Bandon, OR (May 25, 2004) - Mother nature delivered the full gamet of conditions to players in the 3rd Annual amateurgolf.com Two Man Links Championship this week, and Wednesday's final round topped them all, when sunny and windy opening round conditions yielded to fog and mist reminiscent of 'Golf in the Kingdom.'

"You really gave us a bit of everything this week," remarked competitor Fred Behling, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the experience.

And while it's wonderful to enjoy the "golf as it was meant to be," as the Bandon Dunes slogan goes, the weather and world class links courses were only a backdrop for some pretty serious competition. The team of Kevin Bedsole and Paul Balatti entered the final round with a 5-stroke margin in the overall scratch division and with rounds of 67-68 under their belt (playing from the black tees) the field could only wonder if they would provide a little proverbial 'help' on the last day. If they went deep, the tournament was all but over.

Playing a group in front of the leaders, the formidable team of top-ranked amateur Randy Haag and the game John Hamm were able to post a 4-under-par round of 67 -- quite solid in conditions where several shots were literally blinded by the fog -- but as they turned in their card Haag and Hamm could only lament a team double that they knew might come back to haunt them.

That double bogey was carded on the par-4 8th, where both Hamm and Haag found the gorse on the right hand side that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

But Bedsole and Balatti, of Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco, had their own problems on the 13th, where they both found the Pacific Ocean with their tee shots -- in all fairness it was a tough shot into that fog -- and the pleasures of going under par for two rounds became a distant memory for at least 15 minutes.

Champs Kevin Bedsole(l) and Paul Balatti posted 6-under

They hung in and didn't let anything else seriously bad happen, then breathed a sigh of relief as they approached the scoring area at Pacific Dunes and learned the title -- and new tournament record -- belonged to them.

Although the lowest scores in the event were recorded by the 'older guys' the defending champ of the event, Greg Wardle of San Francisco, took solace in climbing to the top of the Championship leaderboard with his partner Pete Davison after a solid final round of 70.

'Youngsters' Pete Davison and Greg Wardle shot 70 on Wednesday

In the Net Division, the action was Golf Channel-worthy, as a Reality TV drama unfolded on the back nine. First round leaders Kevin McGillivray (Pacific Grove, CA) and Ken Griffith (Rocklin, CA) could only watch their five stroke lead evaporate into the fog on the back nine, when Joe Colmery (Alamo, CA) and Charles Smith (Pleasanton, CA) bringing out their Sunday best with back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th (one of them worth a net eagle) and a solid par on the 16th, with Griffith struggling with an impossible lie in the top of the back bunker (another place you wouldn't wish on your arch rival).

Colmery and Smith found the whole idea of victory to their liking, (go figure) and Griffith and MacGillivray represented what golf is all about-- you battle it out, then have a beer and laugh about it with the guys who got you...that time.

Net Champs Charles Smith and Joe Colmery overcame a 5-shot deficit on the back nine Wednesday

Tournament Notes

- Everyone in the field agreed that the tournament was enhanced by the wonderful sponsorship of UST Golf Shafts, The Golfer Magazine, Peak Bar, Fidra Golf, and of course The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. We all enjoyed meeting Jamie Pipes and Jim McIntosh of UST Golf Shafts, and getting launch monitor-fitted for a complimentary shaft at the fantastic practice center. The Fidra Stormshirts were a huge hit, and Peak Bars on the tee each day were great. Thanks to all of these wonderful sponsors!

-- Special thanks to Jennifer Alexander of amateurgolf.com, who did a wonderful job as Tournament Director and found time to send off a few zingers to the guys before tee-off. And Jamie Fay, Group Coordinator of Bandon Dunes, as well as C.J. Kreuscher of the Professional Staff and ALL of the wonderful employees of our favorite resort.

We will be back for the 'Fourth Annual' next year with a national field of 100 players. Stay tuned. (or contact us for a request for invite)

Final results from the amateurgolf.com Two Man Links Championship. The first and final rounds were played on Pacific Dunes, while the middle round (on Tuesday, May 25) was contested on the Bandon Dunes course.

Pacific Dunes (Rounds 1 and 3)
- Championship & Master/Senior Division: Black Tees, 6633 yards, par 71
- Net Division: Green Tees, 6142 yards, par 71

Bandon Dunes (Round 2)
- Championship & Master/Senior Division: Black Tees, 6732, par 72
- Net Division: Green Tees, 6221, par 71

Note: The Master Senior Division and Championship Division play for the overall title, but separate prize funds based on age were paid and results for overall and the three divisions are shown below.