HERCULES, CA - Fat Mike took the season ending Last Gasp for his first win in three years of MGA competition. He overcame major obstacles such as sleep deprivation and Nils Erickson’s endless attempts to jinx him, to post an 88 and take the title over MGA greats Todd Benoit and Kent Jamieson. Benoit’s second place easily secured him the SFMGA money title and at least temporarily puts him on top of the Global Money List.

Perhaps one of the most earth shattering and far-reaching holes of the day was Martin Brohm’s 18th. Arriving at the 18th hole, Brohm looked set to take his third MGA victory in a row, which would have been a new record for consecutive wins. A mogey on the reachable par 5 would have gotten him into a playoff with Fat Mike and given him a chance to win. Brohm stumbled however on his fourth, sixth and eighth shot, hitting each of them into the small pond along the right side of the fairway.

Eventually Brohm would hole out for a 12, handing the victory to Fat Mike and promoting John James, Bob Giosso, Chris Jonsson and Gabe Elash into a four-way tie for fourth. That mega-tie gave all these players a top five finish and earned Giosso and Jonsson the “qualified” spots in Vegas they so desperately longed for. Brohm would finish in a tie for eighth with Nils Erickson and Dave Armstrong.

Jonsson holds up seven fingers, signifying that his qualifying for the World Championships ranks as a 7 on his scale of awesomeness.

Outgoing champion Dan “Honest Abe” Bollwinkel, putted in for an impressive 79 on the 18th green. A little too impressive however and he was eliminated from the field with a TG(too good) disqualification. He was therefore forced to pass his favorite trophy onward to this years Champion, but his name will be forever recorded on the trophy, just after 2007 champ Max Lanier and just before 2009 champ Fat Mike.

Bully scares the ball into the hole with his massive guns for a meagle on 14.

Rush Shah had a steadily mediocre day to take the Lanier Award in 13th place with a 97. But who can carry trophies when your hands are so full of benjamins???

Mike Plemons must have spent the entire back nine worrying if he was going to make it home in time for dinner, because he surely wasn’t focusing on golf, posting a meltdown differential of 11 to take the Meltdown Award.

Closest to the pin went to Jon “lucky kick” Morley, who sent an educated banana slice to 13 feet. Morley had an up and down day on course, but found most of his trouble on the courses bridges.

Despite luminescent warning signs, Morley and Conkle tried the cross the bridge too quickly....and payed the price

The longest drive went to Bob Giosso, but Dave Richardson swears he out-drove him by at least 350 yards, it just wasn’t in the fairway.

Joseph Hiseley and Matt Clopton had a great battle for last place, before Clopton was able to pull away and seal the “victory” with a 132.

Hiseley reacts with shock and anger when he realizes last place will not be his in this tournament

Mike Conrad shot his best score in MGA competition with a 105, but in listening to his interview you’d have to believe he was even more excited about the cart girl finding his lost sandwich.

Now let’s all take a moment of silence for poor Max Lanier. Already committed to Vegas, despite not being in the top 16 on the money list, Lanier was focused on securing a top 5 finish and a “qualified” spot in the World Championships. A meagle on the first hole followed by a mirdie, mar and a mirdie had him four munder through four holes and looking great for a top five finish. An errant second shot on number five however started a slide he just couldn’t stop. In the blink of an eye he was back to meeven and before he knew what hit him, the day was over and he was 12 mover in 17th place. A great champion, Lanier is one of the few players to take back to back wins in the MGA, and we know he will return to this former glory in 2010.

Poor Max. Mad respect though for rockin the vintage MGA trucker cap, circa 2007

Another great SFMGA season ends with a new winner and loads of excitement and anticipation heading into the World Championships. The off-season will be still be busy for the MGA, with a new website in development, the MGA plans on expanding even further in 2010. Off-season events are also in the works, with the return of the popular Ladies Night and perhaps another new addition.

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