2003 RESULTS

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- Talk about sticking to your game plan.

Kyle Flinton, leading the $150,000 TaylorMade-adidas Golf Invitational by 3 strokes heading into the final round, was determined to play his game -- which is a rock solid, by the way -- and "make the other guys beat me."

That strategy proved perfect, especially with the way the tournament looked after nine holes - a dead heat between Oklahoman Flinton and Californian Jimmy Letourneau. Letourneau, who started the day at -15, got to 19-under with a wonderful front nine that was punctuated by a birdie at No. 9.

Letourneau lost steam with a pair of bogies to start the back nine, and when Flinton made par at No. 10 and birdie at 11, the result was a 3-shot swing with the tournament Flinton's to win or lose.

That's where the pre-game strategy really kicked in for Flinton, 38, the Assistant Pro at Quail Creek Golf Club in Oklahoma.

"I knew momentum swung in my direction on the back nine," said Flinton. "But I was determined to not get comfortable with a lead until it was over, and I didn't put it in cruise control until the birdie I made at 15."

That birdie, with a tee shot to 5 feet -- struck with a 10-day old TaylorMade RAC Black 56-degree wedge, Flinton was quick to point out -- was punctuated with closing birdies on 16, and 17, plus a par at 18 to set the tournament mark at 23-under par.

For Flinton, an up-and-down golf career that has taken him from the pro ranks in the late 80-s, to being a reinstated amateur and winning the Oklahoma State Amateur in the 90's, and back to pro golf, the victory was particularly sweet.

"I've got a great wife, an 8-month old son, and I'm really comfortable with life right now," he said.

It's amazing the effect that stability has on a golf game.

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TEAM COMPETITION - An Oklahoma sweep was completed by Flinton's winning team of Randy Robinson, an Optometrist, Mike Fauks, a Dentist, and Hal Holliday, an oil and gas man who the guys affectionately called 'doc' Saturday after this writer yesterday stated that all three Oklahoma amateurs were doctors.

Their victory wasn't quite as easy as their pro's- they struggled with reading the grain on Vista Vallarta's bermuda greens on the back nine, and withstood a serious challenge from the Texas team of Pro Tim Hobby and ams Owen Joyner, Dean Hall, and Greg Lusk, who posted a solid 123 on Saturday to finish two strokes back.

Further evidence that Flinton's strategy this week paid off, was a crucial veto of a decision by Quail Creek Club Champion Randy Robinson and his frequent four-ball partner Mike Fauks, who thought Holliday should play from the white tees, as allowed by the tournament rules if the player is willing to forego two of their 'strokes' each round.

"No way," said Flinton. "The way Hal was driving the ball in the practice round, I figured he could handle it from the back tees- and he was solid as a rock this week."

-- Story by Pete Wlodkowski, for amateurgolf.com

Final results from the 150,000 TaylorMade-adidas Golf Invitational, played at the 6658 yard, par 72 Nicklaus and 6676 yard, par 72 Weiskopf course at Vista Vallarta Club de Golf- NOTE - Leading Pro-Am team scores are shown below.