2023 Bear’s Best National Golf Tournament Results

The Amateur Players Tour converged on Atlanta, GA for its first national major of the spring at the popular Bear’s Best Golf Club in Atlanta, GA on March 25th-26th.  160 players from around the country came into town for the Southern Brawl, which was played on the tribute to some of the best golf holes Jack Nicklaus every designed.  Players faced extremely difficult par 3’s and risk/reward par 5’s on an extremely fun layout.  To top it off, the payouts were the largest for any two-day event, with almost $12,000 being paid out in VISA Gift cards to top-finishers in the 5 open and 5 senior divisions, plus additional side games.  If only the weather would have cooperated…. 

Players faced difficult conditions as play was delayed due to heavy rain and lightning on Saturday, with a few players finishing their first round on Sunday morning.  Two additional delays as storms blew through the south eventually led to Divisions 3-5 completing an 18-hole tournament while Divisions 1-2 would be able to complete the entire 36 holes. 

Division 1 would turn out to be a dogfight between 2022 Senior National Player of the Year Tony Wise (Kentucky) and Jeremy Hudson (Atlanta).  Hudson and Wise both got off to good starts in difficult, wet conditions on Saturday, but ground out really solid rounds of 1-over par 73 to tie for the overnight lead.  David Apperson (Memphis) played steady golf to keep in the mix with a 2-over par 74.  Heading out of the final rain delay with a few holes to play, it was anyone’s tournament to win as the three battled back and forth for the lead.  With a clutch birdie on Hole 17, Tony Wise climbed into a tie for the lead heading to the very difficult 18th hole.  When Hudson and Apperson both played first and missed the green, Wise put his 2nd shot 30 feet below the hole and gave himself a look for the win.  The putt was away and dropped for back-to-back birdies and a National Major Championship!  Jeremy Hudson finished in 2nd place at +5, while David Apperson finished in 3rd a +6.  Mike Mozilo (Charleston), Tim Barto (Charlotte) and Austin Vasquez (Nashville) finished T-4 at +7.  On the Senior side, Tony Wise completed the “Double-Dip” while David Apperson took home 2nd place honors. 

Division 2 saw a crowded leaderboard for the entire tournament and might have been the most competitive division we’ve seen so far in 2023.  Conditions were tough Saturday, but a solid 78 from Atlanta’s Mitchell Haig earned him the ability to sleep on the overnight lead over Atlanta’s Jantzen McDonald, who shot a 79.  Sunday would be a completely different story.  After the second rain delay as the leader’s were getting ready to make the turn onto the back 9, 8 players were within one-shot of the lead, with 14 players within three shots of the lead.  Down the stretch, it was a tough battle between Mike Lingenfelter (St. Louis), Jerry Price Jr. (Augusta), and Nathan Frazier (Tennessee East).  Going into 18, Lingenfelter and Frazier were tied for the lead, with Lingenfelter being one group ahead. A slightly mishit drive by Lingenfelter led to a layup and ultimately a bogey, opening the door for Nathan Frazier to earn his first victory on the Amateur Players Tour.  A solid tee shot followed by a safe approach into the 18th green led to a 2-putt par and the victory.  Mike Lingenfelter finished in 2nd place, just one shot back with a 2-day total of 15-over par.  Jerry Price Jr. and Jantzen McDonald finished tied for 3rd, while Mark Ballew (Carolina Triad) rounded out the top-5.  Mike Lingenfelter won his second straight major in the senior division, besting Terry Szymczyk (Birmingham) and Eric Stanwick (Charlotte) by four strokes. 

Just because the weather shortened Division 3, didn’t mean that the payouts were cut short, as 48 players were vying for a piece of the $2,880 prize pool paid out in the open division alone.  Freddie Coffey (Upstate SC) bested one of the largest fields of the year, shooting an 81 to earn a 2-shot victory over Gary Martin (Augusta) and Cain Campbell (Atlanta).  The Top 5 was rounded out by Chris Huge (Myrtle Beach), JP Pinkney (Kentucky), and Trinity Manning (Carolina Triad).  On the senior side, Freddie Coffey completed the double-dip, besting the senior field to earn the USGA Max $1,000 prize.  Gary Martin came in 2nd place, also earning the USGA Max $1,000 prize for his great play!  The top 3 was rounded out by Myrtle Beach’s Chris Huge.  

In Division 4, Augusta’s Caleb Price got off to a hot start and didn’t look back, firing a solid round of 86 to earn a 3-shot victory over Nashville’s Will Houston and Chicago’s Daniel India, who each shot 89’s to earn T-2 honots.  Eric Seibert (Charlotte) earned 4th place honors with a 91, while Birmingham’s Danny Daniel took home 5th position with 93.  On the senior side, Chicago’s Daniel India earned his 1st APT Major victory and the first national major championship for Chicago with his round of 89.  Danny Daniel finished in second position just two shots off of the pace. 

Division 5 was an incredibly competitive division, with the lead changing hands frequently between Bo Watson (Nashville), Steve Daniels (Charlotte), and Eddie Cox (Atlanta).  At the end of the day, Eddie Cox (Atlanta) was the last man standing, shooting a 95 to earn a one-shot win.  Steve Daniels finished one shot off of the pace with a 96, while Bo Watson took 3rd with a 97.  The top 5 was rounded out by Atlanta’s Jonathan Hunt and Cincinnati’s Don Hubbard, who each shot 100 to finish in the money.  On the senior side, Eddie Cox completed the double-dip to earn a one-shot victory over Steve Daniels. 

Each champion at the Southern Brawl at Bear’s Best earns priority exemptions into next year’s “Signature Majors” as well as earns a priority exemption for the 2023 North American Championship to be contested in the beautiful and sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina September 22nd-24th.  The 54-hole championship will feature both open and senior divisions, with players 50 and over having the opportunity to “Double-Dip” and play in two tournaments in one.  Mark your calendars for what will be the largest event in the history of the Amateur Players Tour, where records are sure to be broken for prize payouts.  Registration opens for exempt players on July 1st and registration opens for all APT members who have completed 5 tournament rounds on August 1st.  Players registering before August 7th will receive a $50 discount on their entry fee!  Save the date and join us at the 2023 North American Championship in Myrtle Beach, SC!