2015 Four-Ball Championship

 

Fober, Hammock Win Georgia Four-Ball Championship
Duo earns second title at annual competition 

 

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GSGA Player of the Year standings

 

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. --- Jason Fober and Cason Hammock, both of Columbus, won their second Georgia Four-Ball Championship by two strokes over Adam Cooper of Midland and Bubba Gallops of Columbus. The 44th annual event took place at The Standard Club, April 24-26.

Fober and Hammock finished the 54-hole competition at 20-under-par 196 (68-63-65), while the runner-ups, Cooper and Gallops, posted an 18-under-par 198 (67-66-65) total. The winning Columbus duo fired a 7-under-par 65 in the final round on Sunday to maintain the lead they held to begin the day. The pair scored birdies on two, three, six and made eagle on the 510-yard par 5 seventh for a 31 on the front nine. Fober and Hammock added birdies on 10, 11, 15 and 18, with bogeys on 14 and 17, on the back to seal the deal.

This was only the third GSGA-sanctioned competition that The Standard Club has hosted, and first Georgia Four-Ball Championship. The winning team wouldn't mind a return trip.

"The golf course was in great shape," said Hammock. "Considering all the rain we've had this weekend, the superintendent did a great job. The greens were rolling well."

Cooper and Gallops posted a 67 in round one, which was one back of the leaders. A 6-under-par 66 in the second round kept them in contention through 36 holes. On Sunday, the tandem recorded a bogey-free, seven-birdie round of golf which earned them runner-up honors.

This victory marks the second in five years for Fober and Hammock. They won the 2011 Georgia Four-Ball Championship held at Green Island Country Club in Columbus.

"We felt like we needed validation for our win in 2011," added Hammock. "Our game plan was to hit fairways and greens, and we did that today. Jason and I mesh well together; we've been playing together for a long time."

A pair from Cartersville, Chad Branton and Greg Kennedy, finished third at 15-under-par 201 (67-68-66). Round one co-leaders Mike Cromer of Peachtree Corners and Dave Poteet of Suwanee came in fourth at 14-under-par 202 (66-71-65). Four teams tied for fifth at 13-under-par 203, including round one co-leaders Brian Carter and Neal Quirk, Jr., both of Atlanta (66-69-68); Scott Cunningham of Johns Creek and Bob Royak of Alpharetta (69-64-70); Thomas Ferrero and Michael Pearson, both of Atlanta (68-65-70); and Chris Hall of Mableton and Donny Phillips, Jr., of Suwanee (68-65-70). Rounding out the top 10 were two teams - Greg Kennedy of Duluth and Reece Whitley of Smyrna (70-67-67) and Stan Gann, Jr., of Bonaire and Shawn Hodge of Kathleen (68-67-69).

Due to heavy rain in the area late Friday night, Saturday's round two was delayed two hours. Playing all day until it was too dark to compete, one group opted to come back Sunday morning and finish play. Once that group completed their second round, the field was cut to the low 40 teams and ties, repaired, and the final round began. Forty-six teams made the cut at 1-under-par 143 and better.

Entries were open to two-man teams of male amateur golfers who belong to a GSGA member club with the lowest-combined USGA Handicap Indexes. The field of 80 two-man teams played 18 holes of four-ball stroke-play each day and the field was cut to the low 40 teams and ties after 36 holes.