With Thomas's birdie putt, closing out the win, the 6th year veteran Talkeetna98 took down his 11th career victory, edging out the competition by a mere 5 points. It's a big win for the savvy fantasy golfer as it's the first time he's won the season opener and it secures an impressive achievement of winning at least one tournament in each of his 6 seasons. No other player has accomplished this, primarily because only one tournament has been played this year, but the only other team who could match this feat is none other than the reigning champ Gophers. With the win and the immediate payday, Talkeetna98 turns his focus to a long sought after goal - winning a segment championship. He's just got to hold onto his 5 point lead for another 9 weeks. In the meantime, congrats on your 11th career title Talkeetna98 and on 6 consecutive years of winning.
Top 3 Finish
In the year's first tournament there's always a bit of guesswork involved as everyone is in the process of getting their barrings. Add in the fact that the field of players to choose from are all 2019 champs and it's a bit of a toss up as to how well any one team will perform. The Top 10 from the Sentry TOC was comprised of a mixed bag of teams - both rookies and veterans - with the first year team Nick Hoffman sharing a second place finish - a strong showing from the unknown rookie. It's a solid way to star any season but time will tell if he can keep up the pace.
Fourth year veteran Niblick18 made his most convincing start to the year with a T-2 finish and he picks up exactly where he left off at the TOUR Championship in September where he finished second as well. Twenty-nineteen was a bit of a mixed bag for Niblick as he had a career year for Top 3 finishes with 6 but suffered the first winnless season of his career. Niblick is hoping this Top 3 is not a harbinger of a similar year.
Notables - Top 10 Finish
Kings Deer is back in the saddle and looking to pick up right where he left off. As 2019 came to a close the keen veteran, now in his 5th season, won a career high 4 tournaments with 11 Top 3s and 21 Top 10s. He also won the season's final segment for the first of his tenure. Kings hasn't had much success at Kapalua, recording only 1 Top 10 there prior to last week. But the strong start and 4th place finish is perhaps a further sign that he won't be resting on his laurels. Expect the King to contend in 2020.
Another rookie found his way into the Top 10 and plants his flag squarely in the camp of teams who've come to play. DontHasseltheHoff briefly had the lead but fell back as the weekend progressed, eventually snagging a 5th place finish once the dust was settled. TheHoff comes into the league with a healthy fantasy game and is primed to compete at the highest level of the First Timers League. He may be a rookie but clearly he's not one to hassle with. Seventh year veteran Halve Ouimet looked good through much of the season opener but as has been the case in years past his nearsightedness got the better of him. With the lead in hand he started Sunday's final round with a substitution that would be his undoing. Missing crucial points due to this ill-advised move he fell back to 6th where he'd close out his tab. A Top 10 finish is no small feat, especially in a league of 31, but he fell victim to one of the game's most pestilent predators - the 54 hole lead.
Kikakee Tees had his eye on the prize and thought he could taste it for a brief moment. Entering the final round he was just a stone's throw from the leader and a few strategic birdies from a win of his own. Like Thomas, Kikakee had won here before. He knew the layout and felt confident off the tee despite the gusty conditions. But a second career win at the TOC was not to be for the 6th year veteran. He'd fall back to 7th place and hold the line there. Always in pursuit of the Jackson Cup, Kikakee started on the right foot though with a solid Top 10 finish.
Smooth Greens was the third and final rookie to break into the Top 10 in his maiden voyage at Kapaula. With no ghosts lurking in his fantasy golf closet he struck the ball pure and rolled it royally on the greens. His 8th place finish is a positive sign of things to come for the Barnstable native. New fathers tend to play their best golf following the advent of parenthood so look for Smooth Greens to keep up the charge. Fesh off knee surgery in the offseaosn, Papa Pilgrim is back in the saddle and looks to be on the road to a full recovery. His 9th place finish on the island of Maui was a positive sign for the 6th year veteran as he'll look to pick up his pursuit of the Jackson Cup right where he left off. Finishing the 2019 season in 2nd place in, a career year for the cunning veteran, Papa will look to march his way back to the top yet again. Only 32 week to go. Rounding things out, in 10th place came the 5th year pro Grandpa Levs. Grandpa has been a steady contender over the years, recording 1 win in each of the last 3 seasons. And coming off the best season of his career in 2019 it looks like he's carrying over that charisma. Grandpa finished 2019 in 11th place and will look to chase down even higher ground this year.
Next Up: Sony Open in Honolulu - $20 prize
The season rolls on with the second event of the Hawaii swing. It's the first full field tournament in which you'll likely see names you've never heard of before. Expect a bit more of a spread in the standings this week as teams will be a little more diversified.
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