Hagy Posts Win at New Year's Invitational
ST. PETERSBURG, FL. (Jan. 9, 2011) -- After squandering a six shot lead with nine holes to play, Cal Bear Sophomore Brandon Hagy eagled the final hole of regulation play for a dramatic win over Arnond “Bank” Vongvanji from the University of Florida.
Going into the final nine holes Hagy had a comfortable 6 stroke lead over the Gator Senior who is commonly known as “Bank.” Bank took advantage of a Hagy bogey on hole ten with a birdie to cut the lead to 4. Hagy then bogied holes 12 and 14 and Bank took advantage again with a birdie on 14 to even the match.
Hagy had lost six shots in 5 holes.
When Hagy three-putted for birdie on the fifteenth hole to go one down, Bank was ready to cash in. He birdied the par-5 16th hole but Hagy came back with a birdie of his own after a near perfect chip from a poor lie.
Both players succumbed to a tough pin on the 165 yard par-3 17th hole by making bogey, leaving Bank with a one stroke lead with the par-5 18th left to play.
“I was thinking make eagle” commented Hagy when asked what going though his mind on the 18th tee. “I had already hit the green in two with iron earlier in the tournament. It was downwind to the left which really suited my draw."
Hagy proceeded to hit a perfect tee shot and a 240-yard 4-iron that covered the pin and finished 20 feet away. The stage was set.
“Bank just missed his birdie putt from 50 feet,” said Hagy “and I knew from the first look what my putt was going to do and I made it. It was three perfect shots.”
David Erdy finished in solo third with 70-70-72-72—284.
Billy Williamson (72-70-71-73—286) defeated Mike Barbosa (67-73-74-72—286 ) for the Mid-Am title on the third hole of sudden death.
Stuart Sierra (75-71-76—222) finished one stroke ahead of Ian Clarke (78-70-75—223) to capture the Senior crown
ABOUT THE
Historic invitational golf tournament that
originated
on the Lakewood golf course in 1927. This
same
amateur invitational tournament -- which
attracts
top Florida amateurs and a strong group of out-of-
state players as well --
continues,
unbroken, each year although the club
name was
later changed to St. Petersburg Country
Club.
The 2025 New Year's Invitational Champion will earn an exemption into the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a Korn Ferry Tour event.
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