News >> Kentucky's Blakefield Wins ADI Classic
The 2010 ADI Classic Presented Modern Distributors
Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club
May 20-23, 2010
Georgetown, KY (May 23, 2010)… Former University of Kentucky golfer Mark Blakefield of Maysville, Kentucky carded a 67 at Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club in the final round of The 2010 ADI Classic to capture his second NGA Hooters Tour title of the season and third of his career. (tournament champion Mark Blakefield left)
Blakefield started the day tied for 1st at eighteen-under par after carding rounds of 68-65-65. Playing in the final group with Chip Deason (Lexington, SC) and Doug Ferris (Hernando Beach, FL), the former Wildcat started off strong with birdies on two of his first three holes and then added two more birdies on holes five and nine to go out in four-under par 32 to build a two stroke lead with nine to holes to play.
“My goal today was to come out and get to at least twenty-three or twenty-four under par to give myself a chance,” said the twenty-seven year old. “I birdied the first and third holes and then got two more on 5 and 9 and thought I may as well keep trying to get lower because of the scores that everyone was posting this week.”
After opening with four straight pars on back nine, Blakefield rolled in another birdie at the par 5 14th hole to move to twenty-three-under par and extend his lead to three strokes over his nearest competitors. With three more pars over his next three holes, the Kentuckian entered the 18th hole with a two shot lead and was assured a second ADI Classic victory after making a routine up and down from behind the green for par and his second $30,000 check of the season.
“It’s great to get my second win of the season, but it is definitely icing on the cake to do it in front of my friends and family and in my home state,” said Blakefield. “Knowing that I had forty people in my corner cheering every time I did something right was certainly worthwhile today.”
Blakefield’s twenty-three-under par 265 total was two better than Deason and Glen Ellyn, Illinois’ Andy Pope. Deason, who began the day tied with Blakefield, continued his solid play on Sunday with a bogey free three-under par 69, while Pope notched back to back 66’s on Saturday and Sunday garner his best ever NGA Hooters Tour finish at a tie for second. The pair earned $13,229 for their runner-up finishes on Sunday.
Former EKU golfer Brandon Brown, who held a share of the lead after rounds one and two, struggled with two bogies on Sunday after only making one the first three days but managed a three-under par 69 to finish in a tie for fourth with Doug Ferris. Ferris sandwiched two 65’s in between a 68 and final round two-under par 70 to take home $8,329 with Brown.
With his first place finish on Sunday, Blakefield returns to top spot on the season long money list with $62,763 in earnings through eight events.
While Blakefield and Brown had great tournaments for players with Kentucky ties, a handful of other Kentuckians had successful weeks in Georgetown. The list includes Rick Cochran (T-42), Trey Bowling (T-58), Matt Savage (T-62), Ryan Britt (72nd), Brad Doster (T-79) and Andrew Stephens (T-79).
With his T-47 finish Sunday, Will Wilcox (Birmingham, AL) captured the Race For The Fort Smith Nationwide Exemption. The Race For The Fort Smith Exemption was given to the NGA Hooters Tour member that accumulated the most money in the Hampton, GA, McCormick, SC, Edwardsville, IL and Georgetown, KY events. Wilcox was able to hold off Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Matt Harmon by a mere $260 for the closest race of the previous two Nationwide exemptions granted to the NGA Hooters Tour.
The NGA Hooters Tour will take two weeks off from competition before swinging back into action June 7-13, 2010 in Bentonville, Arkansas for the Bentonville Open presented by Lindsey Management Company.
HOOTS: The NGA Hooters Tour would like to thank Cherry Blossom Superintendent Andy Short and all of his crew for their tireless efforts to get the golf course ready for action each day even with all the rain that hit the Georgetown area leading into tournament week. The tour would also like to thank Tournament Chairperson Clyde Barton and all of the volunteers that gave up their time and efforts to help make this a successful event for the third straight year. A special thanks goes to GM Luther Conley and head professional Steve Conley for making NGA Hooters Tour staff and players feel welcome again this year.
