Farmville, VA – Brian Harman of St. Simons Island, GA entered the final round of The Manor Classic presented by Office Depot with a two-shot lead and looking to capture his maiden professional title. After a year spent collecting top-10 finishes, the highly touted former UGA star finally made good on his vast potential with a final-round 68 and his first pro win.

With opening rounds of 69-65-70—204, Harman entered the final round at host The Manor Golf Club with a two-shot lead over tour leading money winner Jason Kokrak of Warren, OH. After pars on the first three holes, Harman finally broke through with a birdie at the par-3 fourth to extend his cushion over Kokrak and fellow playing partner Drew Weaver.

Drew WeaverOn the downhill par-4 fifth, Weaver holed his approach for a dramatic eagle that cut into Harman’s lead, but also may have woken Weaver up.

"I made a really nice putt on No. 4, and then Drew holes out on No. 5 for eagle to get within three,” said Harman, who shares an apartment with Weaver at Sea Island. "But then I started making birdies and it was off to the races.”

Birdies on Nos. 6, 7 and 9 immediately erased Weaver’s encroachment on the lead, and Harman was able to turn with a five-shot lead over Kokrak after posting a stellar outward nine of 4-under 32.

With a sizeable lead and just nine holes to play, the normally aggressive Harman was forced to reel back a bit and play it safe with hazards on virtually every hole on the back nine.

"I took some pretty conservative lines on my approaches into the greens, knowing the tournament was mine to lose,” said Harman. "That’s not usually something I’m good at – aiming away from flags. But I knew if I just played a bit safe, that I could win.”

Pars on Nos. 10-14 gave way to a Harman birdie at the par-3 15th, and the tournament was all but over with just three holes to play.

Standing on the tee of the 498-yard par-4 18th, Harman held a five-shot lead over Kokrak and a six-shot lead over Weaver, but his finish would be anything but simple.

After a well-placed tee shot in the middle of the fairway, Harman blocked his approach into the water on the 72nd green.

"I was trying to get fancy with a 3-iron and cut it in there, then I just blocked it in the water,” he said. "Fortunately I had enough of a lead to get away with it. I was thinking, ‘As long as I don’t make a nine here, I should be okay.’”

Harman’s closing double-bogey at the last did little to dampen the mood. After 12 events in his first full year as a professional, the Savannah, GA native had finally broken through.

"It feels good. Drew and Jason played well today,” Harman said. "I was nervous on the back nine, but played solid on the front. I’m just glad it went my way today.”

With the win, Harman collects $15,000 and remains in third on the 2010 money list with $80,954 in earnings. The win marked his ninth top-10 in 12 starts on the eGolf Tour this season. A study in consistency entering the week, most were beginning to wonder when the former amateur star would break through.

Harman won the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur at Columbia C.C. in Chevy Chase, MD, and would spend the next two years as the No. 1-ranked junior in the world before enrolling at the University of Georgia. As a freshman, prior to his enrollment, he was selected to the victorious 2005 United States Walker Cup team – a rare honor for someone just out of high school. Multiple wins in college and in top-level amateur events helped secure his spot on the victorious 2009 Walker Cup team.

Entering the week, Harman was the only player in the top 13 on the money list without a title. His best finish prior to The Manor Classic came at The Championship at St. James Plantation in April, when closing rounds of 67-68 left him one shot shy of former Georgia teammate Richard Scott.

"It feels good just knowing I can do it. I’m not just trying to win this tournament; I’m trying to win a lot of tournaments,” said an exuberant Harman after the round. "I had a lead and I held it, almost wire-to-wire. I was sleeping on a lot of leads and managed to pull it out. This has been great.”

Following a birdie at the last, Weaver was able to catch Kokrak as Harman’s two playing partners would share runner-up honors – with each collecting $8,500 for their efforts.

The finish moved Kokrak’s season earnings to $109,558 as he remains atop the money list. For Weaver, the former Virginia Tech star cracked the top 10 with $50,861 in earnings. Weaver takes over Harman’s role as best player without a win, seeing as he’s the only player in the top 14 on the money list without a title this year. He does, however, have five top-6 finishes in his last six starts.

Former UNC Charlotte standout Corey Nagy finished in solo fourth at 8-under 276. The finish is Nagy’s first top-10 since turning professional following an "All American” career in his hometown of Charlotte.

Matt Hendrix, who played the PGA TOUR in 2007, finished alone in fifth at 6-under 278.

The Manor Classic is the first of four fall events on the eGolf Tour that comprise the inaugural "Race to Morocco.” The top 20 members from each event will earn points that will accrue throughout the four tournaments. At the conclusion of the Race to Morocco, the leading point earner will receive an exemption into the European Tour’s King Hassan II Trophy in Agadir, Morocco next March. The exemption is provided courtesy of the The Association du Trophee Hassan II de Golf (ATH).

