HENDERSON, NV – Many things were learned this past weekend. Kevin “Rook” Leahy is a great poker player, Chris Jonsson is an incredible singer and Todd Benoit is officially the greatest of all time. Adding a World Championship belt to his three majors and one other MGA win, the record books are currently being re-written every time Benoit enters a tournament. The weekend was so epic in fact; Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay are holding an “explosion-off” (a contest to see who can capture the biggest explosion on film) for the movie rights.

Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that Benoit was able to overcome the “favor” paid to him by top medio, friend and competitor Kent Jamieson. After their practice round on Friday, Jamieson was considerate enough to put Benoit’s score into fairwayfiles for him. The resulting drop in handicap gifted Benoit an additional penalty stroke on Saturday. Like a true champion, Benoit accepted this stroke honorably without a single complaint and went out to shoot a penalty adjusted 86 and take the World Championship belt over Jon Morley by one stroke.

What the Fiesta Henderson sign should have read as we left Sunday

Morley and third place finisher Stacey Ward were paired with Fat Mike of San Francisco and Mike Davie from Seattle. Morley, Ward and Fat set the course on fire on the front nine, no doubt confusing Davie as to where the mediocre shots were hiding. Fat Mike was the first to buckle, as the sand proved to be his undoing and a triple mogey seven on a par three ended his charge for the belt.

Fat Mike in happier times, when he was one-munder early in his round.

Ward and Morley however pushed each other shot for shot all the way to the final hole. Convinced they were battling for the belt, the pressure was on and Morley held a one stroke advantage over Ward. Their drives ended up 20 feet from each other, 150 yards out. Ward hit the green 25 feet right of the pin, Morley was on the green 25 feet left of the flag. Both players took an eternity to line up their putts, believing it was all or nothing at this point. Ward went first, blasting his meagle attempt 12 feet by the cup. Morley fared only slightly better, leaving his putt six feet below the hole. As Ward missed him comeback putt, Morley knew he could two-putt to beat Ward. Morley pushed his six footer right of the cup and tapped in for a penalty adjusted 87. The miss cost him the belt.

19. S.Ward did the Camacho Cartel proud with his steallar play at the World Championships
    

Benoit’s score came in late as Morley was filling in the giant scoreboard on the wall. As co-founder Willie Gregory read off Benoit’s front nine score of 44, Morley shook his head in disbelief, already aware of Benoit’s final pre-penalty score of 80. Some quick math in his head and a double-checking of the scoring sheet confirmed it. Benoit had shot a nine-munder 36 on the back nine to win the belt. Benoit said his putting on the day was the best it had ever been. Listen to his interview here, taken by the local media as he arrived at the San Francisco airport.

The Ward family was well represented at the World Championships. While the younger Stacey took third for the family, his dad Charlie stamped the Ward dominance on the top five with a strong fourth place finish. C. Ward made it into the World Championships through a mid-season chapter switch. After playing the first two events in San Francisco, Ward began competing in Conejo Valley and quickly made an impact with a second and third place finish is some regular season events. He played well at the World Championships and shot a penalty adjusted 91.

Rounding out the top-5 were Zack McInelly and Chris Jonsson. SeattleMGA Legend McInelly came into the tournament talking a strong game and boasting a $.04 lead over Benoit on the Global Money List. His threats to sweep-kick his nemesis Benoit were thankfully unfounded, as Benoit showed no noticeable limp at the tournament. McInelly got off to a slow start, shooting 50 on the front nine, but a back nine of 43 brought him to his final resting place of fifth best in the world.

Legends of the MGA Benoit, McInelly and Brochu

Cinderella story Chris Jonsson snuck into the World Championships on the strength of a T-4 finish at The Last Gasp in October. His game has consistently improved through the season and a victory can’t be far off for this man. However, even more impressive than his golf skills are his karaoke skills, as his rendition of Movin Out blew the medio’s away, while Morley’s attempt of Only the Good Die Young just seemed to piss off the heavyweight karaoke regulars.

