WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 29, 2012) -- Scott Wilson of Palm Beach Gardens and Michael Blum of Hobe Sound, former golfing teammates at Rollins College, combined for the victory Sunday in the 31st annual Arrigo Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep Four-Ball tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club.
Four strokes ahead after Blum birdied No. 13, but tied for the lead as they walked up the 18th fairway, Wilson won it when he holed a 20-yard pitch shot for birdie from left of the final green. They edged Cardinal Newman High School seniors Chase Koepka and Conor Richardson by a shot, 66-192 to 67-193. They had been tied at 126 after 36 holes.
The college-bound teammates had pulled even when Koepka sandwiched an eagle at the par-4 15th hole with birdies at the par-4 14th and par-5 17th. Koepka is headed for South Florida, Richardson for Florida, both on scholarships.
Other winners Sunday in the Palm Beach County Golf Association event on the Links courser were former major league pitcher Jimmy Key of Palm Beach Gardens and Marty Rifkin of Jupiter, senior division, 50-64 years, 67-202, and Don Edwards, Palm City, and Paul Quigley, Jupiter, super seniors, 65-older, 64-199.
It was Wilson’s second straight PBCGA victory following his win April 15 in the Palm Beach International, a Stableford points tournament at Eastpointe. Overall, Wilson, Key and Edwards each have four county titles, Quigley three. It was the first for both Blum and Rifkin.
“It was a fabulous shot with a little left-to-right break on the green,” Rifkin said of Wilson’s final swing. “I had to do something after I three-putted for par at 17 to let them (Koepka and Richardson) catch us,” the latter added.
Before closing with a sparkling four-ball stroke play six under par the final round, Wilson and Blum had 64, scramble, and 62, modified alternate shots, including a 28 on the back nine Saturday. Overall, they made three eagles, 20 birdies and two bogeys, both Sunday.
Key and Rifkin shot 62-73 the first two days and overall made an eagle, 20 birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey. “Marty played really well on the front nine and I made 15 pars,” Key said. It was their first win as teammates.
Edwards shot 65 with eight birdies Sunday. They had 62-73 earlier in the weekend and totaled 21 birdies and four bogeys in 54 holes. “My partner was just outstanding today,” Quigley said.
View results for Palm Beach Four-Ball
ABOUT THE Palm Beach Four-Ball
The event will consist of a 36-hole Four-Ball Stroke Play
Championship (two person teams), played over two
days. Approximately 46 teams will tee-it-up and
compete in a Better Ball format. Three Divisions: Open
/ Senior (50-59) / Super Senior (60+)
View Complete Tournament Information