VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, North Carolina (November 3, 2008) -- Play got underway today in the Inaugural amateurgolf.com Pinehurst Invitational Two Man, a unique Ryder Cup-style event that also includes 36 holes of best-ball stroke play competition. Today's round was played on Pinehurst No. 4, one of the two courses used in the U.S. Amateur qualifying rounds this past summer. No. 4, which opened for play in 1999 (after a complete makeover by architect Tom Fazio), has a mighty total of 180 bunkers, and shot values and green surrounds very similar to the U.S. Open course, Pinehurst No. 2.
Bridgestone Golf Product Marketing Manager Danny Le teamed up with Pete Wlodkowski of amateurgolf.com for a best-ball of 3-under 69 -- they paced "Team Fazio" in the team competition with 3 early points. Le found anything but bad luck on the 13th- he ran a three wood 2nd shot up to the water-guarded green and made a six foot putt for eagle three.
"Best 3-wood I've ever hit," said Le, who is enjoying the confusion of having a name that is almost exactly the same as 2008 U.S. Amateur Champion Danny Lee of New Zealand.
They were followed by Teammates Doug and Dan Potter, a father/son team that shot 1-under 71 and also won 3 points in their match.
In the Net Division, ham met egg when the brother team of Eric and Kevin Czarnecki fired a best-ball 62. It will be a family feud on Monday, as the red hot brothers play their father Jack, and his partner Jay Czarnecki for family honors.
Carl Everett of Havertown, PA and his partner Mike Miller of Knoxville, TN shot even par to lead the small senior division -- Everett made 16 straight pars, skillfully maneuvering the slick, firm No.4 greens with skills learned at his home course, Merion. Everett and Miller were responsible for half of Team Ross' points, Rick Friedman and Steve Warren of Indiana in the Net Division won the other 3.
Team Fazio finished the day with 12 points, Team Ross won a total of 6 points. All matches, interestingly enough, were clean sweeps in the front/nine/eighteen format where each counts for one point.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
Players from around the U.S. are evenly divided between first time amateurgolf.com Tournament Series players and veterans of our other travel events to Kiawah Island and Bandon Dunes. Presenting Sponsor Bridgestone Golf is joined by UST Golf Shaft in sending representatives and providing prizes, and amateurgolf.com Media partner Travel + Leisure Golf Magazine and Patron Tequila hosted the Saturday welcome party.
First round results follow:
| CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION | |||||||
| First | Last | City | State | Team | Team No. | Points |
Rd1 |
| Pete | Wlodkowski | Carlsbad | CA | Fazio | Champ02 | 3 |
69 |
| Danny | Le | Covington | GA | Fazio | Champ02 | ||
| Doug | Potter | Coeur dAlene | ID | Fazio | Champ03 | 3 |
71 |
| Dan | Potter | Irvine | CA | Fazio | Champ03 | ||
| Jeffrey | Powers | Haymarket | VA | Ross | Champ01 | 77 |
|
| Ray | Skretteberg | Winter Garden | FL | Ross | Champ01 | ||
| Jamie | Pipes | Fort Worth | TX | Ross | Champ04 | 80 |
|
| Charles | Birkhold | Bedford | TX | Ross | Champ04 | ||
| NET DIVISION | |||||||
| First | Last | City | State | Team | Team No. | Points |
Rd1 |
| Eric | Czarnecki | Mt. Pleasant | SC | Fazio | Net02 | 3 |
62 |
| Kevin | Czarnecki | Marlborough | CT | Fazio | Net02 | ||
| Gary | Meadors | Jacksonville Beach | FL | Fazio | Net01 | 3 |
68 |
| Roy | Paxson | Jacksonville Beach | FL | Fazio | Net01 | ||
| Buddy | Pitt | Orangeville | ON | Ross | Net06 | 69 |
|
| James | Pybus | Cobourg | ON | Ross | Net06 | ||
| Jay | Czarnecki | New Hope | PA | Ross | Net03 | 70 |
|
| Jack | Czarnecki | Sanibel | FL | Ross | Net03 | ||
| Rick | Friedman | Newburg | IN | Ross | Net04 | 72 |
|
| Steven | Warren | Newburgh | IN | Ross | Net04 | ||
| Don | Williams | Monroe | CT | Fazio | Net05 | 74 |
|
| Paul | Williams | White Rock | BC | Fazio | Net05 | ||
| SENIOR DIVISION | |||||||
| First | Last | City | State | Team | Team No. | Points |
Rd1 |
| Carl | Everett | Havertown | PA | Ross | Senior01 | 3 |
72 |
| Michael | Miller | Knoxville | TN | Ross | Senior01 | ||
| James | Ford | Euless | TX | Fazio | Senior02 | 83 |
|
| Robert | Harrison | N. Richland Hills | TX | Fazio | Senior02 | ||
TEAM COMPETITION SUMMARY:
Team Fazio: 12 Points
Team Ross: 6 Points