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The Shark Shootout
2009 Leaderboard
FINAL ROUND
PlaceTeamScore
1Kelly/Stricker-26
T2Holmes/Perry-25
T2Leonard/Verplank-25
T2Campbell/Clark-25
T5Flesch/Johnson-23
T5Fisher/Poulter-23
»final scores & earnings

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Final Round News & Notes

Tiburón Golf Club, Naples, FL Purse: $2,900,000
Par: 36-36--72 Yards: 7,288 December 12-14, 2008

LEADERS: First Round-Nick Price/Jeff Sluman recorded an 8-under 64 in the alternate-shot format to take a two-stroke lead over Scott Hoch/Kenny Perry, while J.B. Holmes/Boo Weekley were three back. Second Round-Hoch/Perry posted a better-ball score of 12-under 60 to move to 19-under 125 and a four-shot lead over Holmes/Weekley and a five-shot advantage over Price/Sluman.

WEATHER: While thunderstorms prevailed on Thursday and canceled that day's Pro-Am competition, conditions turned pleasant the remainder of the week. Temperatures rose gradually each day, reaching 60 on Friday, 70 on Saturday and 80 on Sunday. Winds 10-15 mph all three days, blowing out of the NW on Friday, N on Saturday and E on Sunday.

FORMAT: Round 1: Modified Alternate Shot
Round 2: Better Ball
Round 3: Scramble

FINAL RESULTS
1.Scott Hoch/Kenny Perry65-60-60--185 (-31)$365,000 each
2.J.B. Holmes/Boo Weekley67-62-60--189(-27)$230,000 each
3.Greg Norman/Camilo Villegas69-65-57--191 (-25)$132,500 each
4.Nick Price/Jeff Sluman64-66-62--192 (-24)$105,000 each
T5.Zach Johnson/Scott Verplank68-64-62--194 (-22)$87,500 each
T5.Jerry Kelly/Steve Stricker70-64-60--194 (-22)$87,500 each
7.Stewart Cink/Fred Couples68-66-61--195 (-21)$80,000 each
8.Paul Azinger/Rocco Mediate73-62-63--198 (-18)$77,500 each
9.Graeme McDowell/Ian Poulter70-67-63--200 (-16)$75,000 each
10.Brad Faxon/Scott McCarron69-69-64--202 (-14)$72,500 each
11.Woody Austin/Mark Calcavecchia73-71-62--206 (-10)$70,000 each
12.Chris DiMarco/Fred Funk74-65--WD$67,500 each

News & Notes

Scott Hoch and Kenny Perry posted a second-consecutive 12-under 60 to conclude The Shark Shootout at 31-under 185, four strokes ahead of their nearest competitors - Ryder Cup teammates Boo Weekley and J.B. Holmes (60).

Hoch and Perry's winning score of 31-under 185 fell three strokes shy of the all-time tournament record of 182, set by Fred Couples/Raymond Floyd in 1990.

Hoch/Perry went on to win Sunday after entering the day with a four-stroke lead, erasing the memories of having lost the 36-hole lead on the final day of the 2003 Shark Shootout.

At 53 years and 20 days, Scott Hoch becomes the oldest winner of The Shark Shootout. Raymond Floyd previously held the record when he won the 1993 event at the age of 51 years, 2 months and 17 days.

Scott Hoch's victory (his first in the event) comes in his 12th start at The Shark Shootout, while Kenny Perry has now won twice in six starts. He teamed with John Huston to win the tournament in 2005.

For their efforts, Hoch and Perry split the $730,000 first-place prize, with each taking home $365,000.

The round of the week was turned in on Sunday by the team of Greg Norman/Camilo Villegas with a 15-under 57, helping them to a third-place finish. This marks the second consecutive year that Villegas has turned in the week's best round. In 2007, he teamed with Chris DiMarco for a final-round 59 to finish T3.

While Norman/Villegas came up just two shots shy of the tournament record in the scramble format, the tournament host (playing in his 20th Shootout) is still well-represented in the record books. Three teams have posted the score of 17-under 55 in the format, including Peter Jacobsen/John Cook (1998), Norman/Nick Price (1993) and Norman/Steve Elkington (2005).

Fred Funk, the playing partner of Chris DiMarco, had to withdraw prior to the start of the final round with a knee injury. He was replaced by Ian Baker-Finch, but the team's score did not count. Funk and DiMarco split last place money of $135,000.

After struggling the first two days, defending champions Woody Austin and Mark Calcavecchia turned in an impressive 10-under 62 on Sunday to finish in 11th place. Only two teams have successfully defend their title at The Shark Shootout: Brad Faxon/Scott McCarron (2000-01) and Hank Kuehne/Jeff Sluman (2003-04).

First-time participants and their respective finish this week: Boo Weekley (2nd), Steve Stricker (T5), Graeme McDowell (9th) and Ian Poulter (9th). A total of seven players have won the Shootout in their first attempt: Mark O'Meara (1989), Curtis Strange (1989), Fred Couples (1990), Scott McCarron (1997), Hank Kuehne (2003), Rod Pampling (2006) and Woody Austin (2007).

The teams of Scott Hoch/Kenny Perry (65-60-60) and Nick Price/Jeff Sluman (64-66-62) were the only two teams to play all 54 holes without a bogey this week.

Sunday's format was a Scramble, with each player hitting a drive on every hole and then selecting the best of the two. Each player than played a second shot from the spot where the selected drive rested and the best second shot was then selected. The process was repeated until the hole was completed.

 

About Greg Norman Production Company

The Greg Norman Production Company (GNPC), a subsidiary of Great White Shark Enterprises, is devoted to event management and sports marketing. The GNPC is proud to operate the PGA TOUR-sanctioned Mayakoba Golf Classic & The Shark Shootout, Golf PARa Todos, Three Friends: One Goal, Greg Norman Estates events and many other corporate and special events. The GNPC prides itself on producing events and marketing initiatives that not only reflect the discerning standards of its namesake, but of its clients as well.

About Tiburón Golf Club

Tiburón Golf Club, a WCI managed facility, featuring two Greg Norman-designed golf courses, was carved from 800 acres of prime southwest Florida real estate. The courses reflect Norman's appreciation for pristine natural settings and his passion for great golf. The Black and The Gold courses contain a combination of stacked sod-wall bunkers and tricky coquina waste bunkers. Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, Tiburón reflects a strong commitment to enhancing and protecting the natural resources.

About The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

The AAA Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples is renowned for its outstanding service, incredible cuisine and luxurious accommodations with panoramic views. The 295-room Mediterranean-style resort, ranked as the top golf resort in Florida by Golf Digest (October 2009), is home to a pair of 18-hole signature Greg Norman golf courses at Tiburón and hosts the annual PGA TOUR Shark Shootout. The Tiburón Golf Course complex is complete with the Rick Smith Golf Academy, recognized as one of the top academies in the country.

About CureSearch for Children's Cancer

CureSearch for Children's Cancer funds the lifesaving, collaborative research of the Children's Oncology Group, the largest, cooperative pediatric cancer research organization in the world--essentially a "cancer center without walls." With more than 5,000 physicians, nurses, and other researchers at 230 hospitals in North America and around the world, this group treats 90% of children with cancer. For more information visit www.CureSearch.org or call 800.458.6223.

Contact

Lee Patterson
The Shark Shootout
704-553-4790
pattersonprinc@yahoo.com

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