Pinotti Sweeps IPT Weekend, Russell Claims His First Win Of Year
9 May 2010 - Louisville, KY - Jerry Pinotti had a strong 2009 PPA season, highlighted by winning the National Doubles championship with Nate Nichols and later claiming the Indiana Putting Tour Match Play Championship. The Louisville resident started 2010 looking for more as he returned to the site of his match play title from 2009 and won the IPT's six-round major on Course 3 at the Louisville Putt-Putt Golf & Games. Pinotti shot a 61-under par 155 to win by five shots over Indianas Tom Morrison. Charlie Greenwalt was third at 163, Nichols fourth at 164 and Kevin Lacey fifth at 166 for the final cash spot.
Tom Russell (APA) and Jerry Pinotti (PPA)Often a low-scoring course for tour players, Course 3 was perhaps inspired by the toughness of its Course 1 neighbor and thus was not quite as ace-friendly as it has been in recent tourneys. But early on, it was Cincinnati southpaw James Weber not getting that memo. He came out on fire with a pair of 24's and led by four shots with a 48. However, he would fade like a pair of 10-year old jeans and fall below the cash line at tourneys end. Weber shot a 31 in the third round and was in a three-way tie for first at the halfway point with Pinotti and Morrison. Three other players stood at 82 - Lacey, Greenwalt and Bob Marcellino.
After a lunch break, Pinotti skated past the field with 26's in Rounds 4 and 5 to take a three-stroke lead over Morrison, his playing partner. Weber shot 30-31 to stumble out of the running. In the final round, Morrison aced the first four holes to pull within a shot of Pinotti, and after an ace on 13, Morrison was still within one. However, an untimely miss on Hole 15 allowed Pinotti to reclaim a two-stroke margin. Pinotti aced the last five holes for a closing 24.
In the amateur division, it was Louisville's own Tom Russell winning on the same course he claimed the 2009 IPT Medal Play tourney on. Russell shot a 53-under par 163 to hold off Brandon Davis by two shots.
Karen Raizor was third at 167. Russell and Davis were tied with two rounds to go, but Russell shot a 26 to 30 for Davis. Russell shook off an early bogey in the final round for a 29 to hold on to the win.
The Indiana Putting Tour thanks Tim Greenert and his staff for their hospitality in the opening weekend. The tour will play in Columbus, Ind. May 29-30, playing both courses during the weekend. Sunday will be the Bill Hammons Memorial to honor the deceased amateur putter.Article provided by the Indiana Putting Tour
Professional Division
(Louisville, KY - Course # 3 - 9 May 2010)
Round Prize Points Player Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total Money Earned 1 Jerry Pinotti 26 26 27 26 26 24 155 $ 270.00 5.00 2 Tom Morrison 28 26 25 28 27 26 160 $ 185.00 3.00 3 Charlie Greenwalt 29 25 28 25 25 31 163 $ 140.00 2.00 4 Nate Nichols 29 29 26 29 24 27 164 $ 115.00 1.00 5 Kevin Lacey 26 28 28 30 25 29 166 $ 95.00 6 James Weber 24 24 31 30 31 27 167 7 John Ventura 28 26 30 28 28 28 168 8 Dave Jones 27 32 29 26 26 30 170 9 Bob Marcellino 26 28 28 28 32 30 172 10 Monte Snyder 29 30 28 30 31 29 177 11 Tim Greenert 28 33 34 27 29 27 178 12 Shawn Gilliland 33 31 32 29 28 31 184 Amateur Division
(Louisville, KY - Course # 3 - 9 May 2010)
Round Expense Points Player Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total Money Earned 1 Tom Russell 26 30 26 26 26 29 163 $ 40.00 5.00 2 Brandon Davis 24 32 27 25 30 27 165 $ 25.00 3.00 3 Karen Raizor 26 26 27 30 29 29 167 2.00 4 Rick Ossenfort 32 29 27 30 29 34 181 1.00
