TICKLE SCORES SECOND ACE ON TOUR THIS YEAR;  THREE PLAYOFFS NEEDED AT FALCON'S FIRE

Matt Tickle Scores Ace at Falcon's Fire

Matt Tickle scored the second ace on the Orlando Golfweek Amateur Tour in 2011.  He did it on the 3rd hole at Falcon's Fire  Although he was not in the Hole in One pot, he was thrilled with the feat--the first ace of his career.  Steve Cleary scored an ace at Orange Lake earlier in the year..

And that was just the beginning.  Before the day was done, three playoffs were needed to decide flight winners.  In the Championship flight it was John Henry (L) and James Strickland (R) who matched 1-under rounds of 70 to tie for the top spot.  So off they went to the After 3 holes were halved with pars, they came to the reachable par-5 fourth hole.  Each golfer made birdie and then they halved the fifth hole with pars.  Finally on the sixth extra hole, Henry broke through with a birdie to claim the longest playoff in tour history.  Bill Shufelt and Zack Frazier tied for third with 74's.  Eric Baker rounded out the top five with 75.

In A flight, Rick Macali had the hot hand.  He opened with a first nine of 2-over 38 and then followed it up with a sizzling 2-under par 34 for an even par round of 72.  It was his low round on tour.  Ryan Scheve, who's fine 74 would have won on most any other day, had to settle for second place.

The B flight produced another playoff with Mike Salik and Ben Hamby (L-R, respectively at left) posting nice rounds of 80 to edge past third place Dan Seidenfaden by a single stroke.  They headed to the par-5 10th hole to settle the outcome.  It took only one hole as Mike prevailed with a par.

C flight provided the thrid playoff of the day as Brian Bowman and Twe Hopkins matched scores of 86 to tie for the top spot.  It was the fastest playoff in history I think as it seemed like no sooner than we send them out, they came back with Brian winning on the first extra hole.  A poor approach shot left Hopkins unable to match Bowman's par.  Brian Mack shot 89 to finish 3rd.

The D flight, always close, did not disappoint this week.  Josh Johnson captured the victory by shooting 90.  He finished three strokes ahead of Alberto Esperon.  and Chase Forsyth tied for thrid with Dan Salik.  Chase won the scorecard playoff.

Steve Maddox took top honors in Senior Championship with 73.  He edged Joe Ondo by one shot.  Senior A belonged to Jeff Bradshaw.  He shot 75.  Ed Paterniti was next with 77 and Arnie Guerra finished thrid with 79.  Senior B saw Ben Hamby's 80 hold up for first place without a playoff.  Chuck Henderson missed forcing a playoff by one shot as he came in with 81.  John Cruise won third place with 82..

NEXT EVENT--July 23, Orange County National--Crooked Cat