2002 RESULTS

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- Bruce Soulsby entered the final round of the TaylorMade with what could be called "an uncomfortable lead." And the fact that 54-hole co-leader Jason Brown had to withdraw from the tournament because of a broken foot (more on that later) didn't make Soulsby's now solo lead much more comfortable- there were still 10 players within three shots of him on Sunday. Jim Schuman, a club professional from Verona, Wisconsin was one of those players; his 54-hole total of 210 was just 2-strokes back of first place.

Soulsby, a former PGA Tour player originally from New Zealand, went on a birdie binge on the front nine, starting birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie, and reaching the 6-under mark on the day after just 8 holes. A bunkered second shot on the ninth and missed par-putt stopped him from shooting 30 on the front, but at 13-under Soulsby carried a 2-shot lead after 9.

Schuman was hanging close. Playing well in front of Soulsby, Schuman posted a 66 for a tournament total of 12-under-par, 276. The round could have been lower if not for a minor "pause" in the birdie making when he bogeyed the 9th and 11th holes. Birdies on three of the last eight holes, including a birdie that would make all the difference at 18 ended things quite neatly.

Meanwhile, Soulsby bogeyed the 11th, and the tournament was tied at 12-under. Another bogey at 13 (a three putt) turned the hunted into the hunter. Pars through the 17th left Soulsby with only one option on 18, make birdie (as Schuman had earlier) and force a playoff. He wedged his second shot to within 20 feet, and the gallery stood silent as his birdie putt slid narrowly by the right side.

For Schuman, patience was rewarded with a $20,000 payday, which ties his biggest ever. "I'm sure my wife will help me spend it, and holiday shopping just got a little bit easier," said Schuman.

Team competition just as exciting.

Bruce Soulsby's team never gave up on him, and vice versa. Anyone watching them could see that these guys are as cohesive a unit as the European Ryder Cup team was this year. They help each other on every shot and grind it out to the end. Their total score of 63-under par 513 gave them a one stroke margin in winning the team title.

Tournament Notes

At least three amateurs shot 3-under-par 69's on Sunday. Dave Schnider, Marketing Director for Fujikura did it on the Weiskopf with 5 birdies and 2 bogeys. Guy Gedeon of Mesa, AZ had a bogey-free Sunday on the Nicklaus course, he birdied the 8th, 10th, and 17th holes to get to 3-under. And Tom Cismoski of TaylorMade shot 69 on Weiskopf, stepping up to lead his team that was minus pro Jason Brown.

A note of condolence and get-well wishes go out to Jason Brown, who was tied for the lead after 54-holes after a magnificent 65 in the third round. Brown broke his foot stepping off a jagged curb in Puerto Vallarta Saturday evening and was forced to withdraw from the event.