SNGA Tour Hits Prestigious SouthShore CC, Four New Champs Crowned

Adam Koehler (Championship), Dan Laperriere (Senior), David Foggia (Silver) and Aaron Bartels (Net) won titles in the 2024 SNGA Tour Stableford event. The tournament was held June 17, 2024, at SouthShore Country Club.—Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider

The event used modified Stableford scoring. A double eagle was worth seven points, an eagle was worth five points, a birdie was worth three points, a par was worth two points, a bogey resulted in one point and a double bogey or worse was worth zero points.

Championship

Adam Koehler had three birdies on his back nine, including on back-to-back holes, in winning for the first time in SNGA play.

“My swing feels pretty good right now,” he said. “I kept it in play and gave myself some good looks. It was a pretty stress-free round.”

He said that’s always part of the game plan.

“I hit a lot of fairways and greens,” said Koehler, who works at a golf course in California. “I had a couple of doubles where I put it in trouble but other than that I kept it in play.”

He said his finish, which included birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, boosted the confidence.

“The 16th was unexpected,” he said of the par-3 hole. “It was playing about 215 (yards) and I missed it to the right rough and chipped in from 20 yards.”

He said he traveled to Vegas because SouthShore was on his to-play list.

“I used to live in Vegas,” he said. “There are a few courses I haven’t played here like SouthShore and I wanted to add this one to the list.”

Championship

Adam Koehler, 31 points

Kevin McEvoy, 30

William Garcia, 24

Senior

Dan Laperriere won a scorecard playoff to post his second straight SNGA victory.

“Overall, I played pretty well,” he said. “I had a few mistakes but not big mistakes. I lost my rhythm for a few holes…got it back…lost it for a couple of holes…got it back.”

He said playing the course from a shorter set of tees also provided a challenge.

“That was the toughest part,” he said. “I usually play from the blues or blacks so playing from the whites was different. I had to ask myself if it was better to play it safe or try to overpower the trouble. But in the end you still have to hit the shots to be successful.”

He added his short game provided an edge.

“I scored pretty well from 100 yards and in,” he said. “I had a couple of gimme birdies and that always makes it easier.”

The NHL scout also said playing at SouthShore helped.

“The fact that I had home-ice advantage helped…well, home-course advantage,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve played here so many times. Knowing the speed of the greens was key. It always comes down to making a few more putts than your opponents.”

Senior

Dan Laperriere, 33 points

Jeff Coppens, 33

Jim Licausi, 32

Silver

David Foggia had back-to-back birdies twice during the round in winning for the second time in 2024.

“I’m surprised I won,” Foggia said. “I didn’t play that well. Everyone else must not have played that great.”

He said his start didn’t bode well for him winning.

“The first two holes should have been pars but they weren’t,” he said. “I three-putted the first hole and that’s not a great way to get the round going.”

He said the course was tough…but fair.

“The rough on the course wasn’t easy and the greens were tricky,” he said. “It really made you focus. A 77 wasn’t horrible but it’s not what I was hoping to shoot. But, as they say, a win is a win.”

Silver

David Foggia, 30 points

Dan Ellis, 29

Mike Kolb, 28

Net

Aaron Bartels posted seven birdies on the scorecard, five net and two natural, in putting up 43 points.

It was Bartels’ second win of 2024.

“I played great,” he said. “I even missed a couple of short birdie putts that would have made it a little better.”

But, he was quick to add, it all evens out on the course.

“I did roll in a couple of putts outside of 20 feet which don’t usually fall in,” he said.

Bartels said it was a whirlwind few days for him.

“I spent Sunday in Illinois for Father’s Day with the family,” he said. “Then I caught a red-eye back to Vegas and played this morning. It was pretty hectic…but a lot of fun.”

Now, he’s looking at a busy summer.

“I took last summer off,” he said of the 2023 season. “I spent four months, July through October, in Alaska in my RV. I only played about seven rounds of golf while I was in Alaska.”

Now, he’s focused on Vegas golf for the foreseeable future.

“I’m hoping to play well enough to sneak my way onto the Cobb Whelan team,” he said.

Net

Aaron Bartels, 42 points

Aron Suci, 39

Doug Shrader, 39