John Souza wins inaugural Gobbler Amateur
11/23/2016 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Gobbler Amateur, Sewailo Golf Club
Baylor commit Travis McInroe charged hard but finished second and one shot back
TUCSON, AZ (November 23, 2016) -- With the weather perfect John Souza took a two-stroke lead into the final round and ended up hanging on for a one-stroke victory at the inaugural Gobbler Amateur. Souza finished 1-over and a shot in front of Travis McInroe at Sewailo Golf Club.
Souza, a junior at Colorado, posted rounds of 75-67-72 during the 54-hole tournament. The final round began in fine fashion for Souza and he was 3-under through 11-holes with birdies on the 4th and 5th holes; 10th and 11th holes while only bogeying the 8th.
Following his birdie on the 11th Souza, who missed most of last year with a back injury, was 3-under overall but he had to hold on down the stretch after playing the final four holes in 4-over.
Baylor commit Travis McInroe made a strong rally Wednesday with a 3-under 68 to reach 2-over and a second place finish. McInroe came out of the gates strong with a bogey-free 3-under 32 front nine before cooling off on the way home with an even-par side.
Mary Sanchez, Cody Hall and Hayden Springer share third at 3-over. Nathan Clark was sixth with a 4-over tally.
ROUND TWO RECAP
With the round of the tournament John Souza moved to the top of the Gobbler Amateur leaderboard. On a day where scoring was 3.69 strokes better than the day before Souza fired a 4-under 67 to post even-par through 36-holes at Sewailo Golf Club.
After missing most of his sophomore season at Colorado with a back injury Souza, now a junior, played the full slate of events this fall and is now 18-holes away from picking up a victory.
Looking to recover from a 4-over 75 in the first round Souza birdied No. 1 before giving it back on the next with his only bogey of the day. From there the first-team NJCAA Division II All-American while at South Mountain Community College birdied the 8th, 9th, 12th and 18th holes to surge into the lead.
Cal State Fullerton sophomore Jack Ireland will begin the final round in second place at 2-over. Ireland shot a 2-under 69 one day after shooting a 4-over 75. All three of Ireland's birdies came in a row from Nos. 6-8 while his only bogey was on the 15th.
Alessandro Noseda and first round co-leader Dylan Stein are tied for third at 3-over. In a tie of fifth with 4-over scores it is opening day co-leader Josh Gardella, Christian Muscarello and Hayden Springer.
Three others including first round co-leader Travis McInroe are tied for eighth at 5-over.
ROUND ONE RECAP
In difficult conditions Josh Gardella, Travis McInroem and Dylan Stein opened the inaugural Gobbler Amateur hosted by Sewailo Golf Club with a 1-over 72's to take the first round lead. The trio will carry a two-stoke lead into Tuesday's second round.
Colorado Christian University redshirt junior Josh Gardella began his week with a two birdie, three bogey day. McInroem reached 1-under with a birdie on No. 14 before bogeying the 15th and 16th holes to lose a couple of strokes.
Travis McInroem, a Baylor commit, had to battle back from a double-bogey on the 5th hole. He began the uphill climb with 6th and 8th hole birdies to return to even-par by the turn. The back nine started in shaky fashion with two bogeys within three holes but once again McInroem was able to rebound thanks to a birdie-bogey-birdie finish.
For the final member of the leading group Dylan Stein it was a three birdie, four bogey round. The Towson sophomore carded circles on Nos. 6, 8 and 16.
Six players will begin Tuesday tied for fourth at 4-over. The half dozen is comprised of Cody Hall, Alessandro Noseda, Josh McCollum, Marty Sanchez, Christian Muscarello and Hayden Springer.
About the Gobbler Amateur
Founded in 2016, the Gobbler Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play event with no cut. It is open to male amateur golfers with an index of 3.0 or less. A variety of exemption categories are offered, based mostly on rankings and USGA appearances. The t...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original