Nessing double at TPC Sawgrass

Paul Nessling’s Winning Team (l-r) Dean Manning, Nick Hill, Joe Hales & Paul Nessling

Cooden Beach Professional Paul Nessling claimed an exciting double victory in The Pro-Am Tour's prestigious Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am at TPC Sawgrass just 6 days after The PGA Tour’s PLAYERS Championship, winning both the Professional Individual and the Team event.

Like the majority of the competitors, Nessling watched Si Woo Kim's historic victory over the iconic TPC Sawgrass Course on the Sunday, enjoying the fantastic spectator facilities and the convenience of being able to walk to the course in under 5 minutes from the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort, the host hotel of the Pro-Am.

After practice rounds on Monday the Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am was played in perfect weather on four superb courses in the Ponte Vedra Beach area with the final round at The PLAYERS Stadium Course.

The opening round was staged at TPC Sawgrass Dye's Valley Course, which although not quite as famous as its neighbour, provided an excellent layout and course conditions.  Lee-on-the-Solent's James Ablett opened up a first round 3 shot lead, but his good friend and fellow South Region player Paul Nessling would catch him after the second round at the exclusive Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Ocean Course. 

Ablett would regain his three shot lead after Round 3 at the King & Bear Course at World Golf Village, and after play many of the competitors visited the nearby World Golf Hall of Fame.

The final round saw the competitors experience the tournament condition of the extremely challenging PLAYERS Stadium Course with the grandstands still in place.  Many considered it to be the best course they had ever played, and certainly one of the toughest!

PGA EuroPro Tour player Jason Kelly was the only player to break par, and his superb 71 was perhaps the best round of the week. Former South Region No. 1 Ablett slipped out of contention with a disappointing 81, leaving the door open for Nessling to claim a four shot victory and the $2,200 prizemoney, with a steady round of 74.

In the Pro-Am team event Paul Nessling's team of Joe Hales, Nick Hill & Dean Manning would build and early lead after two rounds, only to see James Ablett, Michael Vandenberg & Jason Kelly fight back in Round 3.  Once again, the challenge of the final round at TPC Sawgrass PLAYERS Stadium Course set up an exciting finish, with Nessling's team having to negotiate the treacherous finishing holes, including the nerve-racking island green 17th.  Fortunately, they managed to find the green with two balls, and a steady finishing hole gave them a two shot victory over Ablett's team, with Michael Vandenberg's team a shot back in third.

During the event a Challenge Day was also held at the PLAYERS Stadium Course where tournament organiser, John Hooper, challenged the professionals to break 80 from the back “TPC” tees. Successful professionals were rewarded with a $200 bonus, and at the end of the day six professionals broke 80: Luke Roberts, Graeme Whale, Andy Raitt, James Ablett, James Whatley & James Davies.

The Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am is just one of several Pro-Am Tour events organised by The American Golf Holiday, others include, The Arizona Classic Pro-Am, The California Classic Pro-Am, The Scottsdale Classic Pro-Am, The Pinehurst Classic Pro-Am, and The Pro-Am Tour at Pebble Beach, plus golf packages including admission to The US Masters at Augusta, The Players Championship, and The Ryder Cup.

Further information can be obtained from The American Golf Holiday, Tel. 023 8046 5885, or visit The Pro-Am Tour’s website at www.pro-amtour.com