Spirit of America: Cincinnati's O'Toole takes title
DECATUR, Ala. (July 6, 2014) -- John Michael O'Toole fired a final-round 70 to keep pace with his contenders and win the 2014 Spirit of America title at Burningtree Country Club.
O'Toole, who plays at the University of Cincinnati, shot rounds of 71-68-65-70 to close out a three-shot victory over Forrest Gamble of Ole Miss and Matt Gourgeot, who tied for second place.
Both Gamble and Gourgeot shot closing 70s but weren't able to close the gap made by O'Toole's impressive middle rounds.
Gamble held the first-round lead alongside Spencer Olson of West Florida. In Round 2, though, O'Toole turned it on.
Woodie Eubanks and Ben Wood, who plays at Mississippi State, tied for fourth, finishing four shots behind the leading pace set by O'Toole.
Defending champion Alex Mahlik took 10th place, shooting rounds of 69-71-71-71.
ABOUT THE Spirit of America
The Spirit of America Golf Classic is Burningtree
Country Club's long-running, fundraising
tournament
held annually in conjunction with
Decatur’s Spirit of America Festival, which itself is
one
of the largest, free Fourth of July festivals in the
south. Established in 1967, this unique "college
team
and
individual" format event has been
home to collegiate players and top amateur
players
from across the nation. The format is 72-holes of
stroke play, with a 54-hole
collegiate team division. The "Spirit"
tournament boasts many top graduates, like 1995
Champion-turned-PGA tour player Heath Slocum,
and
1989 Junior Champion-turned-PGA tour player
Stewart
Cink.
Starting in 2020 the golf tournament will be a coed
event. The plan is to have 30 two-woman teams and
30 two-
man teams. The women’s teams will be invited and
not have to pay an entry fee.
View Complete Tournament Information