Roswell, GA — Former Armstrong State All-American golfer Shad Tuten of Savannah fired a closing round of 3-under par 69 to capture the 63rd Georgia Open presented by Gas South and E-Z-GO, contested at The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill for the first time in the event’s history.
Tuten is a native of Augusta, who recently relocated to the low country and now resides in Savannah. He is playing professional golf on various mini-tours and working as a caddy at the May River Club in Bluffton, SC and plans on attempting to earn status on the Web.com tour later this fall. He started the final round three shots behind mini-tour professional Blake Palmer of Dawsonville, who got off to a rough start by playing his first six holes 3-over par to fall back into a tie with Tuten. Tuten made a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole to take the lead for the first time. Palmer reclaimed a share of the lead with a birdie on the par-5 11th hole, but Tuten immediately answered with a birdie on the par-3 12th hole and never relinquished the lead. Tuten extended the lead with birdies on both the 16th and 17th holes. For his efforts, Tuten collected the first place check of $7,500.
Low amateur honors went to Nathan Mallonee of Leesburg who shot a tournament total of 3-under par 285. Savannah resident Tim O’Neal finished in solo third place eight shots behind Tuten at 7-under par 281. There was five-way tie for fourth place, including Jimmy Beck of Columbus, Ben Kishigian of Warner Robins, Drew Aimone of Savannah, Devin Broadaway of Adairsville, and Barrett Waters of Dallas.