​The Professional Golfers Association Hackers Tour (PGAHT)

Saquindel Dominates In First Tour Victory 

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Ted Saguindel demonstrated exceptional skill and composure to claim victory in the inaugural Shootout @ Rio Vista. With an impressive 10-under par round of 86, Saguindel secured his first PGAHT title. His superior approach game was a key factor, consistently putting him in contention for pars and birdies throughout the day. Despite a couple of challenges with greenside bunkers on holes 5 and 6, Saguindel narrowly missed tying the PGAHT record for lowest round of 83, set by James Lopez. As he confidently walked off the 18th green, the crowd erupted into cheers of admiration, or perhaps a playful chant of "re-rate!"

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Gerald Cabrera and Tony Rago shared the second-place honors, each shooting an impressive 4-under par. Rago, who also earned a runner-up finish at The Delta Classic, continued to display excellent form, much to the satisfaction of his sponsors at Mark's Paint Shop and his new sponsor Nike, who have high expectations for his future success. Cabrera, a familiar face at the top of the leaderboard and sponsored by Cobra and Bridgestone, showed signs of his hard work paying off as he studied his swing through a David Leadbetter video analysis. Although he settled for second place this time, it is anticipated that Cabrera's efforts will soon result in a change of fortune.

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Gino Susim, the 2008 PGAH Champion, finished in third place with a solid 3-under par 93. Despite a challenging start with five doubles over the first six holes, Susim's game improved in the second half with four bogeys and an impressive finish with four pars on the last six holes. His sponsors at Nike, Ping, and Bobby Jones Golf assured the press that Susim's championship game will be early to the shootout in the future, indicating his determination to contend for the title again.

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Rob Pierce finished in fourth place with a commendable round of 1-under par 108. As a pro sponsored by Sky Caddie and Odyssey Putters, Pierce displayed consistent play with pars at holes 2, 10, and 16, along with five bogeys. Despite being just four holes away from the championship, mistakes on holes 1, 4, 14, and 18 proved to be the difference. With some adjustments to course management and minimizing damage on difficult holes, Pierce has the potential to contend for titles. Interestingly, his sponsors are currently planning a campaign featuring Pierce's determined walk onto the 18th green in anticipation of winning his second title, possibly at the Greater Brentwood Classic. Only time will tell.

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Ralph Holmes, the 2008 Players Champion, along with John Nunes, the Masters of Hack Champion, and Archie Ricafrente, all posted even par rounds of 102, 96, and 96 respectively, resulting in a tie for fifth place. Despite playing steady golf and avoiding major mistakes, none of them were able to gain momentum throughout the round. Holmes' highlight was a remarkable tee shot that led to the only birdie of the day for the entire field.

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Nunes has announced that his status for the remainder of the year is uncertain, as he has already achieved his main goals for the 2008 season, including multiple titles such as The Masters of Hack. He is now focused on refining his game and physical fitness in preparation for the highly competitive 2009 tour. His sponsors at Hawaiian Sun, Nike, and Ping expressed satisfaction with Nunes' outstanding 2008 season and their confidence in his ability to stay at the top.

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Archie Ricafrente had a strong start, winning the first turn with an impressive 31 strokes for the first six holes. However, setbacks on holes 12 and 18, as well as three other double bogeys on the back-9, undid his early progress, resulting in an even par finish. Nevertheless, Ricafrente's performance indicates a promising PGAHT career, with the next step being to contend for titles.

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Cisco Bellez finished in sixth place with a respectable 1-over par 100. His consistent performance has kept him on the verge of a breakthrough championship round, and despite the increasing size and competitiveness of the PGAHT fields next year, Bellez is expected to continue giving himself opportunities to win, making him one to watch.

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Eric Alejandro posted a 3-over par 99, playing fairly well throughout the day but struggling with blow-ups on the 14th and 18th holes, resulting in quads on both. However, Alejandro did manage to par the 3rd and 9th holes and posted nine bogeys in addition. Although he has shown glimpses of championship-caliber play, Alejandro will need to put it all together on tournament day. It is anticipated that he will crack the top 3 in his next two starts.

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Robert Holmes blamed his equipment, specifically his Srixon AD333 golf ball, for his disappointing 7-over round of 116. After missing several short putts, Holmes argued with his Srixon representative at the turn and decided to switch back to his trusted Callaway HX-Hot ball. He also changed putters during the round, replacing his usually reliable old school putter with a newer System WF-04. Holmes' decision paid off as he confidently sank a 3-footer and finished the round with a spectacular high arcing 8-iron approach shot on the 18th, reminiscent of Freddy Couples. Despite hitting the retaining wall and bouncing onto the hill, Holmes recovered well and finished with a one-putt. There are rumors that he's considering getting a new driver as well.

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Steve Jacobson struggled with a challenging round, posting an 11-over par score of 108. After a successful 2007 season with five titles to his name, Jacobson has experienced a decline in performance, possibly due to extended layoffs. However, his sponsors at Fosters believe that Jacobson's championship talent will shine through as he faces the tough competition on the tour next year. Despite the challenges, he is expected to be a favorite going into the U.S. Hackers Open with two USHO titles under his belt.

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Josh Westaby made another appearance and shot 128, but it was evident that he enjoyed the day and his presence was appreciated. Reports indicate that Westaby has posted sub-100 rounds earlier in the year and has played around par (109) a few times since then. This is the level of performance that can be expected from Westaby next season as the intensity increases, and he continues to improve his game.

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The Shootout @ Rio Vista concluded on a high note, with favorable weather and an outstanding course. Rio Vista's pristine conditions left a lasting impression, prompting a desire to return for another round in the future. The affordable prices added to the overall satisfaction of the event, making it a resounding success.