FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Allen, Texas resident, J.D. Ramirez captures professional title
June 5, 2007 – (Roswell, GA) – The 2007 Atlanta Open Disc Golf Tournament presented by Remax is in the books and the Super Tour Event lived up to its’ billing as Atlanta’s premier disc golf event as a full field of one hundred forty four players, including seven of the top sixty in the world rankings, competed at East Roswell Park and Central Park . Lone Star State native, J.D. Ramirez carded a fourteen under par total of 206, including an ace on the par three 15th at East Roswell Park to win the men’s professional division and take home the top prize of eleven hundred and forty five dollars. “It was a great honor to win this event at two great courses. The parks were beautiful and everyone involved did such a wonderful job. This event far exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be back for 2008”, an overjoyed Ramirez said. Ramirez held off first round leader, Brad Hammock of Decatur, GA and hard charging John McCray from Brandon, FL, who shot two consecutive rounds of four under on Sunday at Central Park to finish three shots back. Ramirez, Hammock and Gray, TN resident Jason Light all recorded a new course record of six under par fifty at the tightly wooded East Roswell Park Course on Saturday. Sarah Stanhope of Clemson, SC dominated the women’s professional division to win by fifteen shots over Addie Isbell of Modoc, SC and take home the top prize of one hundred seventy dollars in an abbreviated field of pro women. Former World Champion and one of the top players in the pro master’s division, Toney AL resident, Dean Tannock, garnered his division’s title with a five shot lead over fellow Alabama competitor, Tim Keith. Tannock cashed in with five hundred sixty five dollars for his seventy-two hole performance in the twenty person field.
This tournament had a tremendous financial impact on the economy in the North Fulton and South Forsyth area as players traveled from fourteen different states to compete. Players stayed in hotels in the Roswell/Alpharetta area, ate several meals in local restaurants and the awards ceremony had a crowd of over one hundred people at Tony’s in Roswell on Sunday evening. It also brought in several spectators from around the area to visit Central and East Roswell Park.
On the amateur side of the tournament where players competed for merchandise and prizes, Brian Ling, from Martinez, GA parlayed four consecutive rounds of under par disc golf in route to winning the advanced amateur division with a nineteen under par 201. Brian received one hundred and ninety five dollars in disc golf merchandise for his win. Savannah, GA resident, Jonathan Reppenhagen mustered an eleven under par performance to take second place and one hundred eighty dollars in merchandise. Melanie Hughes of Hiram GA reeled in Kathy Thomason of Cumming on the last round Sunday to prevail in the advanced women’s division. Trailing by two entering the final round, Hughes edged out Thomason to win by three. The advanced masters division saw Jason Dowling of Cumming defeat Mike Eldridge of Powder Springs by four shots in the last round as the two were tied entering the final eighteen holes. Dowling took home one hundred seventy five dollars worth of goods while Eldridge earned one hundred forty five for his second place finish. Roswell resident, Andrew Lofstrand, defeated Chad Miller of Clarkesville, GA on the second playoff hole to win on his home course at East Roswell to take the intermediate crown and ninety dollars worth of merchandise.
Plans are already under way for the 2008 Atlanta Open and if you would like more information, please contact Rand Eberhard at randeberhard[at]gmail[dot]com.