Gilley Glides To Victory
The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic
GoshenPlantation Golf Club
September 14-17, 2006
Augusta, GA (September 17, 2006)…Steve Gilley (Newnan, GA) birdied his final hole Sunday en route to a six-under par 66 in the final round of the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic over the 7143 yard, par 72 Goshen Plantation Golf Club to earn his first ever Hooters Tour title.“I played well all week, I wasn’t looking to shoot a certain number today,” said the former VirginiaCommonwealth grad. “I just wanted to obviously make some birdies today and limit the number of bogies, just to play smart.”
Gilley carded rounds of 68-69-71-66 for a four day total of fourteen-under par 274 and two stroke victory over third round leader Kenneth Staton (Ormond Beach, FL). Staton, a former PGA Tour member closed with a two-under par 70 on Sunday for a four day total of twelve-under par 276.
“I felt like in most tournaments out here I get off to a bad start and I am having to play catch up, but this week I got off to a good start and felt like I had a chance,” said the thirty-four year old Gilley. “We have been on Bermuda greens the past few tournaments and I felt like I was really comfortable playing on them and I think that was the difference this week compared to others.”
Former Clemson golfer Tommy Biershenk finished all alone in third place at eleven-under par 277 after firing a two-under par 70 Sunday, while leading money winner Ted Potter (Silver Springs, FL) and Kris Blanks (Bluffton, SC) finished tied for fourth at ten-under par 278.
Former USC-Aiken All-American Dane Burkhart (Aiken) headed up the local contingent in the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic after carding a four day total of five-under par 283. Emmett Turner (Augusta) finished his week with a two-over par 74 Sunday and a four-under par 284 total, while local pro William Lanier (Augusta) finished the event at seven-over par 295 for the week.
Gilley takes home a Hooters Tour best $24,000 for his first career Hooters win, while Staton takes home $11,989 for his second place finish.
The Hooters Tour heads south on I-75 to Valdosta, Georgia next week for the Langdale Ford Championship at Kinderlou Forest September 18-24, 2006.
HOOTS: Gilley missed out by inches on a chance to win an extra $20,000 after the tournament. as tournament sponsor LD Waters put up the money if the winner of the event could birdie the toughest hole of the tournament.
With his victory on Sunday, Gilley moves to 5th place on the Hooters Tour Money list, while Tommy Biershenk and Kris Blanks switch places with Biershenk holding onto the 2nd place spot behind Ted Potter by $302.00 over Blanks.
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