Regional Wrap Up
It was a good weekend for former Memorial Tournament champs.
Joe Robar shot a 1-over 72 at the Coyote Preserve on Saturday to win the 2011 WESTERN Championship by 1-stroke over Jeff Klipa and by 2-strokes over Lou Acosta. Robar won a Memorial Tournament in 2009, with partner John Powell, and now has 2 major titles on his Mulligan Tour resume. Added to the Casino Classic win in July, Robar became the 10th multiple tournament winner in 2011. He has earnings of $97.67 from 5 top-4’s this year.
Later that afternoon, Young Tom Litzler fired a 2-under 70 at the Golden Fox to claim the 2011 PLAYERS Championship. The victory, a 6-stroke win over Greg Kline and Terry Baar, was Young Tom’s first win since the 2007 Crazy Brit and 4th in 68 career starts. A winner at the ’05 Memorial with partner and dad, Old Tom Litzler, Young Tom became the 11th player in Tour history to surpass $500 in career prize money.
Then on Sunday, Kelly Arnold, winner of the Green Towel in 2008 with partner Rick Persichetti, shot a 3-over 75 at the Orchards Golf Club taking the 2011 EASTERN Championship by 1-stroke over Joe Brandenburg. Arnold is the 6th player in Tour history to win 4 majors adding this EASTERN title to the ’06 PLAYERS, the ’08 Memorial and the ’09 Match Play. One day after Young Tom Litzler, Arnold joined him in the career $500 club – now 12 members strong.
Mike Prieskorn, one of only 3 players to compete in all three 2011 division championships, finished 4th in the WESTERN ($12) and 3rd in the EASTERN ($24) to wrap-up the 2011 Money Title. With $206.80 in earnings from 9 top-4’s this year, the prolific Prieskorn – he made 23 starts in 2011 – cannot be caught for the overall Money Title with only the TOUR Championship remaining. Incidentally, Prieskorn also has a Green Towel – from the 2010 Memorial Tournament win with Thom Bales.
Joe Robar Kelly Arnold
2011 WESTERN Champ 2011 EASTERN Champ
Full results and history: Western Championship
← All newsAll Western Championship storiesWestern Championship history & results
