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The 2024 season for APT Tulsa came to an exciting end this past weekend at the beautiful confines of Shangri-La Resort in Afton, Oklahoma on Grand Lake. Forty-Six players signed in with hopes of winning the finals trophy and doubled prize pool, while several had their eyes on the coveted “Player of the Year” award. Shangri-La provided the perfect backdrop and Mother Nature gave us perfect weather for the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Division 1. Last season’s finals duel between Andy Proctor and Sajan Patel was a repeat as we got things going on Saturday, as this year the roles were reversed. Proctor came into the event with the points lead with Patel looking to avenge last year’s final nine letdown and steal the title from Proctor. Proctor started off with double bogey and it was game on right away. However, with his eye on the prize, Proctor settled in, closing birdie, par, eagle to post 73 and place the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Patel. Sajan took advantage of Proctor’s slow start to make things interesting by going out in 1 over 37, but fatigue became a huge factor. Patel had driven nearly 6 hours just to play in the finals that morning and by late afternoon, began to show the effect of the trip up. A very uncharacteristic 45 on the inward nine effectively took Patel out of the running for POY. Collin New, looking to take the finals hardware home, stayed with Proctor throughout the first round until an untimely quadruple bogey on the final hole took him out of the picture. Collin regrouped on day 2 to place second with Patel firing the low round of the day with 75 to take home third place. Proctor finished the day as the finals champion and the “Player of the Year” in Division 1.
Division 2. Through eleven local events and countless National Major opportunities, nine players remained mathematically eligible to win “Player of the Year” in D2. However, it became a three-horse race down the stretch of the last three holes. With the scoring area littered with players that had finished, everyone was doing the math and watching the leaderboard as Alex Shearer, Rick Coatney, Brue Yi, Tom Lorenz, and Chris Matheny came down the last three holes. In the end, with multiple scenarios in play, it was Alex Shearer, with birdie on 16 and a clutch up and down scrambling par on 18 to win “Player of the Year” honors by a mere 2.7 points, making it the closest points race in APT Tulsa history. Not to be overshadowed, Joel Lake went out on day 1 and fired a superb 73 to take a 6-shot lead in to day 2. Lake followed up his career best day with APT by closing with 78 and winning the finals for his first career APT Tulsa victory. Ryan Hanshew, a three-time winner this year, fired consecutive 79’s for runner up Chris Matheny finishing third.
Division 3. D3 points leader Michael Foster ended any doubt of who would take home “Player of the Year” honors early on day two by going out in even par 36 to wipe away Norman Springwater’s four shot lead. Foster closed with a three over 39 to shoot 75 on the day and ran away with both the finals hardware and “Player of the Year” honors. First round leader Norman Springwater couldn’t keep pace with Foster, finishing second with Greg McEntire rounding out the podium. Foster picked up his fourth overall victory this season with multiple APT chapters, including a “Day After the Major” event.
Division 4. Division 4 was another nail biter coming down the stretch with Bill Casey in hot pursuit of points leader Sean Cook. Cook, a five-time winner on tour this season, including APT Tulsa’s first National Major winner at Branson’s Independence Open, started off slow by posting 93. Casey, with 2 wins and 5 runners-up, posted 95, staying within striking distance of Cook. Dewitt Jennings stole the show on day one by shooting 85 and holding a 7 shot advantage over second place Michael Byrd. Day two saw Jennings stumble out of contention while Byrd’s steady play looked like a final’s winner. However, all eyes were fixed on a hard charging Bill Casey whose “refuse to lose” attitude had him closing quickly on Cook. Casey finished with three consecutive pars to put the pressure on Cook. Cook watched his putt drop for bogey on the final hole to tie Casey with a two-day total 179 to narrowly escape with “Player of the Year” honors. Casey fought brilliantly to finish in a tie for second overall with Michael Byrd taking home the Finals trophy.
Division 5. D5 came down to Roger Flud and Natrone Wolfe battling for the “POY” award. Flud had the points lead and Wolfe was in chase mode as they came down to the final nine holes. Wolfe put together a solid round to win the battle, but Flud hung on to win the war, taking “Player of the Year” honors. The final hole played a big part in the outcome, but it was Deandre Jennings that delivered all the drama. Jennings had a stroke advantage on Flud, holding down second place and the points needed for Wolfe to steal the “POY’ from Flud. However, it was a double bogey on the final hole by Jennings that relegated him to third, handing the points title to Flud. Flud finished with a 20-point lead over Wolfe for the season. Flud picked up three wins on the year to help secure the title.
Senior Net. Joel Lake took control on day one early and never looked back, blowing the field away in the Senior Net division. Lake took a commanding lead into day 2 and never gave anyone a chance to catch him with his continued stellar play. Michael Foster, who shot a personal best with APT on day 2 with a 73, vaulted himself into second with Owasso’s Chris Matheny rounding out the top 3. Matheny a two-time winner on tour, ended the season on high note by taking home “Senior Net Player of the Year” honors.
