Roswell, GA — Mini-tour professional Jay McLuen of Forsyth shot a final round competitive course record of seven-under par 65 for a tournament total of nineteen-under par 269 to run away with the title at the 61st Tilted Kilt Georgia Open, conducted at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw. This is the second time McLuen has won the state championship of golf after contending several times in the past decade. In 2011, McLuen also won by seven shots at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville.
McLuen began the final round with a four shot lead and wasted little time extending it by firing a five-under par 31 on his first nine holes. The leaders started their rounds on the back nine to have them finish on the challenging risk/reward 530 yard par 5 which has an amphitheater like setting surrounding the green, perfect for spectating. For the championship, McLuen carded rounds of 66, 72, 66, and 65, and played his last 35 holes in a remarkable fifteen under par.
By winning the Georgia Open for the second time, McLuen joins an impressive list of multiple champions and legends in Georgia golf history which includes the likes of Tommy Aaron, Jody Bellflower, Dick Cline, Jonathan Fricke, Ted Hayes, Jr., Stephen Keppler, Franklin Langham, Paul Moran, Gene Sauers, Dave Schreyer, Tim Simpson, Jim Stamps, Dicky Thompson, and Dewitt Weaver, Jr.,
Finishing in second place and capturing Low Amateur honors, was Jimmy Beck of Columbus who carded a final round of five-under par 67 for a tournament total of twelve under par. Beck, a rising senior at Kennesaw State, won the Georgia Amateur title at Pinetree Country Club last summer and plays the course frequently with the Kennesaw State Owls golf team. Tied for third place at eight under par were two more KSU Owls, recent graduate and mini-tour professional Matt Nagy of Acworth, and current team member Kelby Burton of Evans.
Finishing in a tie for fifth place at seven-under par were 36 hole leader and mini-tour professional Eddie Lee of Cumming and PGA apprentice Chris Nicol of Marietta. Nicol works at the Georgia Golf Center in Milton.
Pinetree Country Club was originally designed by the noted architect Chick Adams and opened in 1962; Pinetree Country Club’s 18-hole championship golf course has long been regarded as among the finest private golf courses in Georgia. Pinetree’s sublime parkland beauty and challenging layout attracted Georgia State Amateur Championship in 1976, 1985, 2003, and 2013, as well as the Atlanta Open in 2004.
In the summer of 2007, Pinetree Country Club retained noted architect Bill Bergin to oversee a renovation of the golf course. Bergin’s challenge was to preserve the course’s original character while improving each hole. The club opened for play in late October 2008 and members found the results had exceeded all expectations. The renovated 7,108 yard championship par 72 golf course will test every club in a golfer’s bag while winding through and around picturesque rolling hills to play holes framed by towering Georgia pines, flowering shrubs, native hardwoods, babbling brooks and sparkling ponds.
The Georgia PGA is one of the 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its membership includes nearly 830 PGA professionals working at over 260 golf courses, clubs, and ranges throughout the state. Additionally, more than 20 Georgia PGA members compete on one of the PGA Tours. In keeping with the fundamental objectives laid down by its founders, one of the Georgia PGA’s primary goals is promoting the game of golf through clinics, junior and minority golf programs, consumer programs, and print, radio and television media.