Jonsson contemplating something

The battle for top non-qualifier came down to Kevin “Rook” Leahy, Rik Morgan and Mark Gallo. The Rook was unlucky not to secure a qualified spot, as a mid season move to San Diego saw him slowly drop out of the top 16 on the SFMGA money list. A failed entry attempt into the CVMGA Last Gasp meant he would not be fighting for the belt in Vegas. He still fought hard though and tied Benoit for the Grossest Score in the World trophy, with a pre-penalty 80. Despite carrying a field-leading nine penalty strokes, Rook safely took the Top Non-qualifier award by three strokes over Morgan and Gallo. Morgan had a small three-stroke meltdown on his back nine that unfortunately ended up costing him his shot at the title.

The Rook, kicking ass on the course and at the poker table

Speaking of meltdowns, one area of the record book not occupied by Todd Benoit was nearly re-written on Saturday. Curtis Cooksey, making his MGA debut, shot a 42 on the front nine before going on to shoot an incredible 60 on the back nine for a meltdown differential of 18! This ties the MGA record meltdown set by Chad Nessi in his MGA debut at the 2009 SFMGA F.U. Open. Welcome to the MGA Cooksey, we think you’ll fit in just fine.

The follow-thru of a back nine 60

The Most Mediocre, or Lanier Award, went to Rob Skinner of Seattle for his 19th place finish overall. Skinner snuck in with a 98 and showed he could lose to half the field and beat half the field better than anyone else. Also, congratulations on the Vegas nuptials from the MGA, we’re proud to have a hand in any life-altering decisions.

Skinners think about what might have been as Brochu accepts his seventh place money

Benoit made many trips to the front of the room to collect his awards for Top Global Money Winner, Top SFMGA Money Winner, Grossest Score in the World and World’s Longest Drive. One of the few awards he was unable to capture was the World’s Closest to the Pin award, although he was the early leader in that category at 25’. He was upset by Dave Richardson, as most of us were, when he posted a 5.5’ approach to the number six green.

Richardson, shown here with one of the two proper follow-thrus captured on film

Chris Brochu was the highest finishing Canadian, tying for seventh with SFMGA’s Jon Prezalar at 94. Rounding out the top 10 were SFMGA’s Fat Mike at 96 and Willie Gregory at 97. This was Gregory’s 17th top ten finish in the MGA and extends his advantage in that category to two over Max Lanier.

Jeff Rickert was CVMGA’s only representative, despite being the closest chapter to the site of the tournament. A 104 saw him tie for 15th with SFMGA’s 2008 top money winner Kent Jamieson. Jamieson struggled on Saturday despite wearing his victory red shirt.

Rickert unleashing the beast

The highest score of the weekend was a 150, shot with pride by Gavin Ernstone on his MGA debut. The MGA thanks him for generous contribution of golf shots and also the truck he lent us to help move clubs to and from the golf course.

The entire MGA was looking sharp in their R2L hats and shirts at the tournament. The hats and shirts would not have happened without John James and Refuse to Lose sports, the official sportswear supplier of the MGA. John James shot a 107 on Saturday, so you know he’s feeling a bit depressed and it would be good of everyone to check out www.r2lonline.com when it launches in a few weeks to make him feel better.

The Legacy Golf Course was pristine and welcoming to the field of 39 medios. They got into the spirit of the event and helped make it a success, so thank you again to them. Check out their site at www.thelegacygc.com.

Thanks to Penny and the Fiesta Henderson, your hotel was kinda alright and we had a great time there. www.fiestahendersonlasvegas.com

And the most thanks to Bill, John and Tessa Morley. Couldn’t have happened without them.

Following the awards ceremony Saturday night, everyone went back to their hotel for an early dinner, a half hour at the penny slots and were in bed by 9p.m. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

The MGA thanks everyone who attended, it was an incredible weekend and we can’t wait to see all of you and your friends in 2010.