2023 Highlands Golf Tournament Results

Heavy rains from Friday cleared the skies over Bella Vista’s “Highlands” course just in time for the APT Tulsa event, bringing with it some cool air mixed with plenty of sunshine.  The Highlands  course did not disappoint. 

Division 1 kept its string of first time winners in tact as 2022 APT Arkansas standout Jeremy McVay got off to a quick start and maintained the lead throughout the round as closest pursuer Matthew Mantle’s valid effort fell short.  Mantle closed the gap with an eagle 3 on the par 5, 12th hole but couldn’t get any closer to the steady play of McVay.  A closing birdie was too little too late but landed Mantle the runner up spot with an 81.  Jeremy became the fifth different winner in the first five events for APT Division 1 and after winning, joined the APT Tulsa family, putting others on notice in the POY race for D1. 

Division 2, Division 2, Division 2…..sounds like a broken record but D2 showed out again on Saturday with yet another playoff.  Two new players took off in search of their first APT Tulsa win.  Pryor Oklahoma native Riley Reed squared off with veteran D2 Arkansas POY leader Kendall Price, already a three time winner in 23, to decide the D2 Highlands Champion.  Reed pulled through on the first playoff hole to grab the win.  The win comes after three standout D2 players inadvertently played the wrong tee box without correction, resulting in a disqualification.  Point’s leader Keith Tilghman, 3rd place points Josh Linn and Logan Pruitt were the utmost gentlemen in accepting their fate when given the news by director Mark Brailey.  Joel Lake of Bixby Oklahoma rounded out the top three. 

Division 3 continues to be the largest Division within APT Tulsa as 20 players signed in to take a shot at The Highlands and win the champions prize.  Garye Myers of Tulsa played his best round of the year by pounding the fairways all day long and cruising to a three stroke win over guest and first time APT participant Justin Lewis.  Fort Smith’s Todd Humble put three birdies on his card in the final five holes to steal third place and a podium for his best APT finish of the year. 

Division 4 saw newcomers take center stage as Pedro Varela held off Blake Cotton by a single stroke to take the win with a final score of 89.  Cotton finished with a solid 90 to take a close second to hard charging veteran Bill Casey of Owasso.  Both newbies Varela and Cotton look to join APT Tulsa and make a run at the D4 Player of the Year top prize.  The win for Pedro comes in his very first stroke play tournament ever.  Congrats Pedro!! 

Division 5 saw Trip Montgomery and APT Arkansas Director Larry Burrows wage an all-out assault on The Highlands for the top spot in D5.  Tied at the top with a 94 score, Montgomery made par 5 on the 1st playoff hole to steal the win from Burrows.  Both players were looking to score their first APT win. 

Senior Net Paul Stanton of Broken Arrow, soon to be resident of Kansas City, heads to his new home with a first place win in the senior net division after posting a net score of 78. 

Big shout out to the entire staff at The Highlands for their hospitality and hard work in getting the course in great playing condition following heavy rains on Friday afternoon and Friday night.  A very special Thank You to APT Arkansas Director Larry Burrows for making the five hour trip up to Northwest Arkansas to play and lend a hand with the event.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the APT Tulsa’s first major of the year at the beautiful “Club at Forest Ridge” on June 24th.