Gibby Gilbert III
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Chattanooga's Gibby Gilbert III started the day with a one-shot lead in the $1 Million U.S. Pro Golf Tour Championship. It’s a lead he never surrendered. Gilbert III cruised to a five-shot win (-12) and a first-place check worth $180,000.
“This is unbelievable,” said Gilbert III. “I was a lot less nervous than I was in Chattanooga earlier this season when I won, but to win the Tour Championship by five shots, especially with the talent on this Tour, is something I wasn’t expecting.”
Gilbert III captured the Global Media Fund Classic on his home course (Valleybrook). Gilbert III began his round at Badlands Golf Club par-eagle-birdie. That set the tone for the rest of his round. “Yeah, I really think having a start like that helped calm the nerves and give me confidence.”
Finishing 2nd at seven-under-par were Doug Ferris, Jay Hobby and Lee Williams, who each earned $46,500. Williams had the round of the Championship, setting a new Badlands course record by firing a 63 (-9) with only 23 putts. Williams started the day two over par, but an important phone call helped right the ship. “I called my coach, Hank Johnson, after Saturday’s round, and I went to the range and worked some things out,” Williams said. Williams also was the winner of the GoTrump.com Cup, awarded to the U.S. Pro Golf Tour player with the lowest scoring average at the end of the 2006 season. Williams receives up to $50,000 in GoTrump.com travel to be used in 2007.
Jim Stefanich captured the Pro-Net Division Championship, taking home a check worth $8,500.
The First Tee of Southern Nevada was the benefiting charity, receiving a $10,000 donation.
The $1 Million U.S. Pro Golf Tour Championship will be televised nationally on FOX Sports Net. The date for the broadcast has yet to be determined.
About the U.S. Pro Golf Tour
The U.S. Pro Golf Tour is the country's premier intermediary professional golf tour. Our tour-caliber events feature former PGA TOUR members, players preparing for the Champions Tour, non-exempt professionals on the Champions Tour, celebrity challengers and professionals 18 and older gearing-up for the PGA and Nationwide Tours. The U.S. Pro Golf Tour also conducts a Pro-Net competition for players with handicaps of all skill levels, 18 years and older, competing for substantial prize money in a tour-event atmosphere. All tournaments are week-long events, and feature junior clinics, Pro-Am’s, media coverage, entertainment, electronic leader boards and hospitality, with local market charities benefiting from the events. The U.S. Pro Golf Tour is televised on FOX Sports Net, which operates 22 regional sports channels nationwide.