Backspin Volume 3, Issue 1 | Page 40

sectionnews Yelverton wins his first Section Championship Yelverton At the end of two rounds, two players sat atop the leaderboard at the Gulf States PGA E-Z-GO Section Championship held at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi Oct. 19th and 20th. PGA Professional Tim Yelverton secured the victory over Chip Sullivan on the third playoff hole. Yelverton, PGA teaching professional at Old Waverly Golf Club, fired one of only two under par rounds during the first round. With a 4-under par first round of 68, Chip Sullivan, PGA director of golf at Patrick Farms Golf Club, had the other. “I putted extremely well in round one,” said Yelverton. “I started similarly both days. I started off making three bogeys in the first five holes today [Round 2], but was able to turn it around.” The field experienced more bogeys and less birdies during the second round, allowing for the competition to close in on the lead. PGA Professional Phil Schmitt of Backspin Magazine and PGA Professional Derek Sanders tied for third at 147. Schmitt was the only player in the field to post an under par round on Tuesday. “I’ve been a member since 2010, and this is the best Section Championship I have ever played in,” said Yelverton. “The greens were absolutely perfect. The hospitality from Southern Farm Bureau, Mark Danton and Ouray, Jani-King and the staff at Annandale were fantastic. Of course any time we do anything with the Nelsons (Ben Nelson Golf & Utility Vehicles and E-Z-GO), they take great care of us. Everything was first class.” This marks Yelverton’s first E-ZGO Section Championship victory. He has finished in second place the previous two years. With his win, Yelverton has earned an exemption into the 2016 Zurich Classic of New Orleans being held at TPC Louisiana on April 28-May 1, 2016. Ben Nelson, Benji Nelson, Russ Pitts, and Seth King of Ben Nelson Golf and Utility Vehicles and E-ZGO supported the tournament. The PGA Tour, J.J. O’Neill with Jani-King, Mark Danoton and Southern Farm Bureau also sponsored the event. PGA Head Professional Cliff Bailey, PGA Assistant Professional Ben Martin, Assistant Professional Chad Darby, and Superintendent Al Osteen along with the rest of the staff at Annandale received accolades for hosting the championship. Fuselier team captures Pro-Am Series The Gulf States PGA Section’s National Car Rental PGA Pro-Am presented by Silver Slipper Casino and Hotel was won by Wayne Fuselier, PGA Professional from Chateau Golf & Country Club, and his team of amateurs including James Fuselier, Corky Baras and Lou Savoie. Diamondhead Country Club (Cardinal Course) hosted the event Nov. 10. It was the second tournament of the year conducted in the National Car 38 Wayne Fuselier, James Fuselier, Corky Baras , Lou Savoie win National Car Rental Pro-Am at the Silver Slipper. Rental PGA ProAm Series in the Gulf States Section. Twenty five teams followed a format consisting of one low gross score and one low net score on each hole. Fuselier’s team ended the day with a winning score of 21-under-par 123. PGA Professional Gavin Vegas of New Orleans Country Club took the low pro honors, by way of scorecard playoff, shooting a 3-under-par 69 to edge out Olly Thomson of Canton Country Club and Billy Allen of Deerfield Golf Club. Amateur golfer John Brown won the low net division with a score of 64. The Gulf States PGA Section acknowledged National Car Rental, Baxter Lee and the Silver Slipper Casino, and Dan and Kitty Peoples for supporting the National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series.