David M. Smith tames Ironhorse with final round 64

James Porter finishes 1 shot back with a pair of 71's

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – David Smith of Ruston, La., edged James Porter of Florence, Ala., by a stroke with a final round of eight under par 64 Wednesday at Ironhorse Country Club to win the first of four 2012 Golfslinger.com Tour Majors.

Smith came back from a windy opening round of 77 for 141 compared to back-to-back 71s for 142 by Porter, who hit his second shot into the water at the par-5 18th hole Wednesday while attempting to win the event by closing with a birdie. Smith had birdied 18 in the opening round Tuesday and did not even consider laying up.

In regulation, Smith had two birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey at 18 on Tuesday, an eagle and six birdies Wednesday. Porter made five birdies, two bogeys and double bogey Tuesday, four birdies and three bogeys Wednesday.

It was Smith’s fourth Golfslinger victory. He earned $10,000 from the $37,080 purse. Porter, second among 76 starters in what the Golfslinger Tour called its March Major, collected $4,035. It was the Golfslinger’s 23rd tournament of the year.

Matt Hill of Palm Beach Gardens picked up $2,200.00 for his third place 143 (73-70) and Scott Marino of Fairfax, VA / Tequesta tied for fourth place with Tim Turpen of West Palm Beach at even par 144. Turpen shot the second best round of the day and of the tournament with a four-under par 68 on Wednesday.

Turpen, Smith and Krister Eriksson of Norrkeping, Sweden all broke 70 in the final round with awesome ball striking in very windy conditions. Turpen hit 14 greens in regulation plus a fringe, Smith hit 15 greens, and Eriksson hit 16 greens, making birdies on six consecutive holes 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and then 1. Eriksson started the final round on the back nine.

There were four members of the Russian national golf team in the field. Two women, Anastasia Kostina and Galina Rotmistrova, finished in the money. Two men, Andrey Pavlov and Evgeny Volkov, did not. They will be playing in at least two more events in the upcoming weeks.

There was $320 in the Day 2 skins pot with 3 skins out worth $106.67 each.

3- Angel Monguzzi
12- Mike Fekete
14- Mike Larkin (Eagle)

There was $340 in the Day 1 skins pot with 4 skins out worth $85 each.

3- Devin Kay
12- Jordan Holley
13- Sam Kang
14- Jake Katz (Eagle)