TROON CHALLENGE DELIVERS ANOTHER SEASON OF EXCITING COMPETITION FOR AMATEUR GOLFERS
Champions Crowned Among field of 88 Players after National Finals at Troon North Golf Club
Scottsdale, Ariz. – After more than 12 weeks of hard-fought competition contested on 25 courses, spanning nine states and drawing nearly 1,000 amateur golfers, the 2013 Troon Challenge
recently culminated with an exciting National Finals Event held at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Troon Challenge is a series of amateur golf tournaments hosting two-person, modified best-ball (shamble) competitions at world-class Troon Golf,® facilities across the United States. Beginning May 2013, two-player teams competed in local qualifying events with a record total of 44 teams (88 players) eventually vying for the championship at the Troon North-hosted finals event held August 24-25, 2013.
“We appreciate the support of Callaway Golf and American Hole ‘n One in bringing the Troon Challenge to 25 locations across the country,” stated Ryan Walls, Troon’s senior vice president, operations, sales & marketing. “The Troon Challenge delivers a friendly yet competitive environment for amateur golfers looking to both build camaraderie with others through the sport and elevate their games by competing. This event will continue to grow as an important element of our ‘Play Troon’ programming, designed to grow the game of golf by offering players a diverse range of playing options.”
In the gross division of the Troon Challenge National Finals, the team of David Bates and Pete Lugowski, who qualified for the finals at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., got off to a hot start by shooting a blistering 62 on the Pinnacle course. The nine-under par round was good enough for a one-stroke lead with a total of five other teams within three shots of the lead. Teams arrived for round two on Sunday knowing that to win they would need to post a great number on the Monument course. The battle was fierce and in the end, the team of Katrina Delen-Briones & Miguel Camitoc, who qualified at Yocha Dehe in Brooks, Calif., came through, holing some critical putts down the stretch to shoot a score of 59. This gave them a two-day total of 124 which was enough to clip the first round leaders of Bates & Lugowski by two shots.
In the net division of the Troon Challenge National Finals, 23 teams were eager to try and tame Troon North. The team of Douglas Schaefer and Roy Deki, who qualified at Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz., and the team of Chris Grieder and Robert Baker, who qualified at Lake of Isles in North Stonington, Conn., both shot great rounds of 59 in round one, making them the co-leaders heading into day two. Sunday proved to be no different as both teams battled until the end. In exciting fashion, 36 holes of golf weren’t enough to decide a champion as both teams ended tied up again with two-day totals of 121. The championship was ultimately decided on the first playoff hole with the team of Grieder and Baker triumphed with a par.
2013 Troon Challenge National Finals Results
Gross Division
1st Katrina Delen-Briones & Miguel Camitoc: 65-59 = 124
2nd David Bates & Pete Lugowski: 62-64 = 126
3rd Jeff Koprivetz & Thomas Renli: 64-66 = 130
4th Chad Hossack & Sean O’Malley: 65-66 = 131
5th Dereck Allen & Eric Humphrey: 69-65 = 134
Net Division
*1st Chris Grieder & Robert Baker: 59-62 = 121
2nd Douglas Schaefer & Roy Deki: 59-62 = 121
3rd Dan Johnson & Jim Smith: 62-60 = 122
4th Zachary Winkler & Jason LaGrega: 62-65 = 127
5th Jason Pierse & Greg Sharp: 63-65 = 128
*- Team won on first playoff hole
For additional information on the Troon Challenge, visit www.troonchallenge.com