Deane Claims Joyce Crane / Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company Section Championship, Nabs Exemption Into 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson
DALLAS, TX –
Stuart Deane, PGA golf coach at The University of Texas at Arlington, bested Greg Gregory, PGA assistant professional at Hidden Creek Golf Course, on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Deane carded a 5-under par 66 during the final round, while Gregory, making his Section Championship debut, fired a 6-under 65 to force the playoff. It took two holes, but Deane came out on top by making par on the 10th hole to claim the title of 2016 Joyce Crane / Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company Section Champion. This was Deane’s second Section Championship victory and his 12th overall Northern Texas PGA Section Individual Major Championship. Deane started the day three shots back of the lead, finishing with a two-day total of 71-66—137, a score of 5-under par.
"It's not an easy golf course to get around and to get those numbers is not easy, so I am proud to be the champion,” said Deane. “I played really, really good. It is probably the best round of golf I have played all year.”
Deane took home a check for $4,500 for his victory, but even more important is the exemption he earned into the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson.
“It feels really good [to earn the exemption]. It's hard to win, but I guess this one means the most because of the difficulty to win these events. [The exemption] is such a big prize for one event, so it is kind of the one that I care about the most even more so now that I am the head coach. I get to go play to represent my boys, my team and the school. Every time I tee it up I recognize that I am a role model and a mentor for the boys," Deane said while getting a bit overcome with the emotion from the victory. "I am very much looking forward to them getting to see their coach compete in a TOUR event."
The Championship also included a Senior Division that was comprised of 28 professionals ages 50 and older who elected to compete for a separate $12,000 purse and played from a modified yardage. Perry Arthur, part owner of The Golf Club of Dallas, was able to hold on to his lead and capture the Senior Division with rounds of 71-71—142 to finish the Championship at even par. He took home a check for $1,750.
The Joyce Crane / Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company Section Championship, presented by AT&T Byron Nelson, Cutter & Buck, Ewing Automotive Group, PGA TOUR and Sterling Cut Glass, was conducted at Lakewood Country Club, a 6,742-yard, par 71 course located in Dallas, Texas. The Open Division field consisted of 77 PGA professionals from the Northern Texas Section of the PGA of America competing for a $33,000 purse.
The Championship was the fourth and final individual stroke play championship of the 2016 season to earn points towards the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points Challenge. The Eastern, Western, NTPGA Professional and Section Championships all served as qualifiers for the year-end Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship. The top 32 from the points list and the top eight from the Senior points challenge list will be invited to play in the Championship. With the win Deane is also the 2016 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year. The Player of the Year Points Challenge also serves as a qualifier for the 2016 NTPGA Texas Joe Black Cup team.
Final results.
