SOUTHERN OPEN

With the Midwest and West behind it the GTLRC headed south on a brisk October weekend for the penultimate round of the GT tour, the Golden Tee LIVE Southern Open.

With its famous tavern scene and fun-loving attitude, the South has always been a hotbed of Golden Tee action. Georgia, Florida and Texas are famous for cultivating some of best players in the game and the list goes on-and-on. The Southern Open set the stage for the Regional Championship spotlight to shine on this storied collection of players. But only one of them would be crowned the champion. ■
 

CHANGE IN VENUE A MEMPHIS MIRACLE

“Change is the handmaiden that nature requires to do her miracles with” - Mark Twain

While the words "Golden Tee" may never have been included in his famous tales about life on the mighty Mississippi River, a quote from Mark Twain is the most fitting way to begin the story of the Southern Open.

Planned back in March of 2006, the Golden Tee Southern Open was anticipated to be the most popular spot on the Regional Championship tour. More Golden Tee LIVE games and players reside throughout the region and it's final venue, the Grand Casino in Tunica, MS, is known as the best and biggest casino resort between Atlantic City and Las Vegas. With the largest qualifying field over 1,200 strong and the greatest amount of pre-registered players (170) all indications pointed to the South being the largest regional event.

But on Thursday, October 12th, a monkey wrench was thrown into the mix when Incredible Technologies regretfully announced a last minute change of venue from the Grand Casino. A last minute conflict brought on by the casino prohibited IT from holding the Southern Open on casino property a mere 8-days before the tournament was scheduled to begin.

How could IT save the tournament? How could they consolidate 8 months of planning into 8 days?

But during these dark hours of change emerged a “miracle” for Golden Tee Golf.

Just 20 miles north of Tunica up the Mississippi River lay the FedExForum in the heart of the city's Beale St. entertainment district. The home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team stepped up to the plate and accepted the opportunity to host the Golden Tee Southern Open in their Grand Lobby. With a larger-than-life appeal and some world-class Southern hospitality, the "show that must go on" went on in a venue that was more amazing than any in the Golden Tee history books. The home of the blues and the birthplace of rock n’ roll welcomed the Golden Tee LIVE Southern Open - and its collection of colorful characters - with open arms. ■

TEAM USA: THE BATTLE ON BEALE STREET

One of the few downsides to the last-minute change was the consolidation of the Regional Championships normal two-day final into a one-day showdown on October 21st. Gary Colabuono, IT Marketing Director and event emcee, greeted players Saturday morning at FedExForum with opening remarks that were followed by the start of the day's first event, the Team USA Shootout. The top 16 Southern qualifiers made up the field and a tough head-to-head, single elimination format decided who would move on to compete on Golden Tee’s global stage in the spring of '07. The winner of the Southern Team USA shootout would join Midwest winner - Matt Estepp, Western Winner - Rod Critchlow and reigning world champion, Chris Eversole to make up the fourth member of the team.

Many of the top sixteen qualifiers were no strangers to the Golden Tee World Championship spotlight, including former members Chris Litzinger, Sean Gervais, Tobin Carter, John Thurston and Daniel Gralapp.  With the FedExForum big screen showing every moment of action, these five past WC stars battled eleven glory-hungry competitors for the all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas and the possible $15,000 payday that goes along with it.

Ryan McCook, “Piano” Steve Dakin, Reid Somori, Tobin Carter, Chris Litzinger, David Long, Sean Gervais, and John "Fuzzy" Thurston found victories in first round of the single elimination bracket.  Leaving four of the five former Team USA members alive for the next round.

Round two was a rough one for the Florida crew, as #1 qualifier McCook was defeated by Dakin and Team USA favorite Gervais was taken out by another former Team USA member,  Thurston.   Somori knocked out another Florida top-dog in Orlando's Carter, while Litzinger defeated long-time Georgia star Charles David Long.

The Cincinnati charge was in full effect as two of the southern Ohio city's own competed in the semi-final against two old-school stars of the Golden Tee world.  Litzinger, who played his southern qualifying games just over the border in Kentucky, defeated Thurston for a chance to move on to the finals.  While Somori, another Kentucky-based qualifier, bested Dakin who has yet to add Team USA to his amazing list of GT accomplishments.

The all-Cincinnati final had a deeper coincidence than just geography.  Litzinger, one of the most successful Golden Tee players of all-time, has mentored Somori over the years making the young Ohioan one of the games rising stars.  But a match of this importance knows no teacher or student, when there’s a possible $15,000 payday on the line.

You could hear a pin drop in the Grand Lobby of FedExForum as these two GT experts battled.  The mood was serious as Litzinger hoped to return to the Worlds for a second time.  While Somori put up an amazing fight, it wasn't enough for the protégé to top his teacher as Chris Litzinger defeated him to win the fourth coveted roster spot on Golden Tee Team USA 2007!

After being congratulated by current reigning world champion, Chris Eversole, Litzinger said, "It was great to play against Reid in the finals.  We've been playing together for a long time and he has really become a great player.  I'm proud of him," he added.  About his second chance to head to the world championship, Litzinger said that he didn't think it was going to happen in Memphis.  "I really hoped to make the Team this year, but I didn't think I was going to be able to do it against this field today," he said.  "I can't wait to compete in the Worlds again." ■
 

Congratulations Chris Litzinger on Winning the Southern Team USA Shootout!
Reid and Chris head to head	Chris pulls off the victory	Chris Eversole congratulates Chris Litzinger	Chris proudly shows his path to victory.