OTTE & ABELS STORM BACK TO WIN 2021 TAYLORMADE RMSPGA PRO-PRO SHOOTOUT
Being behind means you just have to go a bit lower to take everyone else out… Perfect weather on day one led to low scores for 36 holes and a packed leaderboard. Day two found wind. The great equalizer in golf, Mother Nature, came to play in the final round and very quietly, the team of PGA General Manager, Brandon Otte, and his Head PGA Professional, Zach Abels, both from Canyon Springs Golf Course in Twin Falls, Idaho, blistered Pinecrest Golf Course in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with a final round 8-under-par, 62, to capture this year’s TaylorMade Rocky Mountain Section PGA Pro-Pro Shootout supported by JC Golf Accessories, Bushnell Golf, Dynamic Brands, ROLEX and The PGA TOUR by 2 shots. Alone in second place, PGA Head Professional Ryan Nielson from Falcon Crest Golf Club in Kuna, Idaho, with his PGA Head Professional partner, Jason Jacobsen from Idaho Falls (Idaho) Country Club, shot a fine final round of 66 to fall just short.
On the Senior side 2 teams were dominant on the first day making the final round basically a match play situation. In the end, PGA Head Professional Tom Anderson from Laurel (Montana) Golf Club and his partner PGA Life Member Fred Luthy, held off past champions PGA Head Professional Mike Hamblin from Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls, Idaho, and his partner Jim Empey, PGA Director of Instruction at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Boise, Idaho, by a single shot. The Anderson/Luthy duo finished at 16-under-par for their three round efforts highlighted by an opening round 60 amazingly matched by Hamblin and Empey.
The first two rounds of the 54-hole Shootout were played on Monday, May 17th, and the formats were a Scramble followed by Modified Alternate Shot. The final round concluded on Tuesday, May 18th, and the format was Four-Ball Stroke Play. Forty 2-person professional teams competed in regular and senior divisions from the Rocky Mountain Section PGA for a purse of $24,400.
The Rocky Mountain Section PGA would like to thank John Johnson, Territory Sales Manager of TaylorMade for the Title sponsorship. Appreciation is also extended to supporting sponsors Bushnell Golf representative Charley Carlson, Chris Jenkins from JC Golf Accessories, Mike Langley from Dynamic Brands, ROLEX and The PGA TOUR for supporting this event. The Rocky Mountain PGA sincerely thanks host PGA Professional Tim Reinke, his always hospitable staff, and the city of Idaho Falls for hosting the championship. CLICK HERE for complete results.
Shootout Champs
Host PGA Professional Tim Reinke – Zach Abels, PGA – Brandon Otte, PGA – TaylorMade Representative John Johnson
Senior Shootout Champs
Tom Anderson, PGA – Fred Luthy, PGA – TaylorMade Representative John Johnson