Ross Beal Beats Tommy Li in a Playoff for 2010 Turkeyfoot Course Championship

Ross Beal and Tommy Li battled back and forth throughout the two-day Turkeyfoot Golf Links Course Championship in Akron this weekend.

With firm greens, tough hole locations, and a windy, rainy and chilly day on Saturday, Beal led with a first round score of 73 to Li’s 75.

But on Sunday the weather improved and the momentum turned, and Li posted a sizzling 32 on the front nine to Beal’s 39, taking a five shot lead into the final nine holes. It looked like Tommy Li might cruise to the championship.

But the firm conditions made the back nine tough, and Li made bogeys on 10, 11 and 14 to let Beal back into the race. Then Beal closed the gap completely with a timely eagle on the par-5 16th, and the two players were tied going into the last two holes. But both players failed to close the deal as each player bogeyed both 17 and 18, and so it was off to a playoff.

The playoff began on Turkeyfoot’s first hole, and was mostly decided right after the tee shots. Beal drove the green with a fairway wood downwind to about 35 feet left, and Li missed his tee shot right and short. Li then pitched his second shot across the right-to-left swooping green, right next to Beals tee shot. Beal then putted up the hill to within 2 feet on his eagle attempt. Li missed his birdie effort, sealing the win for Beal.

Mike Simpson finished alone in third place at 151 after posting the low round of the tournament, a 1-under par 70 on Sunday.

In the Senior Divison, Dave Woodrum edged Jim Tarter by a single shot. Complete results below.

FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Turkeyfoot Course Championship
Turkeyfoot Golf Links, Akron, Ohio – Par 71 -September 4-5