2001 Public Links Championship

Larkin's 69 Wins the Georgia Public Links Championship

Lithonia, GA - Jack Larkin of Atlanta shot a three-under par, 69, which was the low round of the championship, to come from two behind to win the Georgia Public Links Championship held at Mystery Valley Golf Club on October 13-14.

Larkin had all pars until the sixth hole where he made a birdie. At the par-five seventh he hit a driver and a three-wood to tap-in distance to make an eagle. Having made the turn at three-under par, he hit is drive in to some trees at the par- five tenth hole. After punching out and hitting his third shot just left of the green, he was still able to salvage a par. Larkin birdied the par-four twelfth, bogeyed the par- four thirteenth, birdied the par-five fourteenth, and finally bogeyed the par-four fifteenth before finishing with three straight pars. Larkin was the only player to break par in the field.

Larkin is a former U.S. Junior Champion and University of Georgia golfer who has had three-second place finishes (2000, 1998, 1997) in this event along with a win in 1996 at River's Edge Golf Club in Fayetteville. Larkin also finished tenth place earlier this year at the Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship at Augusta Country Club.

First round leader Sherold Skinner of Fayetteville shot a two-over par, 74 to finish three shots back of Larkin in second place. Two-time champion of this event Brent Sizemore of Calhoun finished six-shots behind.

The format was 36 holes of stroke play over two days. Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club that is open to the public. To be eligible, entrants must not have held privileges since January 1, 2001 at any club that does not extend playing privileges to the general public. The field was comprised of the 120 entrants with the lowest handicap indexes. The field was divided into six flights based on handicap index, although all competitors were eligible for the overall title. This championship was reintroduced into the GSGA calendar in 1989 after a ten-year hiatus. Senior PGA Tour Player and six-time Georgia Champion Allen Doyle of LaGrange won the championship that year.

Final Results

 

Top Ten Overall
1 Jack Larkin, Atlanta 74 69 143
2 Sherold Skinner, Fayetteville 72 74 146
3 W.H. Dobbins, Norcross 75 73 148
4 Erik Martin, Alpharetta 77 72 149
4 Brent Sizemore, Calhoun 75 74 149
4 Mark Lyons, Powder Springs 75 74 149
4 Jonathan Fricke, Grayson 75 74 149
4 Marc Tesio, Atlanta 75 74 149
9 Mike Ingles, Kingsland 74 76 150
9 Patrick Burnette, Alpharetta 75 75 150
9 Scott Randolph, Eatonton 75 75 150