Sea Island, GA — Sonny Skinner of River Pointe Golf Course in Albany carded a five-under par 67 to capture his second title at the E-Z-GO/ExecGolf Georgia PGA Championship presented by TaylorMade adidas Golf, Ashworth, and the PGA Tour, conducted at Sea Island Golf Club’s Plantation Course on St. Simon’s Island.
Skinner finished the championship at ten-under par 206. He entered the final round two shots behind defending champion, Stephen Keppler of Marietta Country Club and took the lead for the first time when he made birdie on the ninth hole while Keppler made a bogey. The back nine was a duel between two of the most decorated players in Georgia PGA history.
Both players made birdie at the par four 10th hole, to keep Skinner’s lead at a single shot. Skinner three-putted the 11th hole for a bogey and the two competitors were once again tied until Keppler three-putted the 12th hole to allow Skinner to recapture the lead. Skinner then proceeded to make a bogey on the 13th hole and they were tied once again.
Skinner made a birdie on the 14th, to take the outright lead, but on the par three 15th Keppler rolled in a putt of over 20 feet to recapture a share of the lead. Both players made par on the 16th hole. Skinner then made yet another birdie on the 17th to take a one shot lead going into the final hole. Keppler reached the par five 18th hole in two shots while Skinner laid up to approximately 60 yards. Skinner was able to get up and in the hole for his eighth birdie of the day while Keppler two-putted for birdie. For his efforts Skinner collected the first place check of $4,000.
Brian Corn of Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta finished alone in third place at six-under par 210. Corn shot a final round on four-under par 68. 1992 Georgia PGA champion Danny Elkins of the Georgia Golf Center in Roswell tied for fourth place along with 2005 Georgia PGA champion Tim Weinhart of Nuclear Golf at The Standard Club in Johns Creek at five-under par 211. Elkins matched Skinner for the low round of the day with a five-under par 67.
The Plantation Course at Sea Island was set up to play as a par 72 and measured at 6,891 yards.
Georgia Golf Magazine for News & PGA Updates
