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 Darren Moen of LA Cellular, tournament winner Jeff Freeman and Hiddie Tavernetti of Tommy Hilfinger. Photo by GM Pinkston |
A two stroke win in the SCPGA Club Pro's Championship earned Tamarisk CC 1st Assistant Jeff Freeman a lot more than the title and a check for $5,250. The victory carries with it exemptions into the PGA Tour's L.A. Nissan Open, the San Diego Buick Invitational and the valley's own Bob Hope Desert Classic. It also guarantees him a spot in the following year's Moreno Valley Nike event.
"It's great," says Freeman. "I've always wanted to play in the Bob Hope. And the L.A. Open, I think, is back at Riveara again, and San Diego--it's going to be nice to play in a few (PGA Tour) tournaments."
Playing well all summer, Freeman has four victories to his credit this season. His recent win in the Bear Creek Nike regional qualifier keeps him on track to the Club Pro's national event next June. A top 25 finish there would get him into the PGA Tour Championship and guarantee him slots in a number of important Nike events.
"Soundly, like I always do," Freeman laughed, when asked how he slept on his lead the night before the final round. "I don't get nervous much. And what little I do settles down once I get that first drive in the fairway. I hit a really good one today, only a wedge left to the green. I hit the ball well all week but I wasn't getting many putts in. But I just kept hitting it close for pars and every once in awhile a birdie would drop. I didn't make many mistakes so it turned out to be enough."
One mistake Freeman did make could have cost him dearly.
"I hit a terrible drive on 17 (final round) and ended up taking a double. It cut my lead to two and opened the door for the field. Eighteen is a par-5, so they could have caught me with an eagle, or if I'd bogeyed, just a birdie. But it worked out."
Freeman shot 69/68/69 to finish ten under. Another local Pro, Steve Sear, of the Jim McLean Golf School, finished second. Sear shot an eight-under 68/70/70 and earned $3,525.
L.A. Cellular contributed $20,000 money added to the $35,000 total purse. This marks their third year as the tournament's title sponsor.
"It's a natural fit for us and for the members of the SCPGA," says L.A. Cellular's Darren Moen. "These guys live very active lives, on the road, out on the course and the like. Our service benefits them and our involvement with them gives us a positive exposure."
Tommy Hilfinger was this year's apparel sponsor and contributed $5,000 money added to the tournament's purse.
"This is our first year working with the SCPGA," says Hilfinger's Hiddie Tavernetti. There really is a Tommy Hilfinger, he's a real person, and we're a leader in the golf apparel industry. We're enjoying our participation very much and plan to back next year."
Other Local Club Pros Finishing in the Top Twenty:
| T10 | Paul Dietsche | Indian Hills GC | 74/74/66 | $675 |
| T14 | John Hearn | Indian Springs GC | 70/76/69 | $558 |
| T18 | John O'Niell | Jim McLean Golf School | 73/72/71 | $495 |
| T20 | Dustin Schilling | Mission Hills Resort | 74/73/70 | $447 |
© Gary M. Pinkston, 1998.
