​The Professional Golfers Association Hackers Tour (PGAHT)

Memorable Day For Steve Hom 

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Steve Hom, who was shut out at The Master of Hack last month, emerged from the champions group to claim his second title with consistent play at the recent tournament. Hom's impressive performance included six pars and one birdie on the challenging par-3 15th, resulting in a 7-under round of 89. Despite facing challenges such as triples at holes 5 and 18, Hom's skillful play, including an impressive par at the difficult 9th hole, secured him the victory. However, the championship glass was accidentally left behind at the clubhouse. Congratulations once again to Steve Hom!

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Wendell Jones continued his remarkable performance, shooting a 6-under par 94 and securing his second consecutive second-place finish. Jones recorded four pars, including the challenging par-4 9th hole, and a birdie on the 8th, but was undone by a quad on the par-3 5th. If he had played that hole one or two strokes better, the outcome could have been different.

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Masters of Hack champion John Nunes also demonstrated his skill, shooting an impressive 6-under round of 92. Nunes maintained steady play throughout his round, recording nine bogeys, three pars, and a birdie on the par-3 11th. However, he faced challenges with a pair of triples on holes 1 and 10. Despite this, Nunes still managed to win a share of the first turn by posting a score of 32. He is expected to continue his strong performance at The Delta Classic next month, where he will enter as a defending co-champion, supported by his sponsors at Ping, Hawaiian Sun, and Cobra.

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Cisco Bellez showed his talent once again with a 1-under par round of 98. Bellez started strong with a score of 32, earning him a share of the first turn, but faced some challenges as the round progressed. He will be looking to bounce back at The Delta Classic next month, where he came close to winning his first championship last year, falling just one stroke short.

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James Lopez tied for third place with a score of 1-under par 101. Although Lopez had a rough start, he made a remarkable recovery with six consecutive bogeys on the second turn, finishing with an impressive score of 28. Lopez's performance would have won any other turn, but unfortunately, it coincided with Steve Hom's score of 25. Lopez's strong performance has established him as a contender on the tour, and he will be closely watched at The Delta Classic next month for any sponsorship announcements.

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Newcomer Gabe Peri had a solid debut with a score of 1-over par 103. His round included seven bogeys and consecutive pars on holes 14 and 15, showcasing his potential for future PGAHT events.

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After missing The USHackers Open and The Masters of Hack, where he was the defending champion, Steve Jacobson made his long-awaited return to the tour and posted a respectable 1-over par 98. Although Jacobson's play was inconsistent at times, he showed glimpses of his championship form with a score of 29 on the second turn. His sponsors at Fosters are confident that Jacobson will be ready with his championship game for The Delta Classic next month.

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Gerald Cabrera demonstrated his skill and prowess on the golf course by putting together a round of 98, finishing 5th with a score of 2-over par. Cabrera started strong with matching scores of 34 in the first two turns, but was narrowly edged out in the final turn by one stroke, posting an impressive 30 compared to Steve Hom's 29. Cabrera's performance has earned him the title of defending co-champion at next month's Delta Classic, and his sponsors at Bridgestone and Cobra are confident in his ability to compete for a title or secure a cash prize.

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Gino Susim, with a score of 3-over par and a total of 99, secured 6th place. Susim's twin scores of 32 in the first and second turns earned him a share of the first turn envelope, showcasing his talent. Despite struggling in the third turn and finishing with a score of 35, Susim is expected to make a strong comeback at The Delta Classic next month, although there is no information available yet regarding his sponsorships.

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Wayne Validum made a noteworthy return to the tour, posting a score of 4-over par with a total of 106. Validum demonstrated exceptional performance in the first three holes, leading the entire field and finishing with a score of 13. Although his play tapered off thereafter, Validum managed to secure two pars at holes 12 and 17, and is determined to carry this momentum into the upcoming month.

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Jason Kremin also posted a score of 4-over par with a total of 106, but encountered challenges on holes 5, 9, 10, and 16. Despite these difficulties, Kremin displayed balance throughout the rest of his round with six bogeys and two pars. His sponsors at Cleveland Golf, Nike, Heavy Putter, and Prilosec have high expectations for his performance next month, noting that Kremin was unable to prepare as thoroughly as he would have liked.

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After a long hiatus, Tony Rago Jr. made his return to the tour, posting a score of 6-over par with a total of 115. Considering the extended layoff, Rago's performance was commendable, although not under the most favorable conditions. As one of the longstanding members of the tour, Rago's presence was appreciated, and it is hoped that he will participate in future events before the year is over.

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Robert Holmes encountered challenges right from the first tee, and his round proved to be difficult as he struggled with the long wet grass of the rough, hitting trees, slicing pitches and chips, and missing makeable putts. Despite these setbacks, Holmes managed to highlight his skills with a 17-foot putt for par on the 15th hole, resulting in a score of 11-over par with a total of 120. No comments have been received from his sponsors at Callaway Golf, Srixon, and Roland J. Maples Esq. Golf.

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Players champion Ralph Holmes finished with a disappointing score of 14-over par with a total of 116. Like his brother, Ralph's card was marred by high scores, but he did manage to sink a par putt on a par-3 hole, specifically the 3rd hole. He is determined to refine his game with his sponsor, Roland J. Maples Esp. Golf, and looks forward to a rebound in performance at The Delta Classic next month.

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We extend a warm welcome and express our gratitude to Gino Susim for organizing our first Q-School event, which included Juan Fielding, Ken Vierra, and Grey Cooper. Cisco and I had the pleasure of playing with Ken and Juan, and it was an enjoyable experience. Jason also reported a similar positive experience playing alongside Grey. We hope that everyone had the opportunity to meet our Q-Schoolers. The camaraderie among our players is one of the most important aspects of our tour, and we are selective in choosing who we invite to continue on tour. With that in mind, I am pleased to offer PGAHT Tour cards to all three of you. Jason and I will be in touch with Gino to discuss reasonable watermarks for each of you, should you decide to "go pro" in your next outing. (Just a friendly reminder to keep up with the emails!) Welcome aboard, gentlemen!

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In the end, it was another successful PGAHT event, and the largest in our tour's short history. We welcomed back some tour veterans and had the pleasure of meeting four new touring pros. Despite having five groups and transitioning to USGA RULES, we made excellent time navigating the course. This is a testament to everyone who participated and the hard work that goes into organizing these events. On behalf of my executive board, I express our gratitude to all of you for continuing to make the PGAHT a special group and a great way to spend a day each month. When we first started this endeavor, I never imagined we would grow to this size. But not only have we grown in numbers, each event has been exactly what we envisioned - a highly competitive tournament with a friendly atmosphere at various courses. So, once again, I thank you all, and my executive board extends their appreciation as well. (Now, if only I can get my "A-game" going, I might start collecting some winnings around here!)

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Now, our focus turns back to the east for The Delta Classic! Last year, The Delta Classic was the largest event in PGAHT history and featured an epic showdown at Lone Tree (Antioch), where John Nunes and Gerald Cabrera edged out Cisco Bellez by one stroke (88-89). We anticipate another exciting event this year.