WARREN DEFEATS MACALI IN A-FLIGHT PLAYOFF; BAKER WINS FOR FIRST TIME IN 2011

Sylvester Warren

The Golfweek Amateur Tour stopped at Grand Cypress on April 16.  Always in great shape and a great challenge, this year was no exception.  For the third straight event, we had at least one playoff.  This time it came in the A flight where Rick Macali and Sylvester Warren (pictured) matched 18-hole totals of 75.  Ed Paterniti just missed joining them as he put up a 76.  Five more players were tied at 78.  In the playoff, Macali fired his tee shot OB and gave Sylvester the upper hand.  Still, he was able to make a bogey and force Sly to make a clutch par putt to win.  He did and the playoff was over.

Eric Baker shot a one over 73 to win Championship flight.  He is off to a fast start on tour this year as he placed second in the first event at Black Bear.  He was two strokes better than three players who tied with 75's--Brent Smith, Matt Tickle, and Chad Frank.  Tickle is also off to a good start as he has finished second in the last two events.

Adam Wilson carded a fine 78 to lead the way in B flight.  As good as it was, he needed every putt to drop as first time player Gary Martin was right behind him with a 79.  Three players tied with 80--Scotty Garcia, Chuck Henderson and Matt D'Auria.

A and B flights are the largest--25-35 players each--and each tournament is always exciting from start to finish.

Players Practice Putting Before Starting Off

Tour veteran Brian Mariani took first in C flight.  He shot an 84.  Britt Thompson, the winner last time out at Duran, was hot again as he shot 87 to finish in second place.  Randolph Hill was third with 88.  In the D flight, Chase Forsyth was the winner.  His score of 87 was well ahead of second place finishers Brandon Prokop and Joshua Johnson who finished with rounds of 96.

In the senior flights, Steve Maddox and Dennis Brady tied with 75 in the senior Championship flight.  They settled the tie on a scorecard match, which gave Steve the first place prize.  Ed Paterinit's 76 was good for the victory in senior A with Steve Johnson and Mike Lombardo two strokes back with 78's.  Chuck Henderson, playing in his first event this year put up a nice round of 80 to lead the way in Senior B flight.

NEXT EVENT:  April 30--Southern Dunes, 7:30 AM.