Okatie, S.C., USA – After little success in his first start on the Tarheel Tour, former Limestone College star Paul Butler turned to an odd source for advice: His girlfriend’s boss. A little tip on his mental game pushed the Gaffney, SC resident over the edge and into the winner’s circle at the Tarheel Tour’s TPGG Classic on Friday as a final-round 67 was good enough to claim one of the richest prizes in developmental tour golf.

Butler missed the cut in his debut at this year’s Rivertowne Open by 10 shots – a sobering reminder of the level of talent in developmental tour golf. A first-round 75 in the TPGG Classic did not do much boost his ego, but closing rounds of 67-67 at Oldfield Country Club did more than help his outlook.

Butler began the round three shots behind a quartet of players who were leading at 5-under 139 when the day began; however, he would quickly go to work. Birdies at Nos. 1, 4, and 8 moved the 2007 CVAC “Player of the Year” up the leaderboard and into the mix. Unfortunately, one of the aforementioined leaders, Kevin Kisner, was off to a similar start. Kisner, who won the tour’s Match Play Championship last year, found himself 3-under-par through eight holes and in the lead, eyeing the $40,000 first-place prize. Golf has a cruel way of balancing birdies with bogeys, and Kisner fell victim to that theory with three bogeys over his last 10 holes, all while Butler was playing perfect golf.

“I felt like, if I could make some birdies down the stretch, I could put some pressure on the leaders,” said Butler

A birdie on the arduous par-3 13th put Butler in the hunt and a closing birdie at the last, highlighted by a 10-foot birdie putt, made him the leader in the clubhouse.

While Kisner was making bogeys, Fernando Mechereffe was making pars – a lot of them. The former N.C. State standout, still eyeing his first Tarheel Tour title, closed his tournament with seven straight pars and collected his fourth career runner-up finish. When the final group finished, it was Butler who was the last man standing and the player who get the largest share of the tour-record $250,000 purse.

“This win means everything to me. It gives me a ton of confidence,” said Butler, who changed his outlook after poor results early in his 2008 campaign.

“Patriots Point and Rivertowne were my first two professional events, so it took me a few starts to get warmed up. I got a tip from my girlfriend’s boss that helped me with my mental game and it really made all the difference.”

Kisner and Mechereffe each collected $18,000 for their runner-up finishes. Kisner cited a few miscues down the stretch, but he still had his shot at 18.

“I still had a chance on 18, I had 10 feet for birdie, but it just slid by. Overall, I’m happy with the way I played. It was a great tournament.”

Stephen Poole, Will McGirt, Jay McLuen, and David Sanchez each finished T4 and earned $9,825 for their efforts. Of the foursome, Sanchez was in the best position to force Butler into extra holes. Four birdies from holes Nos. 8-15 put the 2007 Nationwide Tour player in ideal position, but bogeys on 16 and 18 left him two shots shy and wondering what might have been.

The Tarheel Tour and Tour Players Golf Group would like to thank Head Golf Professional Jon Hundley and his staff for all of their help in putting together a successful tournament. As always, they went above and beyond the call of duty in helping to make this event happen. Head Golf Course Superintendent Hugh Williams and his crew are to be commended for presenting a great course for the players this week, easily one of the best venues in developmental tour golf.

This event would not have happened without the sponsorship and support of Tour Players Golf Group. CEO Al Couch has been a longtime supporter of professional golf, and his vision and commitment certainly took this tournament to a new level.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I think this event was a 10 plus,” said Couch.

Tour Players Golf Group president Ron Charron was elated at the success of the tournament as well.

“It has been a longtime goal of ours to sponsor an event of this magnitude with a field of this quality. This has been a great week.”

The Tarheel Tour will take next week off before heading to Farmville, VA for the inaugural Manor Classic on April 9-11. This will mark the first of three trips to The Old Dominion State for the tour in 2008.

TPGG Classic, Oldfield Country Club, Okatie, S.C.

Final-Round Results (Par-72; 7,134 yards)

1. Paul Butler, Gaffney, SC, $40,000.00, *75-67-67-209 -7

2. Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, NC, $18,000.00, *69-71-70-210 -6

