GOLDEN TEE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS |
................................................................................
Andy Haas Wins $10,000 Prize
and is Inducted into Golden Tee Society
As if the title of Champion is not prestigious
within itself, a new designation of video golf supremacy exists within the
vast world of Golden Tee: Champion of Champions.
The Golden Tee Tournament of Champions (TOC) was
held December 3rd and 4th, 2004, at Splinters
Sports Club in Palatine, Illinois one of Golden Tee Golfs most famous
locations. This 39-man, invitation only tournament featured a compilation
of 2004s most elite and highly skilled Golden Tee players. To qualify
for the field, players were required to be crowned a champion in any of
this years major online or live GT contests between February and
November.
"This new format was designed to enhance the
excitement and importance for all of our Golden Tee contests throughout
the past year," said Scott Morrison, VP of Marketing for Incredible
Technologies. "Only true champions were invited to the TOC, which really
set the stage for a sensational event," he added.
The tournament commenced Friday evening with a
head-to-head, Closest-to-the-Pin contest open to all TOC qualifiers. A
$700 prize pool, provided Tim-Todd Amusements and Splinter's Sports Club,
was at stake for the top competitors, along with prizes from Top Flite
Golf® and Incredible Technologies. Jim Johnsen,
of Rockville, Maryland, defeated Charles David Long, of McDonough,
Georgia, to win first place, while David Haulman, of Battlecreek,
Michigan, defeated Steve Dakin, of Wellington, Florida, for third.
After Fridays exciting warm-up contest, 40 players
filtered back into Splinter's for the start of the TOC. A total prize
pool of $63,000 was in contention, along with an induction into the Golden
Tee Society - the most prestigious honor in video golf. A three-course
qualifier was held to determine the seeding for the 16-man event. $100,
also provided by Tim-Todd Amusements and Splinter's Sports Club, was
rewarded to the player who shot the top qualifying score on each course.
Matt Leader, of Richmond, Virginia, Jeff Schaefer, of
Arlington, Washington and Andy Haas, of Stow, Ohio, won the bonuses
for their outstanding qualification scores. Haas' impressive
qualification bout not only earned him $100, but the top seed in match
play as well.
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54 Hole
Qualifier Results |
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Seed |
Player |
Score |
GSP |
Long Drive |
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1 |
A Haas |
-74 |
88,195 |
406 |
|
2 |
C Eversole |
-74 |
45,330 |
367 |
|
3 |
A Tellman |
-72 |
52,088 |
371 |
|
4 |
B Bernhardt |
-71 |
70,232 |
391 |
|
5 |
J Schaefer |
-70 |
100,020 |
368 |
|
6 |
J Harlow |
-70 |
91,924 |
357 |
|
7 |
J Arney |
-70 |
64,154 |
367 |
|
8 |
D Root |
-69 |
56,554 |
375 |
|
9 |
M Firestone |
-69 |
30,860 |
375 |
|
10 |
C Oleson |
-68 |
36,030 |
367 |
|
11 |
J Caradonna |
-67 |
63,125 |
365 |
|
12 |
D Liakakos |
-67 |
56,816 |
364 |
|
13 |
T Payne |
-67 |
42,126 |
373 |
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14 |
J Krull |
-67 |
29,723 |
372 |
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15 |
J Vordahl |
-67 |
25,600 |
366 |
|
16 |
N Schomberg |
-66 |
63,209 |
371 |
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17 |
M Leader |
-65 |
58,739 |
369 |
|
18 |
B Stegall |
-65 |
26,429 |
363 |
|
19 |
P Kovacs |
-63 |
79,563 |
404 |
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20 |
J Matkovich |
-63 |
71,481 |
385 |
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21 |
W Lee |
-62 |
41,636 |
390 |
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22 |
S Dakin |
-62 |
12,940 |
371 |
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23 |
J Johnsen |
-61 |
82,799 |
365 |
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24 |
L Bennett |
-61 |
58,109 |
367 |
|
25 |
R Roberts |
-61 |
34,213 |
372 |
|
26 |
C Long |
-60 |
84,948 |
382 |
|
27 |
M Sameroff |
-60 |
32,748 |
365 |
|
28 |
R Lemmon |
-59 |
44,229 |
369 |
|
29 |
D Duncan |
-59 |
10,476 |
376 |
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30 |
M Demko |
-55 |
0 |
391 |
|
31 |
J Allums |
-52 |
26,870 |
388 |
|
32 |
G Ketchman |
-52 |
20,003 |
364 |
|
33 |
K Kern |
-48 |
17,632 |
367 |
|
34 |
S Fuchik |
-47 |
37,006 |
398 |
|
35 |
S Carter |
-45 |
26,148 |
350 |
|
36 |
A Abrahamowicz |
-43 |
32,412 |
358 |
|
37 |
K Case |
-40 |
9,271 |
354 |
|
38 |
D Haulman |
-38 |
53,469 |
386 |
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39 |
E Barnett |
-33 |
37,778 |
363 |
As the head-to-head competition commenced, many of
the early favorites were eliminated in the first round. 2003 World
Champion, Chris Eversole, of Atlanta, Georgia, and 2003 Blind Play
Champion, Brian Bernhardt, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were two of the
notable round one victims.
