News >> Renner Rides 64 To Second Title

The Sunset Hills NGA Classic
Presented Lumiere Place Casino & City of Edwardsville
Sunset Hills Country Club
May 13-16, 2010
 
Edwardsville, IL (May 16, 2010)…Former Johnson and Wales University golfer Jim Renner of Plainville, Massachusetts carded an eight-under par 64 in the final round of the Sunset Hills NGA Classic at Sunset Hills Country Club to capture his second career NGA Hooters Tour title. (Pictured from left to right, Tournament Director Jeff Harlow, Head pro Scott Hood, Tournament champion Jim Renner, tournament chairperson Jay Banquart, Director of golf Jon DePriest, and tournament commitee member Kit Hanla)
 
Renner began the final round trailing the trio of leaders by three strokes but went to work quickly on the rain soaked course making five straight birdies out of the gate Sunday to grab a quick share of the lead. After barely missing a sixth straight birdie on the par 3 sixth hole, Renner rolled in another birdie and turned at six-under par 30 for a thirteen-under par total.
 
“I knew guys were going to shoot some low scores today with no wind and extremely soft greens due to all the rain we got over the last three days,” said the twenty-six year old Renner. “I didn’t really have a number in my head of what I needed to shoot but I knew I needed five or six to get close and I was able to do that in my first seven holes.”
 
After Renner made his first mistake of the day with a bogey on the short par 4 tenth hole, he quickly regrouped and made an eagle at the par five eleventh hole to move to fourteen-under. Four pars over his next four pars and the players behind him playing better, Renner entered the 16th hole with a one stroke lead and in need of a birdie to give himself breathing room.   Following a booming drive and a great second shot that left him a two-footer for birdie, Renner had that breathing room and enough of a lead to hold on for the win.
 
For the week, Renner carded rounds of 69-68-64 for a three day total of fifteen-under par 201 and a one stroke victory over Daphne, Alabama’s David Miller. Tournament officials shortened the tournament to a fifty-four hole event after constant rains forced delays over the first three days of the tournament. Renner pocketed $30,000 for his second career title and moved to fourth on the money list with over $44,300 in earnings.
 
Miller, a former Georgia Bulldog golfer, started the day tied for the lead at ten-under par but got off to a slow start with only one birdie over his first ten holes before making three birdies over his final eight holes to finish at fourteen-under par 202. With his second place finish the thirty-one year old Miller earned $15,835. (David Miller Pictured Right)
 
Former UAB golfer Chris Devlin of Ireland finished all alone in third place Sunday after he fired a final round three-under par 69 to finish at thirteen-under par 203.
 
Chesterfield, Missouri’s Chris Naegel headed up the local contingent in the Sunset Hills NGA Classic after he carded a three day total of twelve-under par 204. Naegel’s final round five-under par 67 was highlighted by a double eagle on the par 5 eleventh hole Sunday and helped the local pro to career best finish on the NGA Hooters Tour at a tie for fourth. Other local players included Shawn Jasper (210), Kyle Vasel (212), Mike Suhre (218), Ryan Hansen (221), local amateur Brent Holmes (221) and John Kelly (222). (Chris Naegel pictured left with caddie on Sunday)
 
With his T-16 finish Sunday, Will Wilcox (Birmingham, AL) maintains his lead in the Race For The Fort Smith Nationwide Exemption. The Race For The Fort Smith Exemption will be given to the NGA Hooters Tour member that accumulates the most money in the Hampton, GA, McCormick, SC, Edwardsville, IL and Georgetown, KY events. With three events complete Wilcox has earned $43,628 and leads second place golfer Matt Harmon by more than $4,700.
 
The NGA Hooters Tour heads to Georgetown, Kentucky and Cherry Blossom GC next week for the third annual ADI Classic presented by Modern Distributors with action beginning May 20 and ending on May 23, 2010.
 
HOOTS: The NGA Hooters Tour would like to thank Sunset Hills Superintendent Mike Daugherty and all of his crew for their tireless efforts to get the golf course ready for action each day even with all the rain that hit the Edwardsville area all week. The tour would also like to thank Tournament Chairperson Jay Blanquart and all of the volunteers that gave up their time and efforts to help make this a successful event for the second straight year. A special thanks goes to Director of golf Jon DePriest and all of his staff for making the NGA Hooters Tour feel welcome once again this year.