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Down by three strokes with just 18 holes to play, Andrew Presley knew he needed to go low on Saturday to win the 2016 Fakier Open.
He did exactly that – a final-round birdie fest that netted the Fort Worth, Texas native the title and, most importantly, a victory check for $21,500.
Presley, 24, won the Fakier Open, using a final-round 66 to finish 16-under for the tournament. He defeated runner-up and defending champion Dustin Morris, who shot 68 on Saturday to finish 13-under for the 72-hole event.
The victory is the first of Presley’s career on the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series.
He said he’s thrilled with his clutch play in the final 18 holes to seal the deal. Presley netted seven birdies and one bogey on the day. The bogey came on the first hole.
“I knew I needed to make something happen,” he said. “I felt good throughout the day, and was able to get it done. It’s a proud moment, and a very nice end to a great week. I’m happy with how well I played when the pressure was at its highest. That’s a key test, and I’m glad I played as well as I did down the stretch.”
Presley’s title came as a bit of a surprise, considering how the leaderboard looked when play started on Saturday morning.
Chad Ramey and Rob Hudson were the co-leaders through three rounds – each sitting at 13-under par with 18 holes to play.
Presley was three shots behind, sitting at 10-under after shooting a 66 in Wednesday’s opening round, then posting back-to-back 2-under rounds of 70 in the second and third rounds.
The opportunity at a leaderboard shift came when both Ramey and Hudson had a difficult time handling the pressures of playing in the final pairing. The co-leaders’ struggles opened the door for Presley and others to gain ground throughout Saturday’s play.
The third-round co-leaders both shot 1-over par rounds of 73 on Saturday to finish at 12-under for the tournament – tied for third place.
“It was just a tough day,” Ramey said. “We just had a hard time getting it going. That’s the way that golf works sometimes – especially on a course that’s as challenging as this one is.”
Challenging, yes.
But for Presley, he was just simply in the zone.
The two-year Adams Golf Pro Tour Series veteran bogeyed the first hole, then carded birdies on No. 3 and No. 5 to get under par in the round for the first time in the day.
From there, Presley caught fire in the final 11 holes, posting three-straight birdies on holes 8-10, before picking up birdies again at No. 14 and No. 17 to get in the clubhouse at 16-under.
Presley played in the second-to-last pairing, which meant that Ramey, Hudson and others had opportunities to match his number in the final holes after his round was complete.
But they couldn’t get it done, allowing the comeback win to be complete.
“I putted the ball so well today,” Presley said. “I gave myself looks at birdie, and I was able to convert. I like to be in that position. I like to sort-of lay in the weeds and strike from behind. It’s not easy being in the last group, and I was glad to be close enough to give myself a chance at it, and fortunate enough to play well enough to get it done.”
GOLFERS SAY HOUMA WAS THE REAL WINNER
Presley may have won the 2016 Fakier Open.
But those around the course on Saturday morning were quick to say that the city of Houma was victorious, as well.
Golfers throughout the field complimented the city, Ellendale Country Club and the tournament’s countless volunteers for making the event a “top-class event.”
Morris said it’s one of his favorite spots on tour – a place that he will return to annually as long as he’s on the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series.
“It’s great, man,” Morris said. “The people here do an excellent job making us feel welcome. There are no strangers here. Everyone makes you feel at home. That helps us more than people realize. I think it settles everyone in and allows us to play some good golf.”
Adams Golf Pro Tour Series Director Kris Neal agrees.
She said that the reason the tournament comes back to Houma each year is because of the warm reception it receives from the people in the area.
“Everything about it works,” Neal said. “The players enjoy the course. They enjoy the people. And, of course, they enjoy the food. It’s one of our preferred stops. It’s really a great place to have a golf tournament.”•