Four-time Player of the Year, Dean Liakakos,
of Dayton, Ohio, and 2004 World Champion, Jeff Harlow, of
Florissant, Missouri, charged through the first two rounds to advance to
the final four, as did Charlie Oleson, of Palatine, Illinois.
Continuing his streak of perfection, 2004 Team USA member and Chicago Open
winner, Haas, also worked his way to the semi-final round.
In front of an excited crowd, Haas defeated
Liakakos to move on to the finals, while the hometown hero,
Oleson, upset the newly crowned World Champion, Harlow, to
advance to the championship round.
All eyes were on the big screens as Haas and
Oleson stepped up to the trackball, where a packed house was
watching the video golf excitement. Two victories were required to pocket
the $10,000 prize and Haas was up to the challenge. Despite a
hard-fought battle from the 52-year old investment advisor, Oleson,
Andy Haas shot two rounds of lights out golf to win the prestigious
tournament and become engraved for lifetime into the Golden Tee Society.
"Luck must be on my side in Chicago!" said the
22-year-old Miami of Ohio student during a post-match interview. "Winning
the Chicago Open in October was great, but this definitely tops it. This
was such a great field and I am proud to be a part of it," he added.
Haas won $10,000 and a coveted Golden Tee
Society leather bomber jacket for his first place performance, while
Oleson, the runner up, pocketed $5,000. Third place finisher,
Harlow, received a $3,000 check and Liakakos earned $2,500 for
his fourth place finish.
Tournament of Champions Results
17th
39th Each Received $1,000
9th
16th | $1,375
Nate
Schomberg - Mark Firestone - Brian Bernhardt
Jeff Schaefer - Chris Eversole - Jerry Arney
James Krull - Joe Carradonna
5th
- 8th | $1,875
Dayton
Root - Tom Payne - Jeff Vordahl -Andy Tellman
.............................................................................
4th | $2,500 - Dean Liakakos
3rd |
$3,000 - Jeff Harlow
2nd |
$5,000 - Charlie Oleson
1st |
$10,000 - Andy Haas
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Hometown hero, Charlie Oleson, tees-off in the
semi-final round of match play |
Team USA members and TOC participants, (L to R) Marc Sameroff and
William Lee, kick-back and watch the action during the final rounds
|
Best of the best: (L to R) 2003 World Champion, Chris Eversole, and
3-time National Champion, Steven Sobe, take a break
during from the TOC action
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Championship cups, check and coat were showcased
throughout the entire TOC |
Eye on the prize: a $10,000 check awaited the champion of champions
|
39 players and tons of spectators packed the walls of
Splinter's Sports Club in Palatine, IL |
IT Marketing Director, Gary Colabuono, as he
introduced the TOC competitors |
(L to R) 2004 World Champion, Jeff Harlow, looks on as 4-time Player
of the Year, Dean Liakakos, calculates his shot in their battle for
3rd place |
Fourth place winner, Dean Liakakos, with Larry and
Elaine Hodgson of Incredible Technologies |
Third place winner, Jeff Harlow, is awarded his trophy
and $3,000 for a great performance
|
The Golden Tee Tournament of Champions has
become one of Golden Tee Golf's most prestigious events
|
Gary Colabuono interviews Andy Haas after an
outstanding championship showing |
A picture worth a thousand words: Andy Haas kisses
the TOC cup after winning the prestigious tournament |
Larry and Elaine Hodgson initiate Andy Haas into the
Golden Tee Society as he receives the traditional
leather bomber jacket |
Andy Haas proudly displays his winnings after an exhilarating
tournament |
Runner-up, Charlie Oleson, receives his trophy and
$5,000 check from Larry and Elaine Hodgson |
Congratulations to Andy Haas and all of the TOC Competitors.
Thanks for Playing Golden Tee Golf
Its YOUR Game!
Legal Notice
.........................................................................................................................................
All ITS rules apply where applicable. Players
must be 18 years or older to enter a tournament and claim a prize. Real
names and IDs are required or your score may be invalidated. Players who
allow their score to be entered under another person's identity will be
banned from ITS tournaments. Demonstration of playing skill or other
verification of my winning score may be required. Employees, immediate
family members, agents, and contractors of Incredible Technologies (IT),
and those of any other manufacturer of coin-operated amusement games or
equipment, are ineligible to compete in online or live tournaments,
contests, promotions or events sponsored by IT. Incredible Technologies
reserves the right to disqualify any person that IT determines to have
attempted to defraud or damage the company or event. Incredible
Technologies reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to
the fullest extent permissible by law.
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