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Ellis Outlasts Hendrix In Playoff

The Chattahoochee Hospice Classic

Overlook Golf Links

August 12-15, 2010

LaGrange, GA (August 15, 2010)…Former Mississippi golfer Kyle Ellis outlasted Matt Hendrix on the first playoff hole Sunday to capture his first career NGA Hooters Tour title at The Chattahoochee Hospice Classic at Overlook Golf Links.

Ellis began the day at thirteen-under par trailing third round leaders Hendrix and Grant Leaver (Centerville, TN) by two strokes.  The former Ole Miss golfer started off slow on Sunday making five pars and bogey over his first six holes but was able to get his round going with back to back birdies on holes seven and eight to make the turn at one-under par 34.

“The golf course was playing different today whether it was the rain overnight or the wind direction today and I just wanted to pace myself and make a few birdies here and there and try not to make mistakes that would cost me,” said the 26-year-old Ellis. “I have been playing well all year and just needed a few breaks to go my way and today luckily they did with a lengthy birdie on seven and a chip in for birdie on number eight.”

While Ellis was struggling to begin his final round, former Clemson University All-American Hendrix was starting off consistent with two birdies and seven pars on his opening nine to move to 17-under par and in the driver’s seat to capture his first title.

The roles reversed on the back nine though as Hendrix was unable to capitalize on chances and made eight pars and a lone bogey to finish at 16-under par 268.  While Hendrix was struggling in the group behind him, Ellis was continuing his solid play and entered the final hole needing a birdie to tie Hendrix at 16-under. 

Ellis stuck his approach shot to 10 feet and then calmly sank the putt to post a three-under par 68 and a four day total of 16-under par 268.  After Hendrix knocked in a three foot par putt on the 18^th hole, the pair headed back to the eighteenth tee for a sudden death playoff.

On the first playoff hole, both golfers found the fairway with their drives. Hendrix was the first to hit and left his approach short of the hole about 30 feet, while Ellis was aggressive and had his approach roll past the hole and end it up in the rough about eight feet behind the hole. 

Hendrix was aggressive with his first putt and rolled it by the hole eight feet, while Ellis flubbed his chip and left himself about six feet for par.  After Hendrix missed his par attempt, Ellis drained his par putt for his first win.

“He (Hendrix) ran his putt by the hole on his first attempt and after I missed by third shot we both had difficult par saves,” said Ellis. “I had my buddy Scott Tashie help me read the line and I confidently drained it for the win.”

“This win is definitely a confidence booster for me going into the final three events of the season and also going into PGA Tour Q-school in the fall.”

Ellis collects $30,000 for his first career NGA Hooters Tour title, while Hendrix takes home $15,901 for his runner-up finish.

Michael Welch (Quincy, MA) and David Skinns (Lincoln, England) finished tied for third one stroke out of the playoff at 15-under 269.  Welch carded a seven-under par 64 vaulting up the leader board 15 spots, while Skinns carded a four-under par 67.

The pair will take home $9,851 for their third place finishes.

LaGrange’s Taylor Hall posted a five over par 76 and finished at one over par 285, while Overlook Golf Links owner Grant Cagle finished at six over par 290, thanks to a two over par 73 on Sunday.

With his T-53 finish Sunday, Russell Knox (Scotland) captured the Race For The Knoxville Nationwide Exemption. The Race For The Knoxville Exemption was given to the NGA Hooters Tour member that accumulated the most points in the Auburn, AL; Tunica, MS; and LaGrange, GA events. Knox was able to hold off Grant Leaver by a mere 55 points.

The NGA Hooters Tour will take a week off before swinging back into action Aug. 23-29 in Hawkinsville, Ga., for the ComSouth Classic at Southern Hills Golf Club.

