SURVIVOR STRANGLEHOLD
Moawad’s 3rd Win Extends Vargas-Moawad Dominance
(Holmby Park) – Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, Chris Moawad astutely recognized the fact that only 3 golfers had ever won the Survivor Challenge. Saturday, the 2013 Player of the Year collected his 3rd title, keeping the aura of exclusivity among Survivor Champions intact. Of the now 9 editions, Moawad and Walter Vargas own 8 titles between them, with 2007 winner Gerry Vaughan now a virtual outlier.
Winning a double playoff against defending champion Walter Vargas notwithstanding, Moawad would not have been in position to win his 3rd title had it not been for him making the shot of the tournament. His tee shot on the 5th hole sailed 65 yards passed the intended green forcing him into a recovery shot of the ‘hail mary’ variety. “I figured I’m just gonna get a 7-iron and hit it low towards the green, and if I get the line on we’ll see what the roll does,” recalled Moawad whose shot stopped a couple of feet short of the green. Moawad would advance, avoiding a 3-man playoff.
1st Hole:
P-Jay Fidler, Eliminated (double playoff with Patrick Bird)
Making just his 2nd start in the last 5 years, Fidler unfortunately failed to get out of the first hole. “Someone has to be [that guy]. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I don’t know, these twins. I haven’t been playing good golf since these twins have been born.”
2nd Hole:
Rene Quiroz, Eliminated (double playoff with Walter Vargas. Bird, D. Vargas, & E. Quiroz advance after 1st playoff)
Quiroz nearly eliminated defending champion Walter Vargas in the first playoff but his putt hit the back of the cup and bounced out. His putt in the 2nd playoff lipped out, enabling Vargas to escape to the next hole. “It sucks. It really sucks, and I had him. I had him the first time. But that’s just the way it is. It would have been beautiful to knock him out but it wasn’t meant to be.”
3rd Hole:
Tim Joe, Eliminated
“It sucks. The one hole that didn’t have a playoff and I get eliminated.”
4th Hole:
John Mann, Eliminated (playoff with Walter Vargas and John Frost)
A 2nd go-around did nothing to fix his original problem of going long. His playoff tee shot would find an unforgiving lie dooming his hopes of advancing. “You know, it pretty accurately reflects my standings in the player of the year. I’m about 4 or 5 from the bottom.”
5th Hole:
Nik Freitas, Eliminated
Newcomer Freitas showed good touch around the greens, making a solid Survivor debut. Lasting longer than buddy Fidler earned him bragging rights. “It was pretty intense actually. I didn’t think I was going to be this nervous. I’m actually nervous having this interview.”
6th Hole:
Doug Vargas, Eliminated (double playoff with Ed Quiroz)
Like 2012, Vargas’s return to action from knee surgery saw him finishing middle-of-the-pack. “I’m bummed I’m [out before] Frost because he’s ahead of me in the Player of the Year points, so that buries me.”
7th Hole:
Ed Quiroz, Eliminated
Just 1 hole after surviving a double playoff the Tour rookie’s impressive Survivor debut came to an end. “I was hoping to finish top-3 maybe, but I hung in there with some big names of the Tour so I’m happy with that. You end up with Moawad and [Walter] Vargas and the rest of the guys, you can’t make any mistakes.”
8th Hole:
Patrick Bird, Eliminated
Matching his career best (2010) was of little consolation. “Close, but no cigars once again. It sucks.”
9th Hole:
Walter Vargas, Eliminated (double playoff with Chris Moawad)
In a touch of cruel irony the defending champion found himself eliminated on the same hole he lost on in 2012. Like his result 2 years ago, the former champion is forced to settle for 3rd. “Hey, you can’t win ’em all, although I normally do.”
Final Hole:
John Frost, Eliminated
Finding himself back to the final hole, Frost wasn’t going to let 2 runner-up finishes in the last 3 years alter his focus. “I have nothing but respect for these 2 guys,” said Frost of Moawad and Vargas. These guys are the best players of the Tour and that’s why I’m here today challenging one of them.” Frost, though, would come up achingly short for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. “It’s a bummer, but much respect, much love to Mr. Moawad because Money Moawad is tough to beat.”
Chris Moawad, 2014 Survivor Challenge Champion
“Couple of nerve-wracking holes as always,” said Moawad of his 3rd Survivor win. “It’s great. Glad to be in the top tier, let alone win again.” Wins in even-numbered years (2008, 2012, and 2014) may have Moawad circling Survivor 2016 on his calendar.
