Local Championship at Timberline Results

Amateur Players Tour – Birmingham was greeted with wonderful playing conditions over the weekend at Timberline Golf Club and the competition was fierce and all divisions were close to the very end. APT – Birmingham wants to give a shout out to Joe Kruse and his staff for the great service.

After day one, Division 1 was down to three players vying for the victory. Derek Nicholson (+2), Kevin Schrum (+3), and Canaan Mularski (+5) made the final pairing for Sunday and the fireworks started early. Kevin Schrum was able to tie for the lead after the first hole of round two when Derek Nicholson bogeyed the opening hole. The tie was short lived as Derek birded holes three thru six to open a seven-shot lead. With early round struggles for Kevin, it opened the door for Canaan Mularski to post an even par round for the day to take second place. Derek Nicholson took the win with rounds of 73 and 71 for a two-day total of 144 and was also named Division 1 Player of the Year.

Division 2 decided that 36 holes of golf was not enough to declare a champion. Anthony Valdez and Cody Watson finished at +15 for the two-day total to make the playoff. After both players parred the first playoff hole both players proceeded to the 18^th hole for the second sudden death playoff hole. This is where a chipping contest broke out with Anthony getting up and down from the front of the green to secure the victory with a par on the second playoff hole.  Russ Donaldson shot 74 in the final round to take third place but was also named Division 2 Player of the Year.

Division 3 was what the Amateur Players Tour is all about. All players in the field where within two shots of each other going into the second day creating a true shootout for day two. Even after 36 holes, we still needed extra golf to decide the champion. Christian Cox and Jason Harbin both posted +30 for two rounds. Christian outlasted Jason on the first playoff hole with a great par on the 17^th hole which had a pin tucked on the back right shelf of the green. Tyler Slaten finished third, one shot out of the playoff, but was named Division 3 Player of the Year.

The trend for the local finals in Division 4 continued, playoffs galore. Kenneth Hancock and Todd Gober both posted +27 for two days to force the playoff. When Kenneth Hancock hit his second shot into the green, he did not like what he saw, the shot was heading directly to the greenside bunker. However, the rake to the trap was “conveniently” placed as Kenneth described to keep his ball from going into the bunker. Kenneth capitalized on this break and went on to win the playoff. Mark Rigby was named Division 4 Player of the Year after a solid season of golf.

Division 5 did everything in its power to have yet another playoff, but Jeff Noel parred his final hole to win the championship by one shot over Wilson Gamill. The battle between these two was up and down all day long with lead changes and ties all throughout the round. Although Jeff won the tournament, Wilson’s performance was good enough for him to be named Division 5 Player of the Year. Congrats to both players.

The 2022 season is right around the corner with events beginning the first week of November. Keep an eye out for the 2022 schedule which will be updated as we finalize dates with venues.