Chattahoochee Hospice Classic

Overlook Golf Links Pro Series

LaGrange, GA

Aug 9 -15, 2010

Final Scores

Par 71, 6650 yards

Fin.  Players                 Hometown                 Scores        Total     Par      Earnings

   1  Kyle Ellis............ Senatobia, MS.............  67 68 65 68       268     -16     $30,000.00

   2  Matt Hendrix.......Greenville, SC...............  69 65 64 70       268     -16     $15,901.00

  T3  Michael Welch.... Quincy , MA.................  72 66 67 64       269     -15      $9,851.00

  T3  David Skinns.... Lincoln, England............  68 69 65 67       269     -15      $9,851.00

  T5  Kevin Larsen.... Santa Barbara, CA.........  69 67 67 67       270     -14      $6,768.00

  T5  David Miller........Daphne, AL....................  66 66 70 68       270     -14      $6,768.00

  T5  Andrew Lanahan... Jacksonville, FL........  67 66 66 71       270     -14      $6,768.00

  T8  Kyle Morris........ Columbus, OH...............  72 68 65 66       271     -13      $4,626.00

  T8  Adam Long...... Lake St. Louis, MO.........  64 73 66 68       271     -13      $4,626.00

  T8  Matthew Harmon... Grand Rapids, MI.....  66 69 67 69       271     -13      $4,626.00

  T8  Michael Lavery...... Mission Viejo, CA.....  69 66 66 70       271     -13      $4,626.00

 T12  Patton Kizzire...... Tuscaloosa, AL.........  73 66 67 66       272     -12      $3,498.00

 T12  Grant Leaver...... Centerville, TN............  67 64 67 74       272     -12      $3,498.00

 T14  James Oh.......... Lakewood, CA.............  70 72 65 66       273     -11      $2,620.00

 T14  Travis Hampshire...Zephyrhills, FL..........  70 65 70 68       273     -11      $2,620.00

 T14  Michael Schachner.. Libertyville, IL.........  70 67 68 68       273     -11      $2,620.00

 T14  Cole Moreland........... Austin, TX............  70 65 68 70       273     -11      $2,620.00

 T14  Patrick Nagle........... Pacifica, CA...........  72 63 67 71       273     -11      $2,620.00

 T19  Reinier Saxton........ Amsterdam, ...........  71 67 64 72       274     -10      $2,183.00

 T19  Brent Witcher........... Atlanta, GA............  68 65 66 75       274     -10      $2,183.00

 T21  Jay McLuen............. Athens, GA............  71 67 72 65       275      -9      $1,938.00

 T21  Todd Bailey.......... Spanish Fort, AL........  69 68 70 68       275      -9      $1,938.00

 T21  David May............... Auburn, NY.............  66 70 69 70       275      -9      $1,938.00

 T21  Reid Edstrom........... Auburn, AL.............  70 66 69 70       275      -9      $1,938.00

 T21  Perry Moss........... Shreveport, LA...........  69 68 67 71       275      -9      $1,938.00

 T26  Chip Deason......... Lexington, SC...........  67 69 72 68       276      -8      $1,693.00

 T26  Andrew S. Medley.... Athens, AL..............  69 72 66 69       276      -8      $1,693.00

 T26  Gregory Huxman..... Pinecrest, FL...........  69 64 73 70       276      -8      $1,693.00

 T26  Drew Lethem........ Overland Park, KS.....  72 70 63 71       276      -8      $1,693.00

 T26  Greg Sweatt........ West Columbia, SC.....  68 66 69 73       276      -8      $1,693.00

 T31  Chesson Hadley........ Raleigh, NC...........  69 66 72 70       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Brennan Webb..... Land O Lakes, FL.......  76 66 68 67       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Chase Baldwin... Ponte Vedra Beach FL.. 68 68 71 70       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Casey Crain............ La Combe, LA..........  70 63 72 72       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Michael Daniels.......... Auburn, AL...........  66 74 72 65       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Jonathan Moore.... Champions Gate, FL...71 71 72 63       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T31  Michael Smith............ Lafayette, LA........  67 70 65 75       277      -7      $1,489.00

 T38  Jack Tyler, III............ Orlando, FL............  72 67 71 68       278      -6      $1,368.00

 T38  David Webb............ Eatonton, GA...........  67 73 70 68       278      -6      $1,368.00

 T40  Patrick Lundy........ Little River, SC..........  71 67 70 71       279      -5      $1,293.00

 T40  Derek Rende....... Soddy- Daisy, TN........  68 70 72 69       279      -5      $1,293.00

