The Griffith Observatory Championship will mark its 10th edition later this month. To celebrate reaching this milestone, here’s a look back on the past 9 years.
2007 • Despite suffering back pains, Walter Vargas wins the inaugural edition.
2008 • Armen Grigorian wins.
2009 • P-Jay Fidler wins, the victory is his first win on the MGM Tour.
2010 • Travois Gordón wins; P-Jay Fidler, first to break 40, sets tournament record score with 38.
2011 • Walter Vargas wins the 5th edition and becomes the first 2-time winner.
2012 • Travois Gordón becomes the 2nd 2-time winner
2013 • Clint Crump wins, breaks 50 for the first time
2014 • John Frost wins, breaks 50 for the first time
2015 • Martin Witt wins
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“Be careful with those wheels, you don’t want your tampon strings to get caught in them.”
–Patrick Bird, 2008, to players who brought push carts with them for the round.
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“A million and a half.”
-Marty Witt, 2009, on the 9th hole when asked for his score.
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“He broke my heart.”
-2010, PJay Fidler, who shot another
tournament record gross score, upon
learning Travois Gordón had beaten him by
1 stroke (net).
“To beat Travois outright, actually crush him this year, felt really good.”
-Walter Vargas, who finished 17 strokes ahead of defending champion Travois Gordón. Gordón had beaten Vargas straight up in 2010.
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“Good luck everyone. Wish I could be there to lose $20 worth of balls on hole six with you.”
-Doug Vargas, out of the 2012 Griffiths following knee surgery
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“It’s always good to beat Walter.”
-2012, Travois Gordón following his win
“He’ll think twice about helping me find my ball next time.”
-Travois Gordón on joining rival Walter Vargas as the tournament’s only 2-time winners.
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“You’re shooting at that [fairway flag], you don’t know where you’re going. That green just seems like it’s a science fiction movie. It’s in another universe.”
-2012, John Mann on his recurrent struggles with the 2nd hole.
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“I didn’t come here very confident, even on the drive here, until the crap I took really just made me feel more confident. I feel better, relaxed. It’s kinda what I needed. I felt a little tense.”
-Walter Vargas, 2012
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“You have the taste of victory and now you’re in the hunt.
Kinda like Witt after he got the taste of cock.”
-2012, Gerry Vaughan to Tim Joe, after Joe – who won the season opener – finished 2nd in the Griffiths.
“It’s real disappointing, especially because Travis is [getting all the publicity as] the odds-on favorite to win.”
-2013 defending champion Clint Crump on not being able to defend his title
due to an injured elbow
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“Well, he politely showed up this morning. With a broken trophy I might add. That’s probably his way of throwing insults. That’s just the way he is. He’s an ass.”
-2014, John Frost on winning the tournament Clint Crump could not defend due to injury.
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“I’m sorry everybody had to waste their morning because I kinda knew that was gonna happen. See ya, LOSERS.”
-John Frost on winning the Griffith Observatory Championship
“Get ready for the stupidest hole ever created.”
-Doug Vargas to Ed Quiroz as they walked to the 8th tee
“I’m [withdrawing] already for next year. I like the idea of playing this course but every time I play it, it never works out for me.”
-a demoralized Chris Moawad who shot a career worst 49
