HOBE SOUND, Florida (May 21, 2006) -- R.J. Nakashian of Palm Beach Gardens made it two-for-three in Palm Beach County Golf Association tournaments over the past four weeks by winning the 10th annual Stroke Play Championship on Sunday.
Nakashian, 38, an insurance agent, matched par-72 the final round at Hobe Sound Golf Club to win by four strokes at 137. "I hit a lot of great shots but some of them ended up in bad spots," he said.
Nakashian birdied the first, ninth and 12th holes on putts of 10, 3 and 6 feet, had three-putt bogies at the 10th and 11th, bogied the 15th after hitting his 3-iron tee shot behind a tree, and saved his par-5 at the 16th after hitting his second shot into the water.
Tied for second at 141 were Chappell Brown of West Palm Beach and Patrick McCabe of Jupiter on final round scores of 68 and 73. Brown, a teenager, was the only player to break 70 the final round with six birdies and two bogies. McCabe, a senior, had three birdies and four bogies.
There were 96 entries.
Nakashian, a former Florida Atlantic University golfer, won the Palm Beach International on April 23 at PGA National. And with Artie Scott, he tied for second in the Arrigo Dodge Four-Ball on May 7 at Bear Lakes. Nakashian has earned four PBCGA titles in less than two years.
Next up will be two "major championships" for which he is exempt from qualifying: the Florida State Amateur June 22-25 at Pine Tree, west of Boynton Beach, and the Palm Beach County Amateur July 14-16 at Old Trail, near Jupiter. He is exempt for the State Amateur based on his finish last year, and for the County Amateur as a past champion, in 2004.
Next on the PBCGA tournament schedule: June 3-4, Mid-Senior Four-Ball at Mayacoo Lakes, and then three qualifiers for the County Amateur, June 10 at PGA National, June 17 at Hammock Creek and June 24 at Boca CC. For membership information and tournament entry, call executive director Tommy Belen, 561-625-0400, or go to www.pbcga.org.
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Palm Beach County GA
Stroke Play Championship
Hobe Sound GC, Hobe Sound, Fla.
6,500 yards, par 72
R.J. Nakashian, Palm Beach Gardens, $500 65-72-137
Chappell Brown, West Palm Beach, $275 73-68-141
Patrick McCabe, Jupiter, $275 68-73-141
Jim McGuigan Sr., Jupiter Island, $150 69-74-143
Tim Stieren, Palm Beach Gardens, $125 66-78-144
Mike Nealy, Stuart, $100 74-71-145
Lenny Loyd, Stuart, $85 72-75-147
Tim Cox, Palm Beach Gardens, $85 71-76-147
Craig Watson, West Palm Beach, $65 75-73-148
David Roschman, Jupiter, $65 72-76-148
Brad Ball, Tequesta, $47.50 79-70-149
Scott Blaise, Lake Worth, $47.50 74-75-149
Rick Othmer, West Palm Beach, $47.50 74-75-149
Mark Rubin, Palm Beach Gardens, $47.50 74-75-149
Jim Souliotis, Boca Raton, $29.20 76-75-151
Dan Getson, Royal Palm Beach, $29.20 74-77-151
Ben Hartman, West Palm Beach, $29.20 74-77-151
Dann Merrell, West Palm Beach, $29.20 73-78-151
Scott Turner, Palm City, $29.20 73-78-151
Andy Johncke, Palm Beach Gardens, $24.50 76-76-152
Gary Zentner, Palm Beach, $24.50 76-76-152
Chris Cowell, Lake Worth, $22 80-73-153
Rick Wentworth, Stuart, $22 78-75-153
Jay Medore, Wellington, $22 75-78-153
Kevin Ach, Boynton Beach, $19 77-77-154
Greg Gonzales, Palm Beach Gardens, $19 76-78-154
Scott Beers, Hobe Sound, $19 74-80-154
Stan Zabytko, Stuart, $9.60 81-74-155
Brett Rendina, Palm Beach Gardens, $9.60 78-77-155
Steve Condore, Boca Raton, $9.60 76-79-155
Craig Jackson, West Palm Beach, $9.60 75-80-155
Ben Adelberg, Coral Springs, $9.60 74-81-155
Holes-in-one: Andy Johncke, No. 17, 189 yards, 4-iron, first round; Brad Ball, No. 17, 186 yards, 6-iron, second round.
Money listed awarded in merchandise certificates.