December 16, 2009

By Jon Levy - Staff Writer

With solid rounds of 69/67-136 (8-under par) on The Wigwam Resort’s challenging Gold Course at the Desert Winter Series Sponsorship Event, Adam Hadwin took a two-stroke victory over Eric Meierdierks (71/67-138) to win a free 2010 Desert Series membership, worth a value of $14,000.

He started the second round trailing first round leader and last year’s Winter Series Sponsorship Event winner, Derek Gillespie (67/72-139, T3), by two strokes, but after finishing with a flurry of seven birdies and just two bogeys en route to his 5-under, 67, he not only easily surpassed Gillespie and held off the rest of the 84-player field, but tied Meierdierks for the low round of the day and co-led the field with 11 birdies in two rounds.

Suffice to say, winning the value of Winter Series membership -- which comes to a sum of $14,000 -- is a prize that can easily be turned into much more than its value come Winter Series-end with a stretch of solid play; a fact of which Hadwin is certainly well aware.

“This is just huge for me,” Hadwin said of the win. “I had already signed up to play the Series, but to be able to start the year fresh with nothing out of your pocket is just a huge jumpstart.”

“I’m excited now to go out and basically try to earn free money,” he added.

A recent graduate of The University of Louisville who made it to the 2nd Stage of PGA TOUR Qualifying in his first attempt this fall, the 22-year old British Columbia native -- apart from living out his ultimate dream of playing the PGA TOUR -- has been excited to move to Arizona and play The Gateway Tour since turning pro in June.

“From everything I’ve heard (about The Gateway Tour), it’s a great place to come and earn some legitimate money to get a good start to the year,” Hadwin noted. “Obviously, being from Canada, it’s also nice to be able to come to Arizona and practice during the winter, but getting in some good competition during these first three months of the year will be really big for me. I can’t wait for it.”

Starting shortly after the 1st of the year with its opening event January 5th-7th at Anthem CC, Hadwin won’t have to wait long for his Winter Series debut.

Likewise, neither will the remainder of the eager Desert Winter Series membership, which, as VP of Tour Operations, Ryan Pray noted, proved their enthusiasm for the start of the Winter Series by filling another successful Sponsorship event preceding the start of the Series.

“This event was very popular with our players last year and was again this year because of what these guys are playing for,” said Pray. “(Hadwin) takes away a victory worth a $14,000 membership cost, but in reality, with our Winter Series members playing for first place prizes upwards of $25,000 range in some of our events last year, the value of his win could be worth exponentially more if he plays well.”

“We’re very pleased to have had another successful Sponsorship event this year and we’re looking forward to a successful 2010 Winter Series,” he added.

Along with Gillespie at 5-under, Brett Swedberg (68/71-139) tied for 3rd while David Benner (72/68-140) and Tommy Medina (69/71-140) rounded out the Top 5 at 4-under par. The top 26 players (1-over and better) earned a minimum payback of $400 for their efforts, with Meierdierks -- by way of his solo runner-up finish -- taking home the credit of two free Winter Series events, valued at $1,250 each.

The Gateway Tour’s opening event at Anthem kicks off the Tour’s expanded 2010 Winter schedule that will feature ten Series events + The 2010 Winter Series Championship. Stay tuned for results…


Click here for full field results…


Gateway Tour: 2010 Winter Series/Wigwam - Images by Allan Henry