USPMGA’s 27th Annual Masters Wraps Up in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Mini golf enthusiasts from around the country converged on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the 27th Annual Masters of Mini Golf, hosted by the United States Professional Mini Golf Association (USPMGA). The prestigious tournament played across three challenging courses—Hawaiian Rumble, Aloha North on the Pineapple Course, and Aloha South on the Island Course—featured over 70 contestants competing in various divisions. The event concluded with several impressive performances. Gary Hester Claims His First-Ever Green Jacket The highlight of the tournament was Gary Hester’s outstanding performance (-66), earning him his first-ever green jacket and the title of Masters Champion. Hester’s consistent play throughout the event secured his victory, and he left the course with a well-deserved win. In the closely contested battle, Joey Graybill finished a close second (-62), while Greg Newport and Olivia Propakova Sahmel (TX) shared third-place honors (-57). Amateur Division: Josh Carrol wins 1st with a 406-shot tournament followed by Chase Ferguson (407) and Vanette Block (416). Congrats Josh! Women’s Division: Olivia again emerges victorious with her (-57), Vanette Block finished 2nd (-16) and Paula Gay took 3rd (-1). Seniors & Super Seniors Division: 1st Place seniors – Rainey Statum (-49) 2nd Place seniors – Tim Tally (-43) 3rd Place seniors – Paul Johns (-19) 1st Place super seniors – Gary Hester (-66) 2nd Place super seniors – Rick Alessi (-44) 3rd Place super seniors – Rick Baird (-36) Juniors Division: Wesley Blakely, the reigning champion in the juniors division, once again showcased his skills and claimed victory with only 6 over par to take home the hardware. Putters League Represents Atlanta with Pride We were well-represented in this year’s Masters. Bryan Akers finished in 33rd place with a score of -29, Jason Partyka secured the 55th spot with a +20 score, and newcomer Joseph Brougton finished in 60th place with a +98 score, all over 12 total rounds. The league members’ participation in such a significant event in coastal Carolina was a testament to their dedication and love for mini golf. Acknowledging the Organizers and SupportersThe success of the 27th Annual Masters of Mini Golf wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of organizers Bob and Ted Detweiler, who have been instrumental in ensuring the event’s continued success year after year. The tournament also had the support of friends from the American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA), including Pat Sheridan and Tom Loftus, who provided daily recaps, conducted mid-afternoon interviews, and live-streamed the entire final two rounds, capturing the excitement of Gary Hester’s historic victory. For a full recap and scores of the event visit www.prominigolf.com for further details. Looking Ahead to the Fall ClassicAs the tournament concluded, participants and fans bid farewell, already looking forward to our annual Putters League Fall Classic scheduled for mid-November. It will be three rounds of stroke play at Roswell, GA’s THE FRINGE on the Chattahoochee Gulch course. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming event. The 27th Annual Masters of Mini Golf was a celebration of skill, passion, and camaraderie, bringing together mini-golf enthusiasts from across the nation for a memorable weekend of competition and fun. #Masters #PuttersLeague #AMA #USPMGA
Results from the NC Open / Southern Swing Tournament #3
The North Carolina Open, a thrilling mini-golf tournament held at the picturesque Lakeview Putt & Play in Arden, NC, concluded with exciting rounds of stroke play. This event marked an important milestone as this tournament completed the inaugural Southern Swing. This series awarded points to the winners and the field leading up to the prestigious USPMGA Masters tournament, scheduled for October 3rd through 7th in Myrtle Beach, SC. Gary Hester took home the treasured and first-ever Southern Swing 1st place grand prize. He has now a free entry into The Masters as well as an additional $500 from the mega tournament’s sponsor, the USPMGA (US Pro Mini Golf Association. Congratulations to Gary on an already incredible year of topping many ranks across the world of mini golf! For the NC Open stroke play, it was an intense competition that tested the skills of the participating golfers, John Powell (SC) emerged as the victor, claiming the first-place title with a remarkable score of +11. The race for second place was incredibly close, with both Kenny Jarnigan (TN) and Lester Bowes (OH) finishing tied at +12. A mere stroke behind them was Danny Baddeley (NC), securing a commendable fourth place with +13. In the Amateur division, Jeremy Wheeler showcased his mini-golf prowess and topped the leaderboard with a score of +14. The Juniors division saw Junior Paxton putting on a stellar performance, clinching victory with a score of +35. Congratulations to all the participants who took part in this challenging tournament and a special shoutout to the winners for their exceptional skills and determination. The North Carolina Open at Lakeview Putt & Play was a true showcase of talent, setting the stage for an exciting journey toward the 27th USPMGA Masters. Best of luck to all the competitors as they continue their pursuit of mini-golf excellence!
Course Record Broken as Reeves Wins TN Pro Mini Golf Open
The US Pro Mini Golf Association’s TN Pro Mini Golf Open was held Saturday, August 26, at Mossy Creek Mini Golf in Jefferson City, TN. Randy Reeves (Montgomery, AL) won the five-round event after opening the tournament with a new course record round of 30 including six aces and no bogeys. Reeves was off to a hot start sitting at 9 under after the first two rounds. Gary Hester’s (Calabash, NC) final round of 35 (-1) secured his second-place finish over last year’s champion Joey Graybeal (Bristol, TN). Hester got off to a slow start shooting rounds of 38 and 37 leaving him 3 over par and 12 shots back of the leader. He shot his best round of the day at 33 in the third round to bring him back into contention, especially with Reeves’s third-round score of 39. Graybeal also shot a 33 in the third round and left himself sitting at 2 below par heading into the afternoon. At this point, Graybeal was ahead of Hester’s even par after 3. Hester beat the heat and finished the afternoon session two under par while Graybeal shot one over in the humid afternoon session. Mossy Creek member Jason Raby (Knoxville, TN) represented the local contenders well, finishing the tournament at 2 over par with rounds of 36, 38, 38, 35, and 35. This placed him in a tie for fourth with Kingsport, TN native Joey Baldasano. Baldasano also beat this heat shooting 34 and 35 (-3) in the afternoon session to overcome a tough five over-par third round. Susan Crane (Soddy Daisy, TN) was able to take home her first Pro Women’s Division Championship. Her best round of 37 in the third round extended her lead in the women’s division, going on to win the title by 28 strokes. Randy Reeves is a former USPMGA Masters champion, winning the tournament in South Carolina in 2016. He is also a past Nationals champion and past National Invitational Match Play champion with the Professional Putters Association (PPA). Reeves was inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame in 2012. The next major USPMGA event will be the USPMGA Masters held in North Myrtle Beach, SC October 5-7. The TN Pro Mini Golf Open this year was part of the inaugural season of the Southern Swing Tour. Hester won the first stop of the tour, the Putters League Championship, at The Fringe mini golf course in Roswell, GA. Hester’s second-place finish in the TN Open placed him securely in the points lead for the Southern Swing Tour. The final stop on the tour is the North Carolina Pro-Am at Lakeview Putt and Play in Arden, NC on September 16, 2023.
