Olympia Fields National Four-Ball: Laird, Hunt Prevail

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL (May 25, 2018) - Rob Laird and Tyler Hunt of Tulsa, OK captured the 2018 Olympia Fields National Four-Ball Invitational, holding off the team of former Furman University teammates Braden List and Garland Ferrell by two shots.

Laird is a former University of Tulsa player who won last year's Oklahoma Mid-Amateur.

Playing the par-70 North Course at Olympia Fields in round one, Laird and Hunt took a one-shot lead with a 4-under 66.

Tyler Hunt & Rob Laird

Moving to the par-72 South Course, the Tulsa duo shot a 5-under 67, good for a tie for the low round of the day, to finish 36 holes at 9-under 133.

List and Ferrell shot rounds of 68-67 to finish second at 135.

Three teams tied for third at 5-under 137. Blake Vinson, who won last year's championship with partner David Klaudt, teamed with Blake Johnson to shoot 70-67. Johnson came into the tournament suitably warmed up, having played the rain-delayed final match of the Chicago Mid-Amateur on the morning of the first round of the Four-Ball.

Chris Noel / Billy Lowery (70-67) and Mike Cushing / Jeff Niepagen (69-68) joined Vinson and Johnson in the third-place tie.

John Finnin & Dave Ryan

In the Senior Division, 2016 U.S. Senior champion Dave Ryan (Taylorville, IL) teamed with John Finnin (Mokena, IL) for a six-shot win over Lee and Reed Kolquist (Geneva, IL). The winning team posted the only under-par round at the North Course, a 69, and then added a 66 at the South Course.

In the Super Senior Division, Robin Rubrecht and Jim Webb won in a playoff, defeating Scott Blasie and Tim Cox on the third extra hole. Both teams finished at 2-under 140. Ken Kee and Michael Alsup finished one shot out of the playoff.

Olympia Fields has established itself as a formidable championship test, having hosted 2 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships, 5 Western Opens, 1 U.S. Amateur Championship and a U.S. Senior Open.