Only the Best – Inaugural SNGA Shootout Rewards Top Players With New Tradition
A new tradition is upon us at the Southern Nevada Golf Association. The inaugural SNGA Shootout was played at Arroyo and Red Rock Country Club, rewarding the top golfers with a prestigious event to end the year. It was a hit, and the golfers enjoyed and appreciated the new tournament. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Preston Harris (Championship), Todd Roberts (Senior) and Gary Carpendale (Silver) won gross titles at the 2024 SNGA Shootout. Jake Barry (Net), Brian Freymueller (Senior) and Brent Bingham (Silver) won net titles in the tournament held Nov. 24-25, 2024, at Red Rock Country Club and Arroyo Golf Club.
Championship
Preston Harris birdied three of the first five holes of the tournament and held on for his second win of the 2024 season.
“This was a really cool event,” said Harris, a caddie at The Summit who is eyeing turning pro next summer. “I really enjoyed the event and it’s a great way to reward the guys.”
Harris said his play was solid…for most of the two days.
“I was hitting the ball good today,” he said. “But in the middle I made some tentative swings that cost me. Then I said just let it go and swing freely and I got back on track until 16 and 17 (two double bogeys). I didn’t putt that well but I hit it well enough the other 34 holes to be in position to win.”
He said the SNGA events give him the chance to improve his game in the hopes of turning pro.
“These are great events to help the confidence,” he said. “Even some parts of my game that weren’t clicking that well earlier are getting better and better.”
Championship
Preston Harris, 68-74—142
Andrew Hawk, 73-71—144
Joe Sawaia, 71-74—145
Net
Jake Barry posted three net eagles over the two rounds in winning for the second time in 2024.
He added eight net birdies in the tournament en route to a six-stroke victory.
“This was a really cool event and it was a honor to just be in the tournament,” Barry said.
He added his game is coming into form and he’s eyeing a solid 2025.
“I’m playing some really good golf at the end of the year and that’s exciting,” said Barry who suffered a heart attack in March. “And even when I hit errant shots, I still appreciate them. I’m just enjoying getting back out there and working to get my game back in shape.”
He said the courses also provided a good test.
“On two quality courses I played some pretty good golf,” he said. “And they were both tricky courses, too.”
He also noted one part of his game got his attention.
“I need to eliminate my three putts,” he said with a laugh. “If you can go around these courses without three putts then you’re a better player than me.”
Net
Jacob Barry, 67-76—143
Ryan Purdy, 76-73—149
Trevor Coss, 78-72—150
Senior
Todd Roberts won for the seventh time in 2024, posting a one-birdie, one-bogey final round for the victory.
“It was a really weird tournament in terms of my game,” Roberts said. “I only had three birdies for the tournament…I holed a bunker shot on the 12th hole the first day and then made about a four-footer. Then today I hit the par-5 ninth in two and two-putted for a birdie. That was it.”
Roberts said the tournament celebrates the year nicely.
“This was a great idea for a tournament,” he said. “It was a nice opportunity for guys to stay motivated to get into this tournament.”
Roberts said the greens proved to be quite the challenge.
“I had a lot of defensive putts,” he said. “I hit 16 greens today and one of the ones I missed was from 50 yards. I just played steady and, in the end, I just didn’t want to get beat.”
He said both layouts were challenging.
“Both courses keep you off balance” Roberts said. “On every hole you can make a big number if you don’t keep it in play. It wasn’t easy out there.”
Senior
Todd Roberts, 73-72—145
Rick Sepp, 74-72—146
John Bobroski, 72-76—148
Senior Net
Brian Freymueller won for the second straight tournament giving him five victories in 2024.
Freymueller had three natural birdies over a four-hole stretch in the first round (to go along with two net birdies) and held on for the victory.
“It’s great to be invited to an event like this,” Freymueller said. “You play all year for something like this and to get in the field is just incredible. And then you’ve got two great venues. It was just great.”
He said his first round was solid…if not spectacular.
“I parred the first 10 holes,” he said. “And then to have the three birdies in the four holes was a nice plus to help the round.”
He added the final round showed promise before he ran into trouble.
“Today I parred the first three holes and then the wheels started to come off,” he said. “Fortunately, or unfortunately, the other guys up there also shot gross scores of 88 and I hung on well enough for the win.”
Senior Net
Brian Freymueller, 68-85—153
Mike Haas, 75-81—156
Luis Morais, 78-78—156
Silver
Gary Carpendale had a three-birdie streak each day as he won for the third time in 2024—two individual titles and a team crown.
“What a priviledge to get to play in an event like this,” Carpendale said. “The SNGA did a great job of giving us a bonus at the end of the year and two great golf courses to play it on.”
Carpendale said his two birdie streaks–the first day the three birdies were consecutive while the second day the three birdies came over a four-hole stretch–typified his play.
“I’m kind of a streaky player anyway,” he said. “I played pretty solid the first day and got hot with the three birdies in a row to help get it home. The second day I didn’t hit it as well but my putting really saved me.”
He said his overall play is solid…a lot of the time.
“I’m doing everything OK or good at times but I need to get a little more consistent,” he said. “The last 27 holes I struggled with the driver and early on I was struggling a little with the putter. I’d just like to be a little more consistent.”
Silver
Gary Carpendale, 68-73—141
David Foggia, 70-78—148
John Steele, 73-75—148
Silver Net
Brent Bingham won for the second time in 2024, cruising to a 12-stroke victory.
Bingham had five birdies (one natural and four net) in an eight-hole stretch in the first round to help him cruise to the win.
“I played really solid golf for two days,” he said. “The things I’ve been working on throughout the year…my transition, chipping and putting…are getting better.”
He said one hole early in the first round sparked him.
“On the fifth hole, a par-5, I got on in three and made about a 25-footer for birdie,” he said. “The got me going for the rest of the tournament. I had a lot more confidence on the greens. The last 31 holes, after that birdie, I just had a few bogeys and I really putted pretty well on those greens.”
Silver Net
Brent Bingham, 69-67—136
George Yocum, 71-77—148
Barry Boudreaux, 70-78—148
