Nick Cassini headlines winners at Georgia Tournament of Champions
2021 GSGA Tournament of Champions Winners - Lauren Davenport, Nick Cassini, Lori Whitaker, and Hal Lamb (Photo: GSGA)
The decorated amateur and University Georgia Circle of Honor member
Nick Cassini won Georgia's Tournament of Champions held at TPC Sugarloaf with a score of 1-under. Cassini's rounds of 70-73 made him the only player in the entire field to finish under par.
"The course was playing firm and fast," Cassini said. "The greens were lightning fast, too"
Cassini knew that scores weren't going to be low given how challenging TPC Sugarloaf was playing.
"I just needed to make as many pars as possible and take advantage of a few par fives where I could make some birdies."
A cadre of players were trying to chase down Cassini. Three players tied for second place at 1 over - David Nole Jr., Chris Blackburn, and
Bill Frankhouser. Nole Jr. was the first one to challenge Cassini. His front nine 33 in the final round gave him a one-shot lead after 27 holes, but a closing 38 allowed Cassini to wrestle back the lead.
Cassini got a front row seat to Chris Blackburn's scorching back nine. He made five birdies and pushed Cassini to do a bit of scoreboard watching, which he is comfortable with.
"I needed to know if I needed some birdies," Cassini said. "I don't mind looking at the scoreboard when I'm hitting it well, and I didn't want to be too aggressive and make a mistake I didn't need to make."
In the end, Blackburn hit a wayward tee shot on 18 and allowed Cassini to make a par and capture the win.
"It was exciting," Cassini said. "I was able to hit a bunch of greens and mitigate any mistakes."
Cassini, a reinstated amateur in 2018, is looking forward to taking some time this winter to work on his game and prepare for some more competitive golf next year in Georgia and beyond.
In the senior flight, Hal Lamb from Calhoun, Ga, strung together two rounds of 73 to beat Bill Telzerow by two shots. Paige Hood and Mike Leveille finished three shots back.
In the women's field, Lauren Davenport put together rounds of 81-78 to beat Maggie Whittaker by three shots.
Lori Whitaker won the senior women's division with rounds of 76-82 for a four-shot win over Brenda Pictor and Angie Lee.
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Georgia TOC
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Men's Club Champions of GSGA Member Clubs. 36
holes of individual, flighted stroke play.
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