The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Weinhart wins his 4th Ga. PGA Section title
Tim Weinhart may be 53, but he shows no sign of slowing.
A PGA teaching professional and owner of the Weinhart Golf Academy at Heritage Golf Links in Tucker, Weinhart won the 63rd Georgia Section title last week at Sea Island’s Plantation course for the fourth time.
“They all mean a lot, but I appreciate it a lot more,” Weinhart said.
Weinhart shot an 11-under 206 in the rain-plagued event — a three-hour weather delay halted completion of the final two holes — with rounds of 67-69-69 and beat Peter Jones of the Cherokee Town and Country Club by two shots. Weinhart’s birdies on the 13th and 14th holes in the final round made the difference. Weinhart’s approaches on those holes left him a 5-footer and 3-footer, which he rolled in.
Todd Sapere of Ohoopee Match Club and Dylan Malafronte of Frederica Golf Club tied for third at 211. Richard Rebne of The Farm Golf Club in Dalton was fifth at 212.
Jake Keen of Maple Ridge Golf Club in Columbus was only three shots behind after two rounds but had to withdraw to return home for the birth of his second child. Brian Albertson, the PGA professional at Coosa Country Club in Rome, had a hole-in-one.
Weinhart, who was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame this year, joined the late Dewitt Weaver (six), Stephen Keppler (four) and James Mason (four) as professionals with four section championships.
He is one of four players to win the Georgia PGA Grand Slam: the Georgia Open, Georgia PGA Section, Atlanta Open and Georgia PGA Match Play Championship. He is a 10-time Georgia Player of the Year and has qualified for the PGA Championship five times.
“I’m very thankful and humbled by God’s work within me and by making me a better person,” Weinhart said.
U.S. Mid-amateur features six Georgians
Atlanta’s Stephen Behr leads a group of six Georgians in the field for the 41st U.S. Mid-amateur Championship, which begins Saturday at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Behr, who played at Clemson, reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-am in 2018 and 2021. He was stroke-play medalist in 2018. He tied for third at the 2021 Georgia Amateur and won the 2021 National Club Championship at Pinehurst. His father, PGA professional Steve Behr, will be his caddie.
Other Georgians in the field are Franco Castro of Atlanta, Dalton Melnyk of Atlanta, Christian Raynor of Kennesaw, Dillon Humphrey of Roswell and Todd Eaker of Lawrenceville. Former Georgia Tech standout Michael Barbosa, who lives in Vero Beach, Fla., also qualified.
After 36 holes of stroke play, the top 64 advance to match play. The championship match will be Sept. 15. The mid-am is open to players 25 and older.
Two share medalist women’s at qualifier
Ket P. Vanderpool of Atlanta and Erin Packer of Lagrange shot 4-over 75s and tied for medalist at the qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Mid-amateur at the Country Club of Roswell.
Lexie Toth of Atlanta and Linda Jeffery of Alabama earned the other two spots, with Carolyn Barbee of Cartersville and Ashley Barnes of Alma taking alternate slots.
Georgia Hall of Famer Laura Coble of Augusta finished first alternate at the qualifier in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Kristin Culpepper of Columbus was second alternate at the qualifier in Montgomery, Ala.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-am will be played Sept. 17-22 at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla.
Waters to defend Public Links title
Defending champion Chris Waters of Evans leads a field of 120 who will compete in the Georgia Public Links Championship (Saturday-sunday) at Woodmont Golf and Country Club in Canton. Waters is a four-time winner of the event, also taking the title in 2014, 2016 and 2019. The 36-hole stroke-play tournament is open to players who are not members of a private club.
NW Georgia side qualifies for four-ball
Ella Manley of Calhoun and Thanana Kotchasanmanee of Rome teamed to qualify for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Fourball Championship. They shot 5-under 66 at the Country Club of Roswell and tied with Sophie Linder of Tennessee and Emerson Blair of Mississippi. The championship will be played May 13-17 at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash.
True Spec opens 2nd location in Cartersville
True Spec Golf, a custom club fitter and builder, has opened a new location at Cartersville Country Club next to the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy. True Spec North Georgia will feature an indoor-to-outdoor fitting space with a short-game area and state-of-the-art fitting bay. True Spec’s matrix has more than 50,000 clubhead and shaft combinations from every major manufacturer.
Miscellaneous
Longtime PGA of America executive Ryan Cannon has joined global sports marketing agency Outlyr. Cannon most recently served as senior director for the PGA Reach program. He served as championship director for the 2001 and 2011 PGA Championships played at the Atlanta Athletic Club. … Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar in Virginia Highlands will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a charity golf tournament Sept. 28 at Heritage Golf Links. The event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of restaurant founder Warren Bruno, who lost his battle with lymphoma in 2012.