Dean Channell & Stephen Fox, Pinehurst, NC
RESULTS: 41st Ed Tutwiler Four-Ball
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Mother Nature played a prominent role in Pawleys Island this week as severe weather postponed play on Monday and players had to brave temperatures near freezing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stephen Fox and Dean Channell of Pinehurst, NC, completed a wire-to-wire victory by posting rounds of 64-67 (-13) to win the 41st Ed Tutwiler Four-Ball hosted by McConnell Golf and The Reserve Golf Club.
Fox and Channell kept a clean card both days while going around the Greg Norman design, as they were the only team in the field without a bogey for the tournament. Channell lead the charge by making eight birdies while Fox tossed in five red numbers.
“I had a spectacular partner,” said Fox. “He drove it like a stud, which is really what you have to do on this course. If you don’t drive it well, you’re probably going to be in some bad spots.”
Plenty of challengers emerged early in round two. Fox and Channell lead by two strokes heading into the final round, but that lead quickly evaporated as teams gave chase. Johnny Elam (Charlotte, NC) and Steve Sharpe (Greensboro, NC) made their move and finished with the medalist round of Wednesday with 65 (-7) to go with their 68 in round one. They shared overall runner-up honors with Jack Kearney (Peachtree City, GA) and Pat Youngs (San Antonio, TX) at 11-under par total.
Elam and Sharpe held the clubhouse lead at 11-under for a while before Channell and Fox closed strong. Playing with Kearney and Youngs, the eventual champs admitted to some leaderboard watching on the back nine. The Pinehurst duo stepped on the gas with three straight birdies to give themselves a cushion heading down the final par five, No. 18.
“We hung in there on the front for a while and I birdied 8 and 9,” said Channell. “We knew where we stood with Jack and Pat, but then we saw Johnny and Steve moving up. I knocked one in on 15 and then Steve stepped up and drove it greenside on 16 to make birdie and then he hit it close on 17 for birdie to kind of seal the deal. It’s always nice playing with a great partner.”
Kearney and Youngs also closed strong with birdies on 17 and 18 to tie for second place after rounds of 66-67 for a 133 (-11) total.
In fourth overall was the team of George Walker (Fairhope, AL) and Emile Vaughan (Pike Road, AL) who finished with rounds of 68-67 for a 135 (-9) total. Just one shot behind and rounding out the top five at (-8) was the team of Doug Hanzel (Savannah, GA) and Buzz Fly (Memphis, TN).
Asked to sum up the week, Fox said, “We got a little unlucky with the weather, but the staff here at The Reserve really treated us well and the greens were just phenomenal. Kudos to the team here and especially thanks to McConnell Golf for being great partners with the Society.”
Special thanks to the membership and staff at The Reserve Golf Club and to McConnell Golf for their generous hospitality in hosting the event.
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