Rafferty Records First Pro Win

Image: Pat Cashman

It wasn't your typical August weather this week at The Fairway Course of Abilene Country Club during the Adams Tour's Young Life Abilene Open, but the tournament sponsors, tour officials and players weren't complaining.

The usually sinister sun showed mercy throughout the four-day event yielding to a slight breeze, cool temperatures and a lingering cloud cover and the field of professional golfers took full advantage of the conditions.

"Normally going into a tournament the weather is always a primary concern but the soft breeze and mild heat really gave these guys a chance to hit low numbers," said Adams Tour director Tyler Wolford.

At the end, it was a player who hails from across the Atlantic who found himself alone atop the final leader board. Fergal Rafferty, a 25-year-old Irishman playing in the second to last group Saturday, posted a final round 6-under-par 66 to win his first professional tournament by a stroke.

"It's nice to see him get over the line finally," Rafferty's swing coach Gordon Sherry said. "He's been close before and he keeps progressing."

Sherry has coached Rafferty for the past six years, and flew in from just outside of Glasgow, Scotland, to carry Rafferty's bag during the event. The instructor lives overseas and came in from his home country to help his young pupil tune up for the months leading up to PGA Tour Qualifying School.

Sherry wasn't the only one who came a considerable distance and wound up sitting at the winner's table.

Entering the third round six shots off the lead in a tie for 14th, Rafferty surged into contention after firing a 64, recording an eight-birdie, no-bogey tally that put him a shot off the pace heading into Saturday's final round.

"Walking to the first tee (on Saturday) I wasn't too concerned with what the leaders were doing or going to do," Rafferty said. "I knew (shooting) 6- or 7 under would give me a chance to win,"

Rafferty birdied his first hole to draw even with the leaders, eagled the par-5 ninth hole, birdied three more coming in and kept a clean card for a second day in a row, avoiding bogey on the weekend. His closing 66 propelled him to the trophy and a $10,850 check.

"It feels great," Rafferty said. "It's a good time to start playing good, my confidence is getting better and its just a good time of the year to start coming into form".

He said after Saturday's tournament win that he's glad he stayed in the United States after finishing school.

"It turned out to be a good decision and I'm proud of myself that I stuck around after college and I'm looking forward to the future and just very happy to be playing here,"

Rafferty was not the only one pleased that he was a part of the competition.

"I never thought a West Texas boy would be handing the inaugural trophy to an Irishman," said tournament sponsor and Young Life director Chuck Rodgers. "It's great to have him out here; he hits it further than you can point."

Rafferty graduated from Sam Houston with a kiniseology degree, and maintains he's used his acquired biomechanics knowledge to help his game.

"My degree is very helpful with my golf," Rafferty said. "I apply a lot of the physical therapy tactics and sport nutrition information to my workouts and fitness and it really has me getting better in a lot of ways."

Rafferty said he will play two more Adams Tour events and a handful of Monday qualifiers for the Web.com Tour (formerly the Nationwide Tour), before competing in the PGA Tour's Qualifying School.

Michael Arnaud of Baton Rouge, La., and Kevin Tway of Edmond Okla., finished in a tie for second (271). Both players will take home $5,255. Former Abilene High golfer Bill Allcorn closed with a 4 under 68 to finish alone in 20th, (280). His payout was just over $1,000.

The Young Life Abilene Open is contracted with the Adams Tour into 2013 and returns professional golf to the Big Country next fall for a second consecutive year. Tour administration and Abilene Country Club have not set an official date for next season's event.

Courtesy: Abilene Reporter