2015 TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

FOR QUIROZ IT’S QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

In Just His 2nd Start of 2015, He Wins Tour Championship

SYLMAR – Driving from West Covina to the Tour Championship in Sylmar, Ed Quiroz had plenty of time to reflect on what he deemed his “throw-away” season.  “I just kind of said this is my last chance to really get on the board.”  Sunday, in only his 9th career start, Quiroz earned the biggest win of his career, taking the MGM Tour’s club championship. Like another recent Tour addition (Nik Freitas) Quiroz’s first win on Tour came in a major.  Asked about his approach to the day, the 35-year old Quiroz explained, “Just playing calm. I really didn’t have any pressure like these guys that were playing for player of the year. I [had] nothing to lose.”

RECORD DAY

After an inauspicious start – he was a whopping +8 thru the first 2 holes – Quiroz, who pulled the double with best net and gross, par’d 4 of the next 5 holes and would eventually set a new course record for pars (8).  He would also match the back-9 course record (38, Doug Vargas, 2011).  “It just shows me that I belong here,” said Quiroz of the win going forward.  “I know I should have a couple more wins under my belt. Due to my schedule and traveling I couldn’t make too many tournaments, but I think these guys know that I can play.”  And when asked what he thought his older brother Rene, who has yet to win since joining in 2009, would have to say, Quiroz answered, “I hope good things. I hope he’s proud, and hopefully we can get some more on the board for him and for me.”

2015 TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL SCORES

Tickets punched: With his win, Ed Quiroz will join 8 others in the Tournament of Champions and earned a qualifying exemption for next year’s Masters… The good: After Quiroz, Freitas with 2nd most pars (4); Chris Moawad (10) tied the course record (Mann, Gordón 2011) for bogeys; Tim Joe next with 8… The bad: Gordón the only golfer without a par… Consolation(?): 2014 Player of the Year Travois Gordón became just the 3rd winner of the award to fail to register a win the following season. He did, however, finish 3rd in the final major of the year… Not on this parade: Save for a brief downpour before the round, the field was spared any rain… Firsts: 2008 champion Walter Vargas (elbow) missed the tournament for the first time in his career; 2010 champion Clint Crump (cold) missed for the first time in 11 years… Attendance woes: With half the field missing, the Tour’s club championship suffered its worst attendance since 2009 when 8 also made up the field… Tweet-tweet: with no birdies, $18 carries over to next season.

MARTIN WITT
2015 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The MGM Tour crowned Martin Witt its 2015 Player of the Year Sunday, and though his season will show 2 victories (Griffith, Devil Ball), 5 top-3’s, a career best round and finish at the Charly Invitational, a highest finish (4th) at Manhattan Beach in 6 years, and a runner-up finish as defending champion in the Tour Championship, the foundation for 2015 was laid the previous year.  The charter Tour member points to the 2014 season when he felt better about his game, culminating with an impressive victory at the Tour Championship.  The win signaled a turnaround in his long-struggling career and he would end the year ranked 6th, his best finish.  Jump to this season, and it’s clear Witt continued his momentum, and brought his game to an unprecedented level.  Famous for some of the most colorful comments, the award rendered the quick-‘witted’ Witt virtually speechless. “I never thought this was gonna happen. I don’t know what to say. I’m at loss for words.”

2015 FINAL RANKINGS