...Carolina Golf News Line                          Manor Golf Club Tarheel Tournament

“McLUEN WINS WITH COURSE RECORD ON FRIDAY!”

 Manor Golf Club, Farmville, V.A. – It’s not very often that a player tees off of No. 10 in the final round of a golf tournament and goes on to win. In fact, the last time it happened on the PGA Tour was in 1987 at the Colonial Invitational. The last time it happened on the Tarheel Tour was today, when Jay McLuen erased an eight-shot deficit in the final round with an astonishing course-record-shattering 63 to capture the inaugural Manor Classic.

            McLuen, who entered the round with two Tarheel Tour titles to his name, began the final round trailing overnight leader Joel Hendry by eight shots, but would quickly erase much of that with a 5-under 31 on the Manor Golf Club’s back nine.

            “I started on No. 10 with no expectations and made a few putts early. From there, I was able to freewheel it,” said McLuen, who resides in Athens, GA.

            Freewheel it is exactly what he did on the front nine. Birdies at Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 6 had the former University of Georgia golfer 9-under on his round with three holes to play.

            “When I birdied six to get to 9-under for the day I thought I was in pretty good shape because I knew the leaders on the other side were only at nine (for the tournament).”

            McLuen’s assessment of the leaders’ struggles was more than accurate. Hendry made the turn at 1-over 37, Steve Sokol turned at 2-over 38, and Andy Bare turned at even-par 36. While Bare was still in contention, a closing-nine 40 dropped him from the leaderboard and into a tie for 15th. Hendry would be the last man on the golf course with a chance to catch McLuen, but two bogeys and two birdies over his final nine holes left the 36-hole leader tied for second, on the outside looking in.

            “This win means a lot to me because of the strength of the field,” McLuen said shortly after accepting his winner’s check for $17,500. “I know that to beat guys like Andy Bare and Steve Sokol I had to play really well. My goal every year is to win – now my goal is to win two or three more times.”

            Hendry’s second-place finish was matched by Dustin Bray and Scott Weatherly. All three players earned $7,333.33 for their efforts. Bray, a Nationwide Tour player in 2007, had a great chance to catch McLuen, but ran out of holes after recording birdies on four of his final 10 holes to fall two shots shy.

            Frederik Ohlsson finished solo fifth after a final-round 69 left him at 8-under 208 for the tournament.

            The Tarheel Tour would like to thank Head Golf Professional John Prengaman and his staff for making our inaugural trip to The Manor such a success. In addition, Head Golf Course Superintendent Ed Evers and his crew are to be commended for providing such a well-maintained course on which to host this tournament.

            “We feel fortunate to be able to hold one of our tournaments at a venue like this,” said Tarheel Tour president David Siegel.

            “The awards and accolades that have been given to The Manor Golf Club are certainly deserving, and we look forward to returning in 2009.”

            Prengman felt that his club’s partnership with the Tarheel Tour was a true success as well.

            “We were honored to host the Tarheel Tour this week and could not have been happier with the tournament’s success. Our course is a wonderful test of golf and certainly held its own.”

            The Tarheel Tour’s next stop will be at Sapona Country Club in Lexington, NC on April 23-25 for the Sapona Open. The tour will return to the state of Virginia on June 18-20 for the Spring Creek Classic in Gordonsville.    

The Manor Classic
The Manor Golf Club
Farmville, VA
Final Round Results
Par-72; 7,214 yards        

1. Jay  McLuen, Athens, GA, $17,500.00, *72-70-63-205 -11


2. Dustin Bray, Charlotte, NC, $7,333.33, *71-69-67-207 -9


2. Scott Weatherly, Fort Payne, AL, $7,333.33, *69-70-68-207 -9


2. Joel Hendry, Bluffton, SC, $7,333.33, *67-67-73-207 -9


5. Frederik Ohlsson, Sweden, $5,000.00, *72-67-69-208 -8


6. Jesse Smith, Dover, NH, $3,700.00, *67-71-71-209 -7


6. Stephen  Poole, Aiken, SC, $3,700.00, *67-71-71-209 -7


8. Mathew Cram-Smith, New Market, TN, $2,550.00, *70-72-68-210 -6


8. John Scott Rattan, Montgomery Village, MD, $2,550.00, *68-70-72-210 -6


10. Will  Mc Girt, Boiling Springs, SC, $1,960.00, *70-70-71-211 -5


10. Jay Haas, Greenville, SC, $1,960.00, *72-70-69-211 -5


10. Jason Fober, Columbus, GA, $1,960.00, *68-70-73-211 -5


10. Kevin Haefner, Auburn, AL, $1,960.00, *67-71-73-211 -5


10. Steve Sokol, Oxford, CT, $1,960.00, *67-70-74-211 -5


15. Chris Gallagher, West Chester, PA, $1,750.00, *68-72-72-212 -4


15. Matt Mincer, Lenoir City, TN, $1,750.00, *73-66-73-212 -4


15. Andy  Bare, Jacksonville, FL, $1,750.00, *66-70-76-212 -4


18. Frank Adams III, Laurinburg, NC, $1,600.00, *68-72-73-213 -3


18. Kevin Silva, Charlotte, NC, $1,600.00, *70-72-71-213 -3


18. Reid Edstrom, Auburn, AL, $1,600.00, *68-75-70-213 -3


21. Jason  Tate, Madison, AL, $1,475.00, *70-71-73-214 -2


21. Geoffrey Kelowitz, Palm Harbor, FL, $1,475.00, *71-71-72-214 -2


21. Rob Bradley, Roswell, GA, $1,475.00, *70-73-71-214 -2


21. Tim O'Neal, Savannah, GA, $1,475.00, *69-74-71-214 -2


21. Mark  Petzold, Charlotte, NC, $1,475.00, *69-69-76-214 -2


26. Anthony Zummo, Mayfield, OH, $1,362.50, *73-66-76-215 -1


26. Jeff Curl, Ellington, CT, $1,362.50, *70-73-72-215 -1


26. Scott Usher, Johns Island, SC, $1,362.50, *66-71-78-215 -1


26. Bryan Bigley, Schnectady, NY, $1,362.50, *73-70-72-215 -1


30. Shaun Norris, South Africa, $1,275.00, *71-69-76-216 E


30. Neil Maurer, Ocean View, DE, $1,275.00, *70-68-78-216 E


30. Tommy Schaff, Savannah, GA, $1,275.00, *73-70-73-216 E


33. Sean Szerencits, Coplay, PA, $1,187.50, *66-74-77-217 +1


33. Ben  Duncan, Greenville, SC, $1,187.50, *70-72-75-217 +1


33. Mike  Austin, Burton, MI, $1,187.50, *68-75-74-217 +1


33. Stephen Thomas, St Petersburg, FL, $1,187.50, *70-73-74-217 +1


37. John  Duta, Loganville, GA, $1,125.00, *74-69-75-218 +2


38. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $1,062.50, *69-72-78-219 +3


38. John Luddy, Belmont, NC, $1,062.50, *72-70-77-219 +3


38. Daryl Chappell, Southerland, VA, $1,062.50, *72-71-76-219 +3


38. B.J Pitzen, Lakeland, FL, $1,062.50, *73-70-76-219 +3


42. Zack Amole, Myrtle Beach, SC, $987.50, *69-73-78-220 +4


42. Juan Lizarralde, Uruguay, $987.50, *73-70-77-220 +4


44. Ian Schneider, Charlotte, NC, $950.00, *74-69-80-223 +7