Gonzalez: "I want to be first Hispanic to win"

The final match in the 44th annual ASGA Match Play Championship has just concluded minutes earlier (8 p.m.), and a few people were in the pro shop as steady rain and thunderstorms rolled over Hurricane Country Club in Bryant. Efren Gonzalez was admiring the Roy Wood Championship Trophy, calling out "John Daly won this and Stan Lee won it three straight years." He then stopped for a moment and looked at me and said: "Jay, I want to be the first Hispanic to win this trophy."

Some may say that Efren had an unfair advantage as assistant superintendent at Hurricane - but the fact remains you still have to get the ball into the hole. Plus, his starting time for the first qualifying round was 12:20 and he mowed for at least 4 hours prior and still managed a 73. He limped home in round two with a 79 that included two triple bogies - and earned the 15th seed - and next to last spot in qualifying. Then he found his rhythm - with back to back 6 & 5 victories and a 5 & 3 win over John Bragg in the semi-finals, another Hurricane member.

His game peaked in the championship match against Chris Jenkins -playing five-under par for 16 holes in a 3 & 2 decision - the first time he saw #16 in match play. (Jenkins was two-under and lost). Efren, you got your wish - and you are a deserving champion! Flanking Efren in the photo are his boss (left) Nick Birch, Superintendent and Jake Friedman, Hurricane General Manager.