2005 Public Links Championship

Dave Womack Captures Second Georgia Public Links Title By Four Strokes

CONYERS, Ga. - First-round leader Dave Womack of McDonough held on to his position with a final-round 74 and two-over par total of 146 to win the 17th Annual Georgia Public Links Championship, capturing his second such title by four strokes over Travis Moore of Atlanta and William Murchison, III of Acworth. The 36-hole event was held at Cherokee Run Golf Club, Sept. 24-25.

First-flight competitor David Orlofsky of Buford finished in sole possession of fourth place with a score of eight-over 152. Three players - Keith Hadelman of Atlanta, Martin Ball of Rome and Mitch Kim of Dunwoody - tied for fifth at 153. Four players tied for eighth at 154, including John Williams, Jr. of Atlanta, Scott Randolph of Eatonton, Brent Sizemore of Calhoun and first-flight competitor Dennis French of Alpharetta.

Womack becomes the fourth player in the history of the Georgia Public Links Championship to win multiple titles, joining David Potts (1994, 1995), Jack Larkin (1996, 2001) and Brent Sizemore (1998, 1999).

Womack, who led Orlofsky by a shot and Moore by two going into the final round, played a very steady round for the second-straight day, going just one-over on both sides for his 74. Orlofsky had played in the morning wave with the rest of the first flight, carding 79.

"I made a good par at 9 (after taking a drop) and really felt like I had control at that point," Womack said. Moore and Kim, playing in the final group with Womack, never threatened to take over the lead. Moore pulled to within a stroke when Womack struggled to a double-bogey on 15, but then suffered a double of his own the next hole, followed by a birdie on 17, to drop back. Womack sealed his win with a birdie on the same hole, a par-5, 531-yarder, knocking his second shot onto the green with a 5-iron and two-putting for birdie.

Murchison, playing one group ahead of the leaders, carded his second-straight 75 to move into a tie for runner-up honors with Moore.

"The key to this course is patience," said Womack, who competed on this track as a freshman on the Georgia State University golf team a few years ago. "It will reward you, but you just have to keep focusing on the fairways and greens."

Cameron Tankersley of Lilburn, Rick Dubois of McDonough and Terry Crawford of Conyers all tied for first place in the second flight at 162. Other flight champions included Steve Lamb of Cumming in the third (165), Richard Evans of Conyers in the fourth (168) and Rhett Moody of Atlanta in the fifth (174). Terry Thompson of Lakemont and Todd Smith of Lula tied for first in the sixth flight with 174.

The field of 144 golfers was determined by the low 72 entries plus another 72 drawn by lottery. The low 72 comprised the championship flight, and the remainder of the field was divided among six flights. Entrants must not have held privileges since January 1, 2005, at any club that does not extend playing privileges to the general public.

The par-72 layout played to 6,826 yards for the championship through fifth flights and 6,510 yards for the sixth flight. The championship through fifth flights were eligible for the overall title.

GSGA conducts 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches and 17 USGA qualifying events each year. Other services include computerized handicapping, course rating and measuring, a summer-long junior sectional competitions program, Golf Georgia magazine and two college scholarship programs.

Final Results

Top Ten Overall
1 Dave Womack, McDonough 72 74 146 2
T2 Travis Moore, Atlanta 74 76 150 6
T2 William Murchison, III, Acworth 75 75 150 6
4 David Orlofsky, Buford 73 79 152 8
T5 Keith Hadelman, Atlanta 77 76 153 9
T5 Martin Ball, Rome 79 74 153 9
T5 Mitch Kim, Dunwoody 75 78 153 9
T8 John E Smith, Cumming 77 77 154 10
T8 John Williams, Jr., Atlanta 76 78 154 10
T8 Scott Randolph, Eatonton 81 73 154 10
T8 Dennis French, Alpharetta 80 74 154 10