Former UC Irvine golfer Michael Lavery outlasted Ben Briscoe on the first play-off hole Sunday to capture his first career NGA Hooters Tour title at the 2010 Bentonville Open at Lost Springs Golf and Athletic Club.

Lavery began the day trailing third round leader Chris Barron (Ashland, TN) by seven strokes after the former Anteater opened with rounds of 71-68-68 for a three day total of six-under par 207.  Lavery’s round started of routinely on Sunday as he made pars on his first three holes before running off three birdies on holes 4-6 and another birdie on the par 5 ninth to turn at four-under par 32.

“I know I needed to get off to fast start today to even give myself a chance at getting my first win,” said the twenty-nine year old Lavery.

While the leaders ahead of him were coming back towards him, Lavery kept the pedal to the medal as he birdies number 10 to get to 11-under for the tournament.  Another strong stretch with birdies on holes 14-16 pushed Lavery into the lead at 14-under par by himself before a bogey dropped him back a stroke but he was able to bounce back with another birdies at his 72nd hole for final round eight-under par 63 and a four day total of fourteen-under par 270. Then it was the waiting game for Lavery as he still had to wait for five groups to come in to see if his lead would stand.

“I hit the ball well all week keeping it in the fairway which is what you have to do on this course but today I was able to make the 6-12 footers that have eluded me all week and that was the difference.”

While Lavery was safely in the clubhouse with his fourteen-under par total 2008 Bentonville Open champion Ben Briscoe was on the course with a chance to take the title. Briscoe opened his final round with a birdie on his first hole to draw even with overnight leader Barron before dropping back to even on the day after a bogey on the 5th. The Wales native then bounced back with two birdies over his final three holes on the front nine to turn at 13-under par.

Through 14 holes on Sunday Briscoe held the lead at 15-under after carding two more birdies over his first five holes on his inward nine but like Lavery before him Briscoe bogeyed the 17th hole and only managed a par on his final hole to force the playoff and send both players back the 18th tee.

Both players found the fairway with their drives.  The flag was tucked back right on the final hole on Sunday with water guarding the right side of the green and both players played their shots to the front part of the green but Briscoe misjudged his approach and landed in the front greenside bunker while Lavery landed on the front fringe.

“I played the 111 yard shot to the front of the green and it died in the wind and landed on the fringe,” said Lavery. “So many people make the mistake of going for the flag and hitting it over the green and I knew how easy it was to do that so I played the safe shot.”

Briscoe blasted out of the bunker with his third shot to the back fringe and then Lavery settled his birdie approach up to about one foot for a sure par leaving Briscoe a chance to force extra holes but his putt for par landed just short giving Lavery his first career victory after three runner-up finishes in his seven years on the NGA Hooters Tour.

“Coming into the playoff I  tried to keep the mindset that I had had all week and I was totally expecting to have to make birdie to win because that is usually how playoffs go, but Ben hit it in the bunker and I only needed the par for the win.”

With his victory Sunday, Lavery collects $30,000 and moves to seventh on the money list with $46,713 in earnings. More importantly, Lavery takes the early lead in “The Race For The Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open Exemption” which will be given to the NGA Hooters Tour member who accumulates the most money over the four events in June and July.

Briscoe collects $15,923 for his first runner-up of the season.

Luke Bakke of Little Rock lead all Arkansas players on Sunday after he carded a five-under par 66 to finish all alone in third place at thirteen-under par 271. Bakke collected $10,623 for his best finish so far in 2010. While Bakke finished third, a handful of players from Arkansas also had successful tournaments. The list of players included Jordan Payne (T-18), Dalton Owens (T-42), Patrick Sullivan (T-51), Todd Pinneo (T-51), Brett Taunton (76) and Addison White (77).

The NGA Hooters Tour heads to Miami, Oklahoma next week for the Buffalo Run Casino Classic at Peoria Ridge Golf Club. This will be the eighth straight year the NGA Hooters Tour has visited Peoria Ridge.

HOOTS: The NGA Hooters Tour would like to thank GM Lyle Leach, head professional Todd Pinneo and all of their staff for helping run a great event for the fourth straight year. The tour would also like to thank head superintendant Charles McCurdy and his staff for giving our players an immaculate course to play on each day.

