Coleman Invitational: Elliott Tops McCoy By 1

JUNO BEACH, Fla. (April 25, 2009)--Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, IA completed a wire-to-wire win at the Coleman Invitational by holding off Mike McCoy, also from West Des Moines, by a single shot. In so doing, Elliott regained the title he last won in 2007. Elliott entered the final round at even-par, one shot ahead of McCoy and Chip Lutz of Reading, PA. On the back nine in the final round, it became a two man race between close friends McCoy and Elliott (both are from West Des Moines) and the famous Seminole wind was starting to blow. Tied after sixteen holes, McCoy made what he later called a "good bogey" on No. 17 after going bunker to bunker, and Elliott's par gave him a one shot lead, which he held after both players made bogey at the last. For Elliott, it was the second Coleman title in three years and eighth top-5 finish. "There is something about Seminole that I really like," said Elliott in a phone interview after the event. "It's kind of a shotmaker's course and it just suits my eye." Elliott and McCoy each closed with 3-over 73s while Lutz shot 78. Michael Barbosa of St. Petersburg, FL closed with a 71 to finish solo third at 5-over. In the Senior Division, Chris Maletis of Portland OR also went wire-to-wire for the win, but had to survive a final-round 77 to edge Gayle Sanchez of Baton Rouge, LA by a shot.