Results for contest Championship:
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1 Jay McLuen Forsyth, GA 66-72-66-65–269 -19
2 Jimmy Beck (a) Columbus, GA 66-73-70-67–276 -12
T3 Kelby Burton (a) Evans, GA 70-68-72-70–280 -8
T3 Matt Nagy Acworth, GA 70-68-70-72–280 -8
T5 Chris Nicol Marietta, GA 71-69-71-70–281 -7
T5 Eddie Lee Cumming, GA 69-66-73-73–281 -7
7 Blake Palmer Dawsonville, GA 72-73-69-70–284 -4
T8 Emmanuel Kountakis (a) Martinez, GA 71-70-73-71–285 -3
T8 Franco Castro Alpharetta, GA 70-78-66-71–285 -3
10 Ryan Chitwood Lula, GA 71-72-71-72–286 -2
T11 David Noll, Jr (a) Dalton, GA 77-69-72-70–288 E
T11 Chris Cartwright Douglasville, GA 73-71-74-70–288 E
T11 Samuel Del Val Atlanta, GA 71-71-71-75–288 E
T14 Jordon Mitchell Atlanta, GA 72-71-74-72–289 +1
T14 Todd Ormsby Hogansville, GA 69-70-76-74–289 +1
T14 Travis Nance Rome, GA 72-70-70-77–289 +1
17 Bob Royak (a) Alpharetta, GA 72-75-70-74–291 +3
T18 Joe Young Cochran, GA 72-79-69-72–292 +4
T18 J.P. Griffin Glennville, GA 72-74-69-77–292 +4
T20 Scott Melton Savannah, GA 79-72-71-72–294 +6
T20 John L Smith Statesboro, GA 69-75-74-76–294 +6
T20 Kameron Williams (a) Braselton, GA 75-71-70-78–294 +6
T23 Nickolaus Budd (a) Woodstock, GA 71-74-76-74–295 +7
T23 Patrick Garrett Powder Springs, GA 77-69-75-74–295 +7
T23 Jonathan Klotz (a) Columbus, GA 71-71-81-72–295 +7
T23 Craig Stevens Dallas, GA 79-72-72-72–295 +7
T23 Peter Jones Atlanta, GA 73-73-74-75–295 +7
T23 Justin Cho (a) Alpharetta, GA 80-70-75-70–295 +7
T29 William Mitchell (a) Roswelll, GA 72-75-74-75–296 +8
T29 Jeff Bors St. Simons Island, GA 74-74-72-76–296 +8
T29 Christopher Johnson Brunswick, GA 73-71-80-72–296 +8
T29 Christian Humber (a) Fayetteville, GA 73-78-75-70–296 +8
T29 Brandon Lovelady Sharpsburg, GA 74-77-75-70–296 +8
T34 Jason Mendel (a) Norcross, GA 72-79-69-77–297 +9
T34 Sonny Skinner Sylvester, GA 75-73-77-72–297 +9
T34 Tim Weinhart Alpharetta, GA 70-70-76-81–297 +9
37 Vincent Whaley (a) Fayetteville, GA 73-74-75-76–298 +10
T38 Nathan Mallonee (a) Lexington, GA 74-73-77-75–299 +11
T38 Shad Tuten (a) Savannah, GA 74-74-71-80–299 +11
T40 David Ward Woodstock, GA 71-75-76-78–300 +12
T40 Jonathan Keppler (a) Marietta, GA 68-74-81-77–300 +12
T40 Michael Parrott Woodstock, GA 72-75-78-75–300 +12
T40 Rob French Acworth, GA 76-75-77-72–300 +12
T44 Madison Turner (a) Canton, GA 74-74-75-78–301 +13
T44 Dave Schreyer Peachtree City, GA 73-76-71-81–301 +13
T44 Jack Hall (a) Savannah, GA 73-77-74-77–301 +13
T44 Jeffery Cammon St. Simons Island, GA 69-77-79-76–301 +13
T44 Zach Lindsey Woodstock, GA 74-75-78-74–301 +13
T44 Michael Hines (a) Woodstock, GA 75-74-80-72–301 +13
T50 Justin Martin Atlanta, GA 74-74-78-76–302 +14
T50 Austin Ujhelyi Cumming, GA 75-75-79-73–302 +14
52 Daniel Kim (a) Kennesaw, GA 72-76-75-81–304 +16
T53 Taylor Martin (a) Braselton, GA 76-75-74-80–305 +17
T53 Blake Stark Canton, GA 77-74-75-79–305 +17
T53 Jason Flowers Albany, GA 74-77-75-79–305 +17
T53 David Potts Johns Creek, GA 79-72-77-77–305 +17
T53 Larry Harris (a) Lilburn, GA 73-78-78-76–305 +17