 

• The tour would like to thank General Manager/Director of Golf John Prengaman and his staff for their outstanding help in conducting this tournament. A great job was done by Head Golf Course Superintendent Ed Evers and his crew in presenting a great golf course for the week. This event would not be possible without the support of The Manor’s members. Thanks to each and every one of you for your willingness to allow the tour access to your fantastic course for the week!
  
  
• A special thanks goes to the Farmville Hampton Inn and General Manager John Farrar for their support of the tour this week. The staff’s courtesy and willingness to serve as host hotel for the tour this week was greatly appreciated.
  
  
• The tour will take next week off before returning to the greater Charlotte area for the CFAC Classic presented by Sharpie on September 22-24 at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, NC.

 

The Manor Classic presented by Office Depot

The Manor G.C.

Farmville, VA

Par 72; 7,152 yards

Final Results

1. Brian Harman,St. Simons Island, GA, $15,000.00, *69-65-70-68-272 -12

2. Jason Kokrak, Warren, OH, $8,500.00, *66-70-70-69-275 -9

2. Drew Weaver, High Point, NC, $8,500.00, *74-68-65-68-275 -9

4. Corey Nagy, Charlotte, NC, $6,000.00, *72-69-66-69-276 -8

5. Matt Hendrix, Greenville, SC, $4,500.00, *69-72-69-68-278 -6

6. Tommy Biershenk, Boiling Springs, SC, $4,000.00, *67-70-74-69-280 -4

7. Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, NC, $2,925.00, *72-69-71-69-281 -3

7. Wes Homan, Cincinnati, OH, $2,925.00, *70-71-67-73-281 -3

9. Trevor Bowman, Harpster, OH, $2,750.00, *77-66-70-69-282 -2

10. Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, HI, $2,520.00, *69-71-73-70-283 -1

10. Andy Bare, West End, NC, $2,520.00, *73-70-70-70-283 -1

10. Hank Kim, Jonesboro, GA, $2,520.00, *71-70-71-71-283 -1

10. Clint Jensen, Jupiter, FL, $2,520.00, *72-69-70-72-283 -1

10. Chesson Hadley, Raleigh, NC, $2,520.00, *73-70-69-71-283 -1

15. Michael Sims, St. Simons Island, GA, $2,250.00, *71-69-75-69-284 E

15. Adam Webb, Ridgeway, VA, $2,250.00, *70-74-69-71-284 E

15. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $2,250.00, *69-74-73-68-284 E

18. Matt Cannon, Statesville, NC, $2,150.00, *71-69-75-70-285 +1

19. Richard Scott,St. Simons Island, GA, $2,075.00, *70-71-72-73-286 +2

19. Joey McLister, Scottsdale, AZ, $2,075.00, *67-76-77-66-286 +2

21. Todd Murphy, Phoenix, AZ, $1,862.50, *75-70-70-72-287 +3

21. Rob Grube, Palo Alto, CA, $1,862.50, *68-75-72-72-287 +3

21. Michael Pearson, Alpharetta, GA, $1,862.50, *68-77-70-72-287 +3

21. Chase Carroll, Knoxville, TN, $1,862.50, *74-69-69-75-287 +3

21. Jarred Texter, Millersville, PA, $1,862.50, *71-74-73-69-287 +3

21. Daryl Chappell, Sutherland, VA, $1,862.50, *72-73-74-68-287 +3

27. Matt Mincer, Knoxville, TN, $1,675.00, *72-73-71-72-288 +4

28. Jamie Hall, England, $1,550.00, *73-68-74-74-289 +5

28. Jake Scott, Strongsville, OH, $1,550.00, *71-74-71-73-289 +5

28. Kent George, Granite Falls, NC, $1,550.00, *76-66-75-72-289 +5

28. David Sanchez, Pinehurst, NC, $1,550.00, *75-69-73-72-289 +5

32. Derek Oakey, Atlanta, GA, $1,400.00, *71-73-74-73-291 +7

32. Chip Lynn, Fayetteville, NC, $1,400.00, *72-73-78-68-291 +7

34. Jeffrey Castle, Baltimore, MD, $1,287.50, *72-71-80-69-292 +8

34. Brad Helton, Mount Juliet, TN, $1,287.50, *75-69-79-69-292 +8

36. Mike Walls, Greensboro, NC, $1,170.00, *74-69-73-77-293 +9

36. Connor McHenry, Jefferson City, MO, $1,170.00, *71-71-78-73-293 +9

38. Michael Henderson, Orlando, FL, $1,125.00, *71-74-77-72-294 +10

39. Bruce McDonald, Mount Pleasant, SC, $1,100.00, *72-73-75-75-295 +11

40. Frank Wrenn, Greenville, SC, $1,008.33, *70-75-76-75-296 +12

40. Jonas Enander Hedin,Stockholm,Sweden,$1,008.33,*76-69-77-74-296 +12

40. Frank Adams III, Salisbury, NC, $1,008.33, *74-70-81-71-296 +12

43. Kyle McCarthy, South Pasadena, FL, $950.00, *71-73-82-71-297 +13