2. Kevin Kisner, Aiken, SC, $18,000.00, *70-69-71-210 -6

4. Stephen Poole, Aiken, SC, $9,825.00, *73-70-68-211 -5

4. Will Mc Girt, Boiling Springs, SC, $9,825.00, *73-68-70-211 -5

4. Jay McLuen, Athens, GA, $9,825.00, *69-70-72-211 -5

4. David Sanchez, Pinehurst, NC, $9,825.00, *68-72-71-211 -5

8. Ted Brown, Richmond, VA, $5,666.67, *72-72-68-212 -4

8. David Robinson, Sandersville, GA, $5,666.67, *71-72-69-212 -4

8. Scott Weatherly, Fort Payne, AL, $5,666.67, *71-72-69-212 -4

11. David Thomas, Tampa, FL, $4,400.00, *74-69-70-213 -3

11. Ben Duncan, Greenville, SC, $4,400.00, *70-73-70-213 -3

11. Beau Mitchell, Clermont, FL, $4,400.00, *71-72-70-213 -3

11. Steve Sokol, Oxford, CT, $4,400.00, *72-71-70-213 -3

11. Jeff Curl, Ellington, CT, $4,400.00, *69-71-73-213 -3

16. Cory Kaufman, Bluffton, SC, $3,800.00, *72-72-70-214 -2

16. Matt Hendrix, Reston, VA, $3,800.00, *70-72-72-214 -2

16. Adam Hart, Blythewood, SC, $3,800.00, *71-75-68-214 -2

19. Chad Wilfong, Thomasville, NC, $3,400.00, *73-71-71-215 -1

19. Rob Bradley, Roswell, GA, $3,400.00, *68-74-73-215 -1

19. Bruce McDonald, Mt Pleasant, SC, $3,400.00, *72-69-74-215 -1

19. Justin Bates, Braselton, GA, $3,400.00, *67-72-76-215 -1

19. Kyle Gallo, Kensington, CT, $3,400.00, *68-71-76-215 -1

24. Scott Brown, North Augusta, SC, $2,875.00, *77-68-71-216 E

24. Richard Scott, St Simons Island, GA, $2,875.00, *72-69-75-216 E

24. Greg Whatley, Roswell, GA, $2,875.00, *70-71-75-216 E

24. Frank Adams III, Laurinburg, NC, $2,875.00, *72-74-70-216 E

28. Gregg Jones, Florence, SC, $2,333.33, *70-73-74-217 +1

28. Andy Bare, Jacksonville, FL, $2,333.33, *74-72-71-217 +1

28. Ryan Hybl, Winterville, GA, $2,333.33, *70-72-75-217 +1

28. Brian Duncan, Mt. Pleasant, SC, $2,333.33, *70-72-75-217 +1

28. Tim Hegarty, Briarcliff Manor, NY, $2,333.33, *71-70-76-217 +1

28. Cameron Yancey, Blackstone, VA, $2,333.33, *73-73-71-217 +1

34. Martin Ureta, Chile, $2,100.00, *72-73-73-218 +2

34. Daryl Chappell, Southerland, VA, $2,100.00, *71-73-74-218 +2

34. Matt Cannon, Hunterville, NC, $2,100.00, *73-73-72-218 +2

37. David Denham, St Simons Island, GA, $1,900.00, *72-73-74-219 +3

37. Duncan Stewart, St Augustine, FL, $1,900.00, *72-72-75-219 +3

37. Trae Ely, Charlotte, NC, $1,900.00, *74-70-75-219 +3

37. Dj Fiese, Roswell, GA, $1,900.00, *74-72-73-219 +3

37. Luke Hart, Blythewood, SC, $1,900.00, *74-72-73-219 +3

42. Ben St John, England, $1,625.00, *74-69-77-220 +4

42. Jonathan Jackson, Chapel Hill, NC, $1,625.00, *75-69-76-220 +4

42. Scott Phillips, Williamsburg, VA, $1,625.00, *72-71-77-220 +4

42. Zack Amole, Myrtle Beach, SC, $1,625.00, *72-73-75-220 +4

42. Marc Matalavage, Ocean Isle Beach, NC, $1,625.00, *74-72-74-220 +4

42. Jeff Street, Charlotte, NC, $1,625.00, *74-72-74-220 +4

48. Andrew Suggs, Fayetteville, GA, $1,325.00, *71-73-77-221 +5

48. Scotty Jones, Charlotte, NC, $1,325.00, *71-71-79-221 +5

48. Chris Gallagher, West Chester, PA, $1,325.00, *72-73-76-221 +5

48. Stuart Moore, Gainsville, GA, $1,325.00, *72-73-76-221 +5

48. John Mc Allister, Spartanburg, SC, $1,325.00, *75-71-75-221 +5

48. Michael Maness, Greenville, SC, $1,325.00, *74-72-75-221 +5

54. Frederik Ohlsson, Sweden, $1,100.00, *68-74-80-222 +6

54. Matt Vick, Franklin, TN, $1,100.00, *67-74-81-222 +6

54. Elliot Gealy, Sanford, FL, $1,100.00, *75-71-76-222 +6

57. Tim Cantwell, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, $1,000.00, *71-73-79-223 +7

57. Courtney Brisson, Wallace, NC, $1,000.00, *75-70-78-223 +7

57. Dane Burkhart, Aiken, SC, $1,000.00, *72-74-77-223 +7

60. John Perna, Chicago, IL, $1,000.00, *73-73-80-226 +10

61. Jerry Richardson, Burlington, NC, $1,000.00, *77-69-81-227 +11

Source: Tarheel Tour