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The Golden Tee LIVE Regional Championships – Southern Open

FedExForum on Beale Street Hosts the Miracle in Memphis

(November 9, 2006 – Arlington Heights, IL)  With the Midwest and West behind it the GTLRC headed south on a brisk October weekend for the penultimate round of the GT tour, the Golden Tee LIVE Southern Open. 

With its famous tavern scene and fun-loving attitude, the South has always been a hotbed of Golden Tee action.  Georgia, Florida and Texas are famous for cultivating some of best players in the game and the list goes on-and-on.  The Southern Open set the stage for the Regional Championship spotlight to shine on this storied collection of players. 

Planned back in March of 2006, the Golden Tee Southern Open was anticipated to be the most popular spot on the Regional Championship tour.  More Golden Tee LIVE games and players reside throughout the region and it’s final venue, the Grand Casino in Tunica, MS, is known as the best and biggest casino resort between Atlantic City and Las Vegas.  With the largest qualifying field over 1,200 strong and the greatest amount of pre-registered players all indications pointed to the South being the largest regional event.

But 8 days before the event was to take place a monkey wrench was thrown into the mix when Incredible Technologies announced a change of venue from the Grand Casino.  A last-minute conflict brought on by the casino prohibited IT from holding the Southern Open on casino property.  How could IT save the tournament?  How could they possibly consolidate 8 months of planning into 8 days?

But during those dark hours emerged a “miracle” for Golden Tee Golf.

Just 20 miles north of Tunica up the Mississippi River lay the FedExForum in the heart of the city’s Beale St. entertainment district.  The home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team stepped up to the plate and accepted the opportunity to host the Golden Tee Southern Open in their Grand Lobby.  With a larger-than-life appeal and some world-class Southern hospitality, the “show that must go on” went on in a venue that was more amazing than any in the Golden Tee history books.  The Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll welcomed the Golden Tee LIVE Southern Open - and its collection of colorful characters – with open arms.

One of the few downsides to the last-minute change was the consolidation of the Regional Championships’ normal two-day competition into a one-day showdown on October 21st.  But even though there was only one day to play – IT packaged it all together into 12 hours of gut-wrenching drama and unparalleled excitement.

Team USA: The Battle on Beale Street

Gary Colabuono, IT Marketing Director and event emcee, greeted players Saturday morning with opening remarks that were followed by the start of the day’s first event, the Team USA Shootout.  The top 16 Southern qualifiers made up the field and a tough head-to-head, single elimination format decided who would move on to compete on Golden Tee’s global stage in the spring of 2007.  The winner of the Southern Team USA shootout would join Midwest winner – Matt Estepp, Western Winner – Rod Critchlow and reigning world champion – Chris Eversole as the fourth member of the team. 

Southern Region Team USA Shootout Qualifiers

Many of the top sixteen qualifiers were no strangers to the Golden Tee World Championship spotlight, including former Team USA members Chris Litzinger, Sean Gervais, Tobin Carter, John Thurston and Daniel Gralapp.  With the FedExForum’s big screen showing every moment of action, these five past WC stars battled eleven glory-hungry competitors for the all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas and the potential $15,000 payday that goes along with it.

Ryan McCook, “Piano” Steve Dakin, Reid Somori, and David Long, as well as Thurston, Carter, Litzinger, and Gervais found victories in the first round of the single elimination event.  Leaving four of the five former Team USA members alive for the next round.

Round two was a rough one for the Florida crew, as #1 qualifier McCook was defeated by Dakin and Team USA favorite Gervais was taken out by Thurston.   Somori knocked out another Florida top-dog in Orlando’s Carter, while Litzinger defeated long-time Georgia star David Long.

The Cincinnati charge was in full effect as two of the southern Ohio city’s own competed in the semi-final against two old-school stars of the Golden Tee world.  Litzinger, who played his southern qualifying games just over the border in Kentucky, defeated Thurston for a chance to move on to the finals.  While Somori, another Kentucky-based qualifier, bested Dakin who has yet to add Team USA to his amazing list of GT accomplishments.

The all-Cincinnati final had a deeper coincidence than just geography.  Litzinger, one of the most successful Golden Tee players of all-time, has mentored Somori over the years making the young Ohioan one of the games rising stars.  But a match of this importance knows no teacher or student, when there’s a possible $15,000 payday on the line.

You could hear a pin drop in the Grand Lobby of FedExForum as these two GT experts battled.  The mood was serious as Litzinger hoped to return to the Worlds for a second time.  While Somori put up an amazing fight, it wasn’t enough for the protégé to top his teacher as Chris Litzinger defeated him to win the fourth coveted roster spot on Golden Tee Team USA 2007.

