Byron Kirby
Wins 38th Annual Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions
19-20 October 2002 - Lake Charles, LA -
Lake Charles, La.
Byron Kirby,
club pro from Lake Charles La., won the 2002 Gulf Coast Tournament of
Champions. Kirby shot 148 under par for the16 round event to defeat the
defending champion, Rainey Statum of Kingwood Texas by one stroke. After
the first four rounds, Houston’s Wade Sahmel led with a score of 99.
Sahmel, Statum and Kirby traded the lead several times. Statum held a
two stroke lead over Kirby and Sahmel going to the final round. Kirby
shot a 25 and waited for Statum and Sahmel, playing in the next group,
to finish. Statum was 8 under par with 5 holes to play. One ace and four
deuces would tie Kirby.
Statum looked primed to repeat as champion. After scoring two on 14,
15 and 16, however, Statum needed an ace on 17 to tie and have a chance
on 18 to win. Statum’s shot on 17 lipped the hole and turned the ball
down the curved approach to the hole. Statum made a bogie, which cinched
the win for Kirby. The bogie dropped Statum into a tie with Sahmel,
going to 18. Sahmel missed the Course 2 , 18th hole for the first time
in 8 attempts. Statum aced the final hole to take sole possession of
second place. Sahmel, Kirby and Statum won the money for low score in
each of the first four rounds, respectively.
Kirby had also won this event in 1984, prior to the Blazer being
offered. Kirby now gets his blazer with a monogrammed putter head on his
pocket and one on his sleeve, indicating his second victory. Kirby is
the first La. based PPA pro to win this event since 1989, when players
from outside La. were invited to participate. Statum holds the record of
most wins: seven in the last 12 years.
Gulf Coast Tournament of
Champions
Annually, for 37 years, the Lake Charles La. Putt-Putt Golf Course
has hosted a Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions. Until 1990, the
original title was the La. Putt-Putt Golf Course Tournament of Champions
and only Louisiana players were eligible to play by satisfying the
player eligibility rules.
In 1990 Al Simpson, the course owner originating the format, changed
the format to include all Putt-Putt players who meet the eligibility
requirements.
This is not an open event. Those permitted to play must win a current
year’s local, state or National tournament. Winning a state or National
event in their playing career as a novice, amateur or pro. or being a
past winner of the Tournament of Champions provides lifetime exempt
status from having to qualify annually. (Being a member of a winning
team event doesn’t qualify you to participate).
The entry fee is $50. for any novice, amateur of pro. This covers
your play and practice for one week prior to the event , 16 rounds
(eight rounds per day) and breakfast on Sunday morning.
Five dollars is taken from each entry and awarded to the player who
scores the lowest for the first four rounds, the second four rounds and
the third four rounds. The remaining prize money goes to the winner
minus the cost of a regency cut Gray Blazer($150). The blazer comes with
a putter head monogrammed on the pocket. Should you win more than one
event, a putter head is added to the left sleeve and you win an
additional $140.
Participating PPA members (current
membership required) may pay an additional $50 to be able to win 2nd,
3rd, 4th or 5th place money. Amateurs are limited to winning a total or
$200 expense money and may not play for 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th place. The
amateurs and novices are eligible to win the money awarded for the
lowest four round segments, however, the maximum novice and amateur
putters may win, is a total of $200.
In 2003, five dollars from each entry will be awarded for the lowest
final four round total and for low 18 hole round for the entire 16
rounds. Ten percent of the total additional $50 pro entry fee will go to
the champion, if the player has paid the additional fee. If the winner
has paid the additional fee, the percentage will be 31%, 23%, 19% and
17%.
The percentages used to determine the distribution of the additional
monies will be 35%, 27%, 20% and 18%. if the winner hasn’t paid the
additional fee. Starting time is 9 A.M. Saturday and Sunday, the third
week-end in October annually.
Professional Division of
38th Annual Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions
(19-20 October 2002 - Lake Charles, LA)
| |
|
Round |
|
Prize |
| |
Player |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
Total |
Money |
| 1 |
Byron Kirby |
24 |
28 |
28 |
27 |
25 |
28 |
27 |
28 |
27 |
29 |
22 |
27 |
26 |
27 |
30 |
25 |
428 |
$ 445 |
| 2 |
Rainey Statum |
25 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
31 |
28 |
32 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
25 |
29 |
24 |
28 |
28 |
429 |
$ 245 |
| 3 |
Wade Sahmel |
27 |
23 |
27 |
22 |
27 |
31 |
29 |
26 |
32 |
25 |
27 |
28 |
26 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
430 |
$ 189 |
| 4 |
Lee Messinger |
26 |
30 |
24 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
24 |
31 |
23 |
28 |
23 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
440 |
$ 140 |
| 5 |
Brice Bergesen |
30 |
27 |
26 |
32 |
27 |
30 |
30 |
25 |
28 |
26 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
31 |
28 |
27 |
444 |
$ 126 |
| 6 |
David Lynch |
26 |
26 |
27 |
29 |
28 |
32 |
27 |
28 |
30 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
30 |
27 |
30 |
30 |
452 |
|
| 7 |
Greg Simpson |
30 |
25 |
28 |
28 |
32 |
33 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
26 |
30 |
27 |
28 |
27 |
29 |
28 |
458 |
|
| 8 |
Mickey DeLucca |
28 |
25 |
27 |
27 |
33 |
28 |
36 |
28 |
29 |
27 |
31 |
26 |
25 |
29 |
28 |
33 |
460 |
|
| 9 |
Don Parker |
30 |
33 |
31 |
27 |
33 |
29 |
31 |
30 |
26 |
28 |
26 |
28 |
28 |
27 |
28 |
30 |
465 |
|
| 10 |
Andy Gaiser |
29 |
28 |
29 |
26 |
32 |
35 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
32 |
26 |
29 |
28 |
31 |
32 |
32 |
470 |
|
| 11 |
Al Simpson |
27 |
23 |
34 |
27 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
32 |
29 |
33 |
28 |
23 |
27 |
31 |
35 |
31 |
475 |
|
| 12 |
Charles Simpson |
26 |
32 |
29 |
27 |
30 |
30 |
31 |
33 |
28 |
34 |
34 |
32 |
28 |
31 |
29 |
27 |
481 |
|
| 13 |
Trevor Lewin |
27 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
33 |
30 |
32 |
32 |
28 |
31 |
33 |
32 |
30 |
32 |
33 |
31 |
494 |
|
| 14 |
Adam Sahmel |
28 |
30 |
32 |
29 |
37 |
35 |
33 |
33 |
27 |
32 |
30 |
27 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
30 |
495 |
|
| 15 |
Cliff Matthews |
27 |
24 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
31 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
Withdrew |
| 16 |
Jeff Smith |
24 |
29 |
33 |
24 |
37 |
30 |
28 |
27 |
25 |
27 |
31 |
22 |
Withdrew |
| 17 |
Steve Berglund |
31 |
32 |
25 |
31 |
29 |
34 |
37 |
28 |
33 |
30 |
34 |
27 |
Withdrew |