58 Charles King Griffin, GA 73-77-78-78–306 +18
59 Brian Dixon Marietta, GA 76-73-81-77–307 +19
60 Michael Simcox St Simons Island, GA 74-75-83-80–312 +24
DID NOT FINISH
MC Ben Kishigian Warner Robins, GA +8
MC James Walden Savannah, GA +8
MC Ryan Najim (a) Johns Creek, GA +8
MC Lucas Garces Alpharetta, GA +8
MC Michael Butler Savannah, GA +8
MC James Mason Dillard, GA +8
MC Mike Alread Atlanta +8
MC Chad Ring (a) Fayetteville, GA +8
MC Tommy Brannen Augusta, GA +8
MC DeWitt Weaver III (a) Suwanee, GA +9
MC William Johns (a) Johns Creek, GA +9
MC Donn Perno Atlanta, GA +9
MC George Perry Mcdonough, GA +9
MC Matthew Evans Alpharetta, GA +9
MC Jordon Arnold Dawsonville, GA +9
MC Tyler Mitchell (a) Chatsworth, GA +9
MC Ryan Clement Atlanta, GA +10
MC Russ Davis Sandy Springs, GA +10
MC Mike Cromer (a) Peachtree Corners, GA +10
MC Wayne Leal Oxford, GA +11
MC Tyler Musselwhite Warner Robins, GA +11
MC Tom Rasmussen Roswell, GA +11
MC Sung Back Duluth, GA +11
MC Justin Jolly Tunnel Hill, GA +11
MC Kevin Roman Roswell, GA +11
MC Drew Dunn Atlanta, GA +11
MC Michael Lee (a) Columbus,, GA +11
MC Danny Elkins Roswell, GA +11
MC Ken Dixon Marietta, GA +12
MC Ted Meier Newnan, GA +12
MC Greg Lee Athens, GA +12
MC Joey Maziar (a) Atlanta, GA +13
MC Mel Mendenhall (a) Marietta, GA +13
MC Dave Womack (a) McDonough, GA +13
MC Mark Siksta Atlanta, GA +13
MC Tim Robinson Flowery Branch, GA +13
MC Clinton Colbert Savannah, GA +13
MC James Kyles (a) Atlanta, GA +13
MC Chip Zimmerman Cumming, GA +13
MC Robert Cole Ranger, GA +13
MC Rob Williams Marietta, GA +13
MC Mark Avery Acworth, GA +14
MC Jason DeJiacomo (a) Jasper, GA +14
MC Taehyung Kim (a) Albany, GA +14
MC Rich Grote (a) Kennesaw, GA +14
MC Carson Vaughn (a) Newnan, GA +14
MC Bill Leonard (a) Dallas, GA +15
MC Collin Doss (a) Ga, GA +15
MC Kyle Owen Marietta, GA +15
MC Jeff Gotham Hartwell, GA +16
MC Brian Katrek (a) Mableton, GA +16
MC John Smoltz Alpharetta, GA +16
MC Brandon Smith St Simons Island, GA +16
MC Matt Youmans (a) Lawrenceville, GA +16
MC Mark Anderson St. Simons Island, GA +16
MC Trey Patterson (a) Johns Creek, GA +17
MC Conner Dickinson (a) Snellville, GA +17
MC Samuel Curtis (a) Calhoun, GA +17
MC Bill Murchison Canton, GA +18
MC Ted Fort Marietta, GA +18
MC Jeff Hull Watkinsville, GA +18
MC King Simmons Mableton, GA +18
MC Jackson Heazel (a) Atlanta, GA +18
MC Shawn Koch Johns Creek, GA +18
MC Chase Humber (a) Fayetteville, GA +19
MC Kurt Valley Atlanta, GA +19
MC Robert Stocke Alpharetta, GA +19
MC Jeff Frasier Gainesville, GA +19
MC Kevin Gibbs Carrollton, GA +20
MC Cole Stiles St Simons Island, GA +20
MC Billy Jack Alpharetta, GA +20
MC DeWitt Weaver Braselton, GA +21
MC John Wade Evans, GA +21
MC Kristian Panachida Lawrenceville, GA +22
MC Jonathan Cook (a) Kennesaw, GA +22
MC Brian Albertson Rome, GA +25
MC Thomas Whitley (a) Hoschton, GA +26
MC Nick Kiser (a) Dallas, GA +26
MC Zac Tilton Marietta, GA +29
MC Daniel Weinman (a) Atlanta, GA +30
MC Gus Barchers Columbus, GA +36
WD Beau Minkley (a) Atlanta, GA +8
WD Seth McCain Bogart, GA +11
DQ Rodger Hogan Gainesville, GA +4