Arizona finishes spoils Gunn


card for second day in a row


Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn shot 77-71 to finished tied 52nd on 148 in the Gateway Tour's Desert Spring Qualifier at Vista Verde, Arizona.
After a disastrous finish to his opening round, Gunn (pictured right) must have thought he was back on track when he birdied the fifth, sixth, seventh and 10th to be four under par for the day with five to play
Then he slipped up again with bogeys at the 14th, 15th and 18th.
LEADING TOTALS

par 144 (2 x 72)

136 Brady Stockton 69 67 ($10,000).
137 Michael Dermino 70 67 ($5,000).
138 Matt Miller 65 73 ($400).
Selected total:

148 Jimmy Gunn (Sco) 77 71 (jt 52nd).


REPORT FROM GATEWAY TOUR WEBSITE:




STOCKTON, DERMINIO WINNERS OF DESERT

SPRING SERIES QUALIFIER
January 29, 2009 Rio Verde.
After two days of pristine January weather in the Arizona desert and 90 players trying their hand at playing the Desert Spring Series on The Gateway Tour's dime, Brady Stockton (69/67-136, 8-under par) & Michael Derminio (70/67-137, 7-under par) finished 1-2 to win a free Desert Spring membership and 1/2 of a Desert Spring membership, respectively.
While Derminio is a former Gateway Tour winner, Stockton, a long-time Gateway Tour player, had never won on The Gateway Tour until today's Qualifier victory - and he couldn't think of a better time to break the barrier than in this unique event.
"This is just great," said Stockton. "It definitely had more of a Monday Qualifier feel to it, and I think it's a great idea because the turn-out has been good, and it brings out a lot of people who may not normally have the opportunity to play The Gateway Tour
"I've come close a few times, but I've never won a Gateway Tour event, so this is a good one to come out on top in. Does this officially count as a Gateway Tour win?" he joked.
Derminio, a current Desert Winter Series member (along with Stockton) who took solo 2nd to earn 1/2 of a free membership, also feels the Qualifier is a unique way to provide players an opportunity to get more bang for their buck.
"I just think it's a great idea because if you play well, you'll at least get your money back, and it's also great to have this during our off week, because it gives us a different kind of event to play in," said Derminio.
"And it's an event that's not a whole lot of money to play in, which is always a good thing too, especially for what was on the line this week."
As for the spoils of their play this week, each didn't even think they'd be playing the Spring Series gratis (& 1/2 gratis) after 1st round leader, Matt Miller (65/73-138, 3rd), continued to hold his lead all the way until a triple-bogey on the final hole debunked his hopes.
"Starting the day today, I really thought I'd have to shoot 65 or 64 just to have a chance with all of the great players ahead of me," said Stockton. "But then the wind came up, and I made a run coming in and though eight (under par) might get close
"Unfortunately (Miller) had a tough time coming in and I feel lucky to finish where I have," he added. Likewise, Derminio thought he was completely out of it. "I just thought with so many good players ahead of me, something low would have to happen to get it done," said Derminio. "Even when I was done, I thought I was out of it, but I luckily squeaked in there to grab second."
Following the conclusion of The Winter Series Championship March 4-7 at Encanterra in Queen Creek, AZ, the Desert Spring Series will begin March 18th at Legend at Arrowhead in Glendale, AZ.
Click here for full field results…