Bentonville Open presented by Lindsey Management Company at Lost Springs Golf & Athletic Club Pro Tees Rogers, AR,  Jun 7 - Jun 13, 2010 - Final Golf Scores (Par 71, 6903 yards):-

1      T17      Michael Lavery      Mission Viejo, CA  -14  F   -8  71       68       68       63       270      $30,000.00              
2     2     Ben Briscoe     Old Colwyn, Wales     -14 F     -3     63     69     70     68     270     $15,923.00            
3     T7     Luke Bakke     Little Rock , AR     -13 F     -5     69     68     68     66     271     $10,623.00            
4     1     Chris Barron     Joelton, TN     -12     F +1     68     64     68     72     272     $9,123.00            
T5     T5     Shawn Stefani     Baytown, TX     -11     F -2     68     66     70     69     273     $6,790.00            
T5     T5     Tyler Leon     Dallas, TX     -11     F -2     72     65     67     69     273     $6,790.00            
T5     T3     Jonathan Hodge     Strawberry Plains, TN     -11 F     -1     68     69     66     70     273     $6,790.00            
T8     T10     Matt Boyd     Sugarland, TX     -10     F -3     71     67     68     68     274     $5,073.00            
T8     T3     Garrett Jones     Madison, WI     -10     F E     67     68     68     71     274     $5,073.00            
T10     T34     Todd Bailey     Spanish Fort, AL     -9 F     -5     73     68     68     66     275     $3,870.00            
T10     T41     Will Claxton     Swainsboro, GA     -9     F -6     68     73     69     65     275     $3,870.00            
T10     T17     Drew Lethem     Overland Park, KS     -9 F     -3     71     66     70     68     275     $3,870.00            
T10     T10     David Skinns     Lincoln, England     -9 F     -2     74     65     67     69     275     $3,870.00            
T14     T17     Chris Naegel     Chesterfield, MO     -8 F     -2     66     71     70     69     276     $2,718.00            
T14     T10     Will Wilcox     Pell City, AL     -8     F -1     70     61     75     70     276     $2,718.00            
T14     T10     Brennan Webb     Land O Lakes, FL     -8 F     -1     67     69     70     70     276     $2,718.00            
T14     T10     Nick Rousey     Pensacola, FL     -8     F     -1     71     67     68     70     276     $2,718.00            
T18     T25     Jay Woodson     Richmond, VA     -7     F     -2     70     65     73     69     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T25     Perry Moss     Shreveport, LA     -7     F     -2     66     71     71     69     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T25     Michael Thompson Birmingham, AL     -7     F -2     70     69     69     69     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T25     Jordan Payne     West Memphis, AR     -7     F -2     68     69     71     69     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T17     Bruno Buccolo     Oklahoma City, OK     -7     F -1     72     63     72     70     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T17     Will Dodson     Dallas, TX     -7     F     -1     71     69     67     70     277     $2,098.00            
T18     T7     David Miller     Daphne, AL     -7     F     +1     68     68     69     72     277     $2,098.00            
T25     T41     Philip Pettitt Jr     Murfreesboro, TN -6 F     -3     68     69     73     68     278     $1,734.00            
T25     T41     Jeff Corr     Longwood, FL     -6     F     -3     75     66     69     68     278     $1,734.00            
T25     T25     C.D. Hockersmith     Richmond, IN -6 F     -1     67     72     69     70     278     $1,734.00            
T25     T17     Matthew Anderson     Minneapolis, MN -6 F     E     71     70     66     71     278     $1,734.00            
T25     T56     Chase Baldwin     Memphis, TN     -6     F     -5     68     74     70     66     278     $1,734.00            
T25     T10     Cameron Bishop     Wichita, KS     -6     F     +1     66     70     70     72     278     $1,734.00            
T31     T34     Jim Renner     Plainville, MA     -5     F     -1     68     67     74     70     279     $1,523.00            
T31     T41     Casey Crain     La Combe, LA     -5     F     -2     71     69     70     69     279     $1,523.00            
T31     T25     Matthew Harmon     Grand Rapids, MI -5     F     E     70     66     72     71     279     $1,523.00            
T31     T50     Trey Denton     Canton, MS     -5     F     -3     69     72     70     68     279     $1,523.00            
T31     T10     Joshua Wooding     Riverside, CA     -5     F     +2     67     70     69     73     279     $1,523.00            
T31     T7     Patrick Wilkes-Krier     Orlando, FL -5     F     +3     69     68     68     74     279     $1,523.00            
T37     T34     Yohann Benson     Montreal, Canada -4     F     E     70     68     71     71     280     $1,375.00            
T37     T50     Andrew Suggs     Fayetteville, GA -4     F     -2     73     66     72     69     280     $1,375.00            
