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Kingsmill Classic Starts Tomorrow
Williamsburg, Va -- The Kingsmill Classic is ready to get underway as the course has been set up and marked by the Golf Channel Tournament Staff while playing and observing the course. Pittsburgh Tour members had the chance to practice on the Plantation Course all day and an afternoon shotgun start on the River Course in the late afternoon.
Our own tour director, Larry Hoffman even found a few hours of free time in between setting-up to play a few holes with Pittsburgh Tour members Peter Gitnik and Jim Huber on the Plantation Course.
Here is Larry hitting a tee shot on the 9th hole.
And Peter teeing off the 10th hole on the Plantation Course.
The tournament is scheduled to get underway tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 8am with rain, high winds, and a chance of lightning and hail in the afternoon. Please stay posted as we will update on the events in Williamsburg.
Our own tour director, Larry Hoffman even found a few hours of free time in between setting-up to play a few holes with Pittsburgh Tour members Peter Gitnik and Jim Huber on the Plantation Course.
The tournament is scheduled to get underway tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 8am with rain, high winds, and a chance of lightning and hail in the afternoon. Please stay posted as we will update on the events in Williamsburg.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Golf Channel Am Tour of Pittsburgh is on site of the Kingsmill Classic!
Staff and members of the Golf Channel Am Tour of Pittsburgh are currently on site preparing for the Kingsmill Classic Regional Tournament from their perch on the 9th fairway of the River Course. The 2-day tournament is being contested Saturday and Sunday on the Plantation and River Courses at the resort. Many golfers who followed the PGA and LPGA Tours will recognize the River Course from the past as the host course for events like the LPGA Michelob Ultra Championship and events on the PGA and Champions tour.
The River course's closing holes 16-18 are set beautifully along the James River and can play tough when there is a cross wind off or into the bay. How has anyone handled tough windy conditions off a large body of water near a course before? Any tips for playing in such windy conditions?
We wish a good luck to all Pittsburgh tour competitors this weekend and will update their statuses during the tournament.
Pittsburgh Tour members that are here to play in the Kingsmill Classic are:
Peter Gitnik
James Huber
Jerry O'Brien
Bob Swann
We look forward to seeing everyone else next Saturday, April 23rd at Old Stonewall for our opening event and party!
The River course's closing holes 16-18 are set beautifully along the James River and can play tough when there is a cross wind off or into the bay. How has anyone handled tough windy conditions off a large body of water near a course before? Any tips for playing in such windy conditions?
(The closing 18th hole on the River Course)
We wish a good luck to all Pittsburgh tour competitors this weekend and will update their statuses during the tournament.
Pittsburgh Tour members that are here to play in the Kingsmill Classic are:
Peter Gitnik
James Huber
Jerry O'Brien
Bob Swann
We look forward to seeing everyone else next Saturday, April 23rd at Old Stonewall for our opening event and party!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Pittsburgh Tour Season Opener - Olde Stonewall Golf Club
Peter Gitnik will be hosting a Season Opening Lunchen at Olde Stonewall Golf Club on April 23, 2011. Register early.
Olde Stonewall Golf Club - April 23, 2011
Peter Gitnik will be hosting a Season Opener Lunchen after our round on April 23, 2011 at Olde Stonewall Golf Club. Register Now.
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