Nathan Andersen Wins 39th Annual Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions

18-19 October 2003 - Lake Charles, LA - The Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions was won by 29 year old Nathan Anderson. Anderson is the first non-pro champion( novice) to win the 16 round two day event and the coveted gray blazer in the event's 38 years history.

Anderson, in his first attempt, won with a total of 419, thirteen strokes ahead of second place Jeffrey Smith. Because Anderson. a non pro wishing to protect his U.S.G.A. amateur status, was limited to receiving the jacket, entry reimbursement and $150 gift certificate, Jeffrey Smith received the bulk of the first place money.($500). Third place went to Don Parker at 434 while Brice Bergesen and Byron Kirby tied for fourth. Sixth place was tied at 441 between Lee Messinger and Mickey DeLucca. Nineteen champion qualifiers played.

Course owner, Greg Simpson, surprised his father by announcing a 2005 name change of the event. It will become the Al Simpson Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions.

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 39th Annual Gulf Coast Tournament of Champions
(18-19 October 2003 - 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 Nathan Anderson 27 26 23 27 28 24 29 29 28 28 26 26 25 24 25 24 419 $150.00
2 Jeffrey Smith 26 29 25 26 28 27 30 27 28 28 27 28 28 24 24 27 432 $ 410.00
3 Don Parker 25 29 27 24 26 28 32 28 31 29 26 29 23 28 21 28 434 $ 192.50
4 Byron Kirby 25 25 27 25 32 29 30 28 24 28 27 28 28 29 26 26 437 $ 271.75*
5 Brice Bergesen 27 26 25 27 27 29 31 26 31 27 28 29 30 23 23 28 437 $ 129.25
6 Mickey DeLucca 27 26 24 28 27 31 28 33 28 30 28 26 30 27 24 24 441  
  Lee Messinger 30 28 26 24 32 28 26 31 28 26 27 32 29 23 24 26 441 $ 99.00
8 Rainey Statum 30 23 26 23 30 34 30 29 26 29 28 30 25 26 26 29 444 $ 47.50
9 Mike Baldoza 28 29 26 28 30 28 27 26 28 31 30 28 24 29 27 28 447  
10 Andy Gaiser 26 30 29 25 31 27 26 33 25 30 29 31 24 28 27 27 448  
11 Wade Sahmel 28 27 24 29 28 27 31 28 30 29 32 30 27 30 28 29 457  
12 Rhet Wylie 28 31 31 23 33 31 29 34 25 30 26 32 26 26 29 25 459  
13 Charles Cox 32 27 32 29 31 27 31 30 31 28 31 31 28 25 29 24 467  
  Pat Simpson 28 31 26 30 29 33 28 29 30 29 27 33 28 30 30 26 467  
15 Greg Simpson 25 29 31 28 34 30 27 33 31 33 30 29 29 23 30 29 470  
16 Gary Glasscock 25 29 31 28 34 30 27 33 31 33 30 29 29 23 30 29 471  
17 Al Simpson 27 31 28 27 31 33 29 33 30 30 30 33 28 29 28 33 480  
18 Trevor Lewin 29 27 30 26 28 33 31 34 29 38 36 33 23 30 30 25 482  
19 Lloyd Navarro, Jr. 33 31 27 30 33 31 32 35 36 37 36 39 29 36 29 36 524  
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