T37     T50     Brian Carroll     Crystal Lake , IL -4     F     -2     67     70     74     69     280     $1,375.00            
T37     T56     Andy Pope     Glen Ellyn, IL     -4     F     -3     70     70     72     68     280     $1,375.00            
T37     T66     Ted Potter     Silver Springs, FL -4     F     -5     70     71     73     66     280     $1,375.00            
T42     T41     Brent Long     Carthage, TN     -3     F     E     68     72     70     71     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T34     Andy Winings     Brownsburg, IN     -3     F     +1     65     75     69     72     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T25     Jim Troy     Orlando, FL     -3     F     +2     70     67     71     73     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T41     Dalton Owens     Fayettville, AR -3     F     E     71     70     69     71     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T25     Britt Pavelonis Harrisburg, IL     -3     F     +2     68     69     71     73     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T17     Billy Hurley III Annapolis, MD     -3     F     +3     73     65     69     74     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T61     Andrew Rhodes     Sweetser, IN     -3     F     -3     69     68     76     68     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T66     Andrew Landry     Groves, TX     -3     F     -4     71     71     72     67     281     $1,234.00            
T42     T74     JP Van der Walt Plettenberg Bay, South Africa     -3 F     -5 70     71     74     66     281     $1,234.00            
T51     T41     Patrick Sullivan Maumelle, AR     -2     F     +1     71     68     71     72     282     $1,183.00            
T51     T34     Madalitso Muthiya Albequreque, NM -2     F     +2     69     69     71     73     282     $1,183.00            
T51     T56     Scott Feaster     Columbia , SC     -2     F     -1     72     69     71     70     282     $1,183.00            
T51     T56     Todd Pinneo     Fayetteville, AR -2     F     -1     72     70     70     70     282     $1,183.00            
T55     T25     Justin Ahasic     Aurora , IL     -1     F     +4     68     68     72     75     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T41     Derek Bohlen     Scottsdale, AZ     -1     F     +2     71     70     69     73     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T50     Robert Streb     Edmond, OK     -1     F     +1     69     73     69     72     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T56     Jay Whitby     Wyoming, DE     -1     F     E     69     70     73     71     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T17     Ryan Spears     Wichita, KS     -1     F     +5     71     68     68     76     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T61     Santiago Rivas     Cali, Colombia     -1     F     -1     71     70     72     70     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T61     Brenton Flynn     Nashville, TN     -1     F     -1     72     70     71     70     283     $1,118.00            
T55     T66     Kevin Warrick     Valrico, FL     -1     F     -2     71     70     73     69     283     $1,118.00            
T63     T34     Jerrett Hamilton Richardson, TX E     F     +4     72     70     67     75     284     $1,000.00            
T63     T50     Justin Hueber     Fort Wayne, IN     E     F     +2     71     70     70     73     284     $1,000.00            
T65     T41     Patrick Nagle     Pacifica, CA     +1     F     +4     68     71     71     75     285     $906.00            
T65     T34     Oscar Alvarez     Medellin, Colombia +1     F     +5     69     70     70     76     285     $906.00            
T65     T66     Hamilton Wheeler     Bethany, OK +1     F     E     70     69     75     71     285     $906.00            
T65     T74     James Vargas     Miami, FL     +1 F     -1     71     68     76     70     285     $906.00            
T69     T61     Andrew Parr     , ON     +2     F     +2     72     68     73     73     286     $738.00            
T69     T66     Kyle Morris     Columbus, OH     +2     F     +1     72     69     73     72     286     $738.00            
T69     T66     Michael Daniels Auburn, AL     +2     F     +1     73     69     72     72     286     $738.00            
T69     T66     Jonathan Moore     Champions Gate, FL     +2 F     +1     69     73     72     72     286     $738.00            
T73     T61     Scott Tashie     Memphis, TN     +3 F     +3     70     70     73     74     287     $600.00            
T73     T66     Daniel Wax     Pacific Palisades, CA     +3 F     +2     69     72     73     73     287     $600.00            
75     76     Jeff Street     Charlotte, NC     +4     F     -1     70     70     78     70     288     $600.00            
76     T50     Brett Taunton     Little Rock , AR +5     F     +7     72     64     75     78     289     $600.00            
76     77     Addison White     Rogers, AR     +7     F     -2     69     69     84     69     291     $600.00