After being congratulated by current reigning world champion, Chris Eversole, Litzinger said, “It was great to play against Reid in the finals.  We’ve been playing together for a long time and
he has really become a great player.  I’m proud of him,” he added.  About his second chance to

head to the world championship, Litzinger said that he didn’t think it was going to happen in
Memphis.  “I really hoped to make the team this year, but I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it against this field today,” he said.  “I can’t wait to compete in the Worlds again.”

Southern Stars Fight for Barroom Prestige

The Pub Championship has been perking the ears of hundreds of GT players across the nation, but it’s not the prize money that is garnering the attention, it’s the possibilities.  This new and exciting format is proving itself the Golden Tee contest for everybody – a fast-paced, make-or-break, single-elimination par-3 showdown.

History, stats, records, and reputations are meaningless in head-to-head closest-to-the-pin action.  Player vs. player, one hole and three swings – everyone can play and anyone can win.

The first two Pub Championship events have been comprised of a few familiar names but predominantly many more new faces.  And as the 50 barroom champions of the South faced-off, it was unknown who would top the field.

A blind-draw was used to seed the 50 players on a 64-man bracket, granting some lucky players byes in the first round.  Two machines were played at once, allowing spectators to watch the action on the big screen as they waited their moment of CTTP glory. 

The final four was comprised of some familiar names along with some new ones, including former Team USA member Sean Gervais of Tampa, FL and a GT community favorite, Baxter Stegall of Charlotte, NC.  Stacey Herring of Houston, TX and Jeff Geismar of Chattanooga, TN rounded out the top four.

While the GT newcomer, Geismar, appeared to be on a tear that was unstoppable, it didn’t prove enough against Stegall who edged the Tennessee shooter by mere inches to become the  Golden Tee LIVE Southern Pub Champion!    

In a post-victory interview, Stegall said, “I thought I had a shot, but closest-to-the-pin is so unpredictable.  I am completely shocked that I actually won this thing!”

Southern Open Pub Championship Finalists

IT Honors Player for Going “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty”

As the sun set over the mighty Mississippi, the moment everyone had waited for had finally arrived - The “Main Event” of the Golden Tee LIVE Southern Open was about to begin!  After the long two-month road and countless hours and hundreds of games, it was time for these Golden Tee players to face-off for the Southern crown.

But before the action ensued, IT paused for a special moment in Golden Tee history.  Gary Colabuono, tournament director and  emcee, called up Houstonian Casey Brock, proprietor of the Golden Tee community’s number-one website, The Golden Blab at Underdog Sports, to the stage. 

On behalf of IT, Colabuono honored Brock by inducting him in the video sport’s hall of fame, the Golden Tee Society.  Signified by the presentation of the honorary leather bomber jacket, Brock was inducted into the “Promoter” wing of the honorary society.  “No player has ever been inducted as a ‘Promoter’,” Colabuono explained.  “It’s because of Casey’s tireless efforts that the GT community is as strong as it is today,” he said.  “This is our way of thanking him for everything that he has done for the game of Golden Tee.”

Upon acceptance of the jacket, which was presented by GTS members Chris Eversole and Steven Sobe, a touched and shocked Brock said, ”This is unbelievable.  I just like to see everyone have a good time playing Golden Tee and I really have the website for you [the players],” he said.  “Thank you very much everyone, this is a tremendous honor.”

The Main Event and $25,000 in Prize Money

The emotional moment set the stage for what was going to be an incredible night of Golden Tee.  And despite the low attendance due to the last minute change in venue, the still impressive 90-man field was imbued with an energy unlike either of the prior two regional events.

These die-hard players made the journey to Beale St. from across a 12-state region.  Over $25,000 in cash and prizes was on the line, along with the prestige to be called the number one player in the South.

The format consists of a five-course qualifier where scores are tallied to generate a leaderboard ranked best to worst.  The player with the top overall score is crowned “King of the Hill” and receives a bye to the final while those who finish 2-9 play off in an 8-man, single elimination tournament to face the KOH and play for $5,000 and the Regional Championship trophy. Leading up to the Southern Open, the first two KOH’s were 0-2 in the final round.

