News >> Castro and Rousey Have Good Weekends In Wichita
5Longs, SC-In the Nationwide Tour’s PHS Wichita Open, current NGA member Roberto Castro finished at 19-under 265 for the week and stood alone in second place at the conclusion of the tournament.
Castro opened the tournament with a 7-under 64 that placed him in a tie for second. Castro, who has played on the NGA Hooters Tour since 2007, backed up his first round with a scorching 63 on Day 2, giving him the lead at 15-under par. In the third round, Castro shot a 67 to take the lead into Sunday. While undoubtedly disappointed he didn’t win the tournament, Castro does have a reason smile. His stellar tournament gets him into the field for next week’s Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Mo. With his $60,000 payday, Castro moved to 57th on the money list in just his third Nationwide Tour event this season.
Veteran NGA player Nick Rousey was almost as impressive as Castro, shooting a final day 63 to move from 40th to fourth. Rousey Monday qualified for the event by shooting a 68. He bettered that with an opening-round 67 in just his second Nationwide Tour start. Then Rousey shot a second-round 70 to make the cut before finishing the weekend with 67, 63. Rousey’s 63 tied for the lowest final-round score. He also qualified to play next week in the Price Cutter Charity
Championship in Springfield, Mo. Former NGA player Matt Davidson also finished in a tie for fourth. Current NGA Hooters Tour member Michael Schachner finished T41 in the PHS Wichita Open.
In the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship, three former NGA golfers found themselves tied for fourth going into the final round. Bill Lunde, Robert Garrigus and Chris Tidland were 11-under par and 4 shots off the lead. Though Garrigus and Tidland were unable to make a Sunday charge, Lunde shot a final-round 66 en route to his first win on the PGA Tour. Former NGA players Jerry Kelly and Josh Teater finished T3. Current NGA member and former Naval Academy standout Billy Hurley III finished at 5-under par in his first start on the PGA Tour since 2007.
Former NGA golfer Ryan Palmer finished second in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with a 10-under 270. Past NGA player Sean O’Hair also came home with a top-five finish in the WGC, shooting an 8-under 272 for the week and finishing fifth. Jim Furyk, a former NGA member, finished with a Sunday 64 to move into sixth place.
The NGA Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours and boasts an impressive list of alumni.
Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open Champion; Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open champion; Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion; Shaun Micheel, the 2003 British Open Champion; Ben Curtis, winner of the 2003 British Open; Jim Furyk, winner of the 2003 US Open; Lee Janzen, a two-time US Open winner; John Daly, a British Open and PGA Champion; Tom Lehman, winner of the British Open; David
Toms, a past PGA Champion; Chad Campbell, the 2003 Tour Championship winner; Vaughn Taylor, a two-time Reno Tahoe Open winner; and Craig Perks, winner of the TPC, tested their mettle on the NGA Hooters Tour before tasting success on golf’s grandest stage.
All told, the NGA Hooters Tour’s alumni have an incredible 12 “Majors” to their credit. The NGA Hooters Tour has helped hundreds of professionals acquire their PGA, Senior PGA, and Nationwide Tour cards. In fact, 48% of the players that earned their 2010 PGA Tour card, and 53% of the players that earned full exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA Hooters Tour.
For more information, visit: www.HootersTour.com.
