A Banner Year: Sisk Closes with 65 to Capture Samoset Open, Player of the Year

Cleveland’s Best Comes up Clutch When He needed it most

September 30^th by Dominic Dastoli

            Rockport, ME-With player of the year and the money title hinging on the final round of the season, Two-Time Player of the Year Geoff Sisk rallied from one stroke back of Kyle Gallo with a blistering final round of 5-under par 65 at the Samoset Resort en route to clinching both honors on his way to a 12-under par total and a two stroke win. Sisk, who entered the final round trailing Sean O’Hair in the race for the money title and player of the year, bagged his fifth win of the season, and third on the Cleveland circuit. Second round leader Kyle Gallo closed with a 2-under par 68 but bogeyed two par five’s to finish in second place, two shots back. Noah Zelnik finished solo third after a fine 4-under par 66. Todd Westfall, meanwhile, sealed up Rookie of The Year honors with a final round 4-under par and tied for fourth with Christian Bartolacci.

            Gallo, who opened with back to back 66’s, quickly extended his lead to two with an opening birdie on the par 4, first hole. Sisk countered immediately, though, with birdies on the second and third holes, and added another at the par 4, ninth hole to take a two stroke lead over Gallo, who carded an even par 34 on the front.

            In need of a hot stretch, Gallo could only par 10 and 11, and bogeyed the par 5, 12^th hole-his second bogey for the round on a par five-to fall five strokes behind Sisk, who birdied the 10^th and 12^th holes.

            From there, Sisk cruised to the win and earned $12,500 to push his season earnings to $57,106, breaking the single season earnings record he set just last year.

            “The sweetest thing is I came back from a defeat last week,” said Sisk, who was narrowly defeated in a two-hole playoff by Eric Egloff at the Samoset on Saturday.

            “This year was up and down,” he added. “I had a bad stretch but I got through it. I’ve got a lot more work to do. My goal is to go to the next level.”

            Sean O’Hair, who had led the race for the money title and player of the year since July, closed with a 1-over par 71. For the year, he earned $50,335, second to only Sisk.

            Noah Zelnik, who was paired with O’Hair, fired a 5-under par 31 on the back nine en route to a 66 and a 10^th place finish on the money list.

            “I finished strong,” said a pleased Zelnik afterward. “I couldn’t think of a better way to head into (PGA TOUR) Q-School. I’m just going to use this as a springboard.”

            Despite coming up short in his bid to win a Cleveland event for the second time in as many years, Zelnik was gracious in defeat.

            “Sisk took care of what he had to do,” Zelnik said. “There’s no doubt about it that Geoff Sisk is one of the premiere players.”

            Todd Westfall, the only full-fledged rookie to win an event this season when he captured the LeBaron Hills Open, capped off an impressive campaign with a final round 66 that included four consecutive birdies beginning at the par 5, 12^th hole.

            Westfall finishes the year 8^th on the money list, narrowly edging out University of Virginia graduate Justin Goodhue, who made every cut this season. Goodhue closed with a 2-over par 72 and ended up tied for 19^th.

            As a reward for winning the money title, Sisk also earned a $4,000 bonus check to PGA TOUR Qualifying School. In addition to his three Cleveland Golf Tour victories, Sisk also won the Cape Cod Open, the Mass Open (4^th time), and finished 40^th in the U.S. Open, his fourth appearance in the national open. For his play in the open, Sisk has been granted an exemption through the first stage of Q School and will proceed directly to stage two.