Blaum Blazes Through Charleston
The Charleston Miracle League Open
The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation
September 20-23, 2007
Summerville, SC (September 23, 2007)…Ryan Blaum (Coral Gables, FL) carded a nine-under par 63 in the final round of The Charleston Miracle League Open over the 7227 yard, par 72 Golf Club at Wescott Plantation to garner his first career professional win.“It’s about time I was finally able to close the deal this week,” said the twenty-three year old Blaum. “I have either had the lead or shared the lead in five or six events this season and just wasn’t able to get it done up until this point.”
Blaum, a 2006 Duke graduate, fired rounds of 72-67-67-63 for a four day total of nineteen-under par 269 and a two stroke victory over Rob Johnson (Orlando, FL). Johnson carded a nine-under par 63 in the third round to hold the lead by four strokes heading into the final round, but a three-under par 69 in the final round left him a little short of the surging Blaum.
“I played twenty-four holes today and I was twelve-under par, something you just don’t think is going to happen,” said the Hooters Tour rookie. “I had a really hot putter and I just kept riding it all day.”
Joe Affrunti (Crystal Lake, IL) fired a final round eight-under par 64 and finished all alone in third place at fifteen-under par 273.
Blaum collects a career best $33,566 for his first career professional win, while Johnson takes home $16,735 for his runner-up finish.
“With this being my first professional win, I would like to dedicate it to my late college coach Rod Myers who passed away earlier this year.”
The Hooters Tour ends the regular season but the Bridgestone Winter Series swings into action October 30-November 1 in Daytona Beach, Florida at LPGA International.
HOOTS: The Hooters Tour handed out hardware at the end of the Charleston Miracle League Open and with his T-19 finish, Casey Wittenberg (Memphis, TN) took home Player of The Year honors. Lebanon, Pennsylvania native Blaine Peffley took home Rookie of the Year honors after finishing the season 5th on the season ending money list.