LETZIG EARNS TWO-SHOT WIN AT ANTHEM IN 2012 GPT OPENER
Posted in Tour News
By Ryan Woodcock
Michael Letzig shot a blistering 10-under 62 in the final round and finished at 13-under 203 to win the 2012 Gateway Pro Tour opener at Anthem (Ironwood) by two shots over second-round leader Brady Stockton. His bogey-free final round included six birdies and two eagles, and it helped him make a giant comeback after starting the final round at 3-under par, six shots back of Stockton.
A longtime PGA TOUR member, Letzig opened with birdies on two of the first five holes to get to 5-under, then carded an eagle on the par-5 8th hole. That eagle got him to 7-under, and seemed to ignite him, as he went birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie over the next five holes to get to 12-under par for the tournament. That’s seven-under par over a five hole stretch from holes 8-12. He closed out his round with a birdie on the par-4 18th to give him the clubhouse lead at 13-under, but he had to wait as five groups were still on the course.
Stockton had four birdies through the first 13 holes and sat at 13-under, but made two costly bogeys on holes 12 and 15 that dropped him back. He couldn’t catch Letzig after that, recording pars on the last three holes to earn his T2 finish at 11-under par.
Drew Stoltz started the final round at 7-under, two shots back of Stockton, and he kept up with Stockton most of the day, shooting 3-under on the front nine to get to 10-under par at the turn. He added another birdie on the par-5 11th, but then made a bogey on the par-4 12th that dropped him back to 10-under. He added a birdie on the par-5 16th, and needed to close out birdie-birdie to force a playoff with Letzig, but like Stockton, he could only make par down the stretch. He closed the tournament with rounds of 66-68 after opening with a 71 to finish T2 with Stockton.
Lucas Delgado shot a 4-under 68 in the final round, including a birdie on the 18th hole, to finish T4 at 9-under 207, along with Chris Kamin and Todd Demsey. Kamin had a shot to finish solo third, but a bogey on 18 dropped him back to the pack at 9-under. He shot rounds of 68-71-68, while Demsey closed with a 1-under 71 after back-to-back 68s to start the tournament.
Rounding out the Top-10 were four players who finished T7 at 7-under par, including Brady Schnell, who shot a 5-under 67 in the final round, as well as Christopher Evans and Brian Vranesh, who each shot 3-under 69 in round three. Brad Hopfinger also finished T7 after recording rounds of 70-67-72.
Letzig only had three bogeys and a double bogey throughout the tournament, which included one bogey in his first round 69, and two bogeys and a double bogey during his second round 72. That paved the way for his come-from-behind win with his spectacular error-free 62 on the final day.
Next week they head back to Anthem to play the Ironwood Course, Jan. 23-25, and will be at Raven Golf Club at Verrado, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, where the first Nationwide Tour exemption will be awarded.
Great start to the season fellas and good luck next week! As always, check back here for a complete recap of next week’s tournament at Anthem.
