National Invitational at Whisper Rock: Flood and Tanigawa win it
5/16/2015 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for The National at Whisper Rock, Whisper Rock Golf Club - Lower Course
Mike Flood of Los Angeles and Ken Tanigawa of Phoenix win the Mid-Am title while James Reid and Jonathan Valuck won the Senior title
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 16, 2015) -- Mike Flood Jr. of Los Angeles and Ken Tanigawa of Phoenix fired a bogey-free final round of 67 on Whisper Rock Golf Club’s lower course today to emerge from a packed leaderboard and capture the 2015 National Invitational. The duo started their day in the shotgun format on the 15th hole and made their first birdie at No. 17. On the front nine, they made back-to-back birdies on the Nos. 3 and 4 to gain a share of the lead.
In the meantime, a pair of former NFL quarterbacks -- Trent Dilfer and Drew Olson of California Golf Club – were making a move of their own, passing overnight leaders Greg McNeil, who plays out of the host club, and partner Jon Wright of Salt Lake City.
Dilfer & Olson took the lead at 9-under with a birdie at No. 11, but Flood & Tanigawa held tough with birdies at Nos. 12 & 13, to post 10-under. A costly bogey on No. 13 saw Dilfer & Olson fall two behind. They bounced back with a birdie on No. 16, but when they failed to make birdie at the last Flood & Tanigawa were the 2015 National Invitational champions.
SENIOR DIVISION
James Reid and Jonathan Valuck surged from five back to win the Senior title with a 5-under 67 – the low round of the day in the division.
The Oklahoma City duo began the final round with six straight pars before a birdie on the par-3 seventh hole moved them to 6-under. They were still a long way from the conversation though, as overnight leaders John Given of Victoria National Golf Club former PGA Tour player Brian Tennyson of Florida were cruising along with an eagle at No. 8 followed by birdies at Nos. 9 and 10 to get to 12-under par.
The excitement started at Hole No. 12 when Reid & Valuck, coming off of their second birdie on No. 11, hit their tee shot close. Their playing partners, Texans Ron Kilby and Mac McGee, also made birdie on No. 11 and then went one better on No. 12 when Kilby recorded an ace to move to 10-under par.
Reid & Valuck made their birdie putt, but at 8-under were still in the shadows. An untimely double bogey from the team of Given & Tennyson on No. 11 brought the field closer together, and when Californians Todd Barsotti and Jeff Wilson made a birdie on No. 14 a full four teams were in the hunt. In the end it was Reid & Valuck that closed the strongest with a birdie on No. 18 giving them a one shot victory over Barsotti and Wilson.
-Courtesy Trent Rathburn of Whisper Rock Golf Club
About the The National at Whisper Rock
A 36-hole two-man best-ball invitational event with Mid-Am and Senior Divisions. Played at both lower and upper courses at the very highly acclaimed Whisper Rock Golf Club, which boasts many Tour players among its membership.
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