 T40  Jack Newman......... Des Moines, IA........  68 72 70 69       279      -5      $1,293.00

 T40  Ben Briscoe.......... Old Colwyn, Wales.....  71 69 67 72       279      -5      $1,293.00

 T44  Jeff Ely................... Alpharetta, GA..........  69 70 69 72       280      -4      $1,220.00

 T44  Chuckie Hyde III......Richmond, IN...........  71 68 68 73       280      -4      $1,220.00

 T44  Michael Parrott...... Woodstock, GA.........  66 71 74 69       280      -4      $1,220.00

 T47  JP Van der Walt. Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, 71 68 69 73   281 -3     $1,178.00

 T47  Matthew Swan.... Montgomery, AL..........  74 67 70 70       281      -3      $1,178.00

 T47  C.D. Hockersmith... Richmond, IN...........  67 70 74 70       281      -3      $1,178.00

 T47  Ben Martin............ Greenwood, SC.........  70 67 70 74       281      -3      $1,178.00

 T47  Nate Balanis............ Valdosta, GA...........  70 70 72 69       281      -3      $1,178.00

 T47  Jim Renner.............. Plainville, MA..........  67 70 75 69       281      -3      $1,178.00

 T53  John Kelly................. St. Louis................  67 70 72 73       282      -2      $1,150.00

 T53  Eric Atsma............ Caledonia, MI............  71 70 69 72       282      -2      $1,150.00

 T53  Parker LaBarge...... St. Louis, MO...........  68 69 75 70       282      -2      $1,150.00

 T53  Russell Knox...... Jacksonville Beach, FL.. 67 75 71 69       282      -2      $1,150.00

 T53  Scott Feaster........... Columbia , SC.........  71 68 75 68       282      -2      $1,150.00

 T58  Jonathan Hodge.....Strawberry Plains, TN.70 69 72 72       283      -1      $1,133.00

 T58  Cameron Lawrence... Knoxville, TN.........  68 73 73 69       283      -1      $1,133.00

 T60  Andrew Suggs......... Fayetteville, GA......  69 69 71 75       284       E      $1,021.00

 T60  Vaughn Snyder......... Massillon, OH........  72 65 72 75       284       E      $1,021.00

 T60  Grant Waite................ Ocala, FL.............  70 70 70 74       284       E      $1,021.00

 T60  Simon Walsh....... Manchester, England..  71 69 72 72       284       E      $1,021.00

 T60  Andy Pope.................. Glen Ellyn, IL.......  71 70 71 72       284       E      $1,021.00

 T60  Jon Curran............... Hopkinton, MA........  70 72 71 71       284       E      $1,021.00

 T66  Taylor Hall................ LaGrange, GA........  72 70 67 76       285      +1        $875.00

 T66  Jeff Street............... Charlotte, NC...........  73 69 70 73       285      +1        $875.00

 T68  Scott Tashie............. Memphis, TN..........  71 70 72 73       286      +2        $875.00

 T68  Blake Moore............ Monrovia, CA...........  72 69 74 71       286      +2        $875.00

 T70  Brandon Anthony..... Albany, GA..............  69 70 73 76       288      +4        $738.00

 T70  Chris Barron............ Joelton, TN..............  72 69 71 76       288      +4        $738.00

 T72  David Perritt.............. Orlando, FL............  71 71 69 79       290      +6        $600.00

 T72  Jimmy Brandt......... Montgomery, AL.......  70 72 74 74       290      +6        $600.00

 T72  Bryce Easton............ Arlington, TX..........  73 69 76 72       290      +6        $600.00

 T72  Grant Cagle............ LaGrange, GA..........  68 73 76 73       290      +6        $600.00

  76  Murdoch McEwan...... Spring, TX..............  68 73 74 76       291      +7        $600.00

  77  Leroux Ferrei......... Kingwood, TX.............  69 73 72 78       292      +8        $600.00

  78  Clark Klaasen...... Grand Rapids, MI........  70 72 75 79       296     +12        $600.00

  79  Zack Sucher............. Mobile, AL..............  70 71 72 W          W     +12        $600.00