Southern Open competitors received added prize incentives throughout the day, including a Ben Hogan golf bag courtesy of Top Flite for the top shooters on each course.  Also, any player who hit a hole-in-one or double eagle received their choice of prizes from the sponsor table, which included: Golden Tee Plug-n-Play Home Editions from Radica, 2-for-1 golf trips courtesy of JDR Tours, Golden Tee LIVE limited-edition sunglasses from PRATO and Golden Tee LIVE golf balls from Top Flite.  Nearly 100 prizes were awarded throughout the day.

Additionally, a special prize was given to the top online qualifier, Ryan McCook, for his unbelievable online qualifying average of –30.48.  Ryan received a Ben Hogan golf bag fully stocked with a brand new set of Ben Hogan BH-5 irons courtesy of Top Flite Golf.

As in the first two events, the Goldentee.com Pro Shop was on-site selling the official GTLRC souvenir tour shirt and raffled away a limited-edition Golden Tee LIVE embroidered golf bag, which was won by Clu Reagan of Pasadena, TX.

With music pumping and spirits high, the excited crowd lit up the 50 Golden Tee LIVE games at

FedExForum.  Expectations for high scores were unknown as the Southern Open marked the first event using the new 2007 courses.  But to no one’s surprise, top talent like Chris Litzinger,
Billy “Hitch” Phillips and Sean Gervais set a blistering pace on Rustic Bridge with their first round –25’s.

Georgia sharpshooter, David Long, kept the strong pace alive on Indigo Mound in round two with a top score of –27.  Shockingly, the field was keeping pace on the new courses and posting scores on par with the first two tournaments.

But no shooter could top - who else  - Chris Litzinger, the undeniable Golden Tee master on that Saturday night.  Litzinger caught fire on the remaining three courses to top the field by a total of 5 strokes, including an unbelievable –28 on Moose Landing in the final round.  With an amazing total score of –131, Litzinger moved on to become the third King of the Hill and claimed the inside track to the $5,000 top prize.

Behind Litzinger, the eight finalists were comprised of the top stars in the South, including reigning World Champion Chris Eversole, and former Team USA members Sean Gervais, Daniel Gralapp, and Dayton Root.  Past Player of the Year David Long, #1 qualifier Ryan McCook, Team USA runner-up Reid Somori and Atlanta star Wade Kids, rounded out the finals field.

Litzinger’s four top scores (yes, FOUR) earned him four Ben Hogan golf bags courtesy of Top Flight.  David Long’s –27 on Indigo Mound earned him a new bag as well.

As the bottom eight qualifiers began to battle, Litzinger, the third King of the Hill, practiced on a spare game to break the “Curse of the King” from the first two Regional Championship events.  “There’s five grand on the line,” he said.  “I have to stay focused.”

While Litzinger tried to stay warm, the head-to-head action was heating up.  Ninth-seeded qualifier, Dayton Root upset the reigning world champ, Eversole, in the first round while McCook, Gralapp and Gervais also advanced.  Eversole, Long, Somori and Kids all received $600 for their 6th place efforts.

Two perfect Texas vs. Florida battles were set up for round two as Houston’s Root faced Jacksonville’s McCook and Arlington’s Gralapp challenged Tampa’s Gervais.  But as luck would have it, the tough Texans could not top the Florida duo as they both fought their way into the final round for a shot against the KOH.  Texans Root and Gralapp both took home $900 for their efforts.

Gervais vs. McCook: Gervais, famous for his “Best in Tampa” nickname, was now playing for the true right to be called “Best in Florida” or more importantly “Best in the South”.  But McCook, one of the strongest forces in the game right now, would not go quietly.  As the two from the Orange State fought tooth-and-nail, the Southern crowd watched on the FedExForum big screen.  After a close battle, former Team USA member, Gervais, topped McCook in sudden death overtime to advance to the championship round of the Southern Open.

With the Curse of the King weighing heavily on Litzinger, the two GT masters had an old fashioned southern-style throw down with a $5,000 payday on the line.  Gervais jumped out to an early lead with Litzinger keeping pace a mere one stroke behind.  Litzinger took the lead at the turn and with only 4 holes remaining had the championship in sight and a 2-stroke lead.  But despite his best efforts, a series of bad breaks saw Litzinger’s lead evaporate.  Gervais’ birdie on 18 sealed the deal.

While he hoped he would be the one to break it, the “Curse of the King” lived on as Sean Gervais defeated Chris Litzinger to be crowned the Southern Open champion.

“It feels good to finally win one,” Gervais said about his first major Golden Tee tournament victory.  “Especially against a great player like Chris.  I couldn’t be happier.”

Gervais would return to Tampa $5,000 richer while Litzinger would add $2,000 to his Team USA Shootout victory.