Stuart Deane Wins Trump Million Dollar Invitational in Playoff
10:44 PM CDT on Friday, July 7, 2006 - Bill Nichols Dallas Morning News
CANOUAN ISLAND, The Grenadines -- It wasn't easy, but Stuart Deane, a 34-year-old Australian currently living in Arlington, Texas, is the lone survivor in the Trump Million Dollar Invitational, defeating Gibby Martens, 25, of Scottsdale, Ariz., on the first playoff hole. Deane earned $1 Million, the largest payday of his career.
?I was extremely impressed with the way these guys played,? said Donald Trump, who was on hand to provide commentary for ESPN and to hand Deane the $1 Million check. ?The U.S. Pro Golf Tour has some real talent and it showed in the way these players were able to conquer their fears and go for it when the big money was on the line.?
On the final hole, Deane had a five-foot putt for the win, but the ball rolled all the way around the cup and refused to fall, giving Martens new life. Back on the 18th tee, Martens' drive landed in high rough off the right side of the fairway, and when his approach landed short of the green, Deane was solid on his million dollar putt.
"This is unbelievable and I don't really know what to say," stammered Deane, who's a regular on the U.S. Pro Golf Tour, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greens Worldwide, Inc., a publicly traded sports marketing and management company.
Deane was masterful at dodging million-dollar bullets the entire shootout round. On the first hole, he was involved in a putting skills challenge to determine which of the ten golfers would be eliminated. His putt fell well short of the hole, but when William McGirt's putt rolled slower than he thought, Deane advanced while McGirt went home in 10th place with $20,000.
"I was really hoping my gun wouldn?t run out of bullets. I caught some breaks but I made some as well," Deane said. Currently, he is on a roll. Over the past two months, Deane has finished 59th in the PGA's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 2nd in the first two USPGT events and made it to the sectional stage of qualifying for the U.S. Open. On 17, Deane was involved in another skills challenge from the greenside bunker. His ball landed eight feet from the hole and spun back 15 feet. While it looked like Deane was done, Anders Hultman's sand shot was shorter than Deane's and the Aussie moved on. Hultman settled for third and $90,000.
As for what he'll do with the money, Deane said, "What this will allow me to do is devote more time to becoming a better golfer and take the pressure off paying bills for awhile." But there is one indulgence set aside for the $1 Million winner: "I'm a big automobile nut, so I'm going out and buying a great new car." He'll probably pay cash.
During the excitement, Deane composed himself and said he would make contribution to a local charity. ?Me and six of my mates from Australia who work in the golf industry in the Dallas area started a fundraiser called Birdies for Kids. We started the fundraiser because we simply wanted to say ?thanks?. We all feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in the United States and wanted to do something to give back to our local community. Basically in our own small way, we simply want to help make a difference,? said Deane.
He then added, ?I know after winning this money, if I did not make a donation, my mates would kill me. I am sure they will keep me grounded through all of this.?
All the proceeds from the Birdies for Kids Fundraiser will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation?s Golf in Schools Program. The program is one of the largest of its kind in the country and it introduces more than 20,000 children to the game each year. In addition, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children will share the proceeds generated. To learn more about the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation or the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, please visit the respective websites at www.ntpga.com or www.tsrhc.org. Donations for the Birdies for Kids Fundraiser can also be made on-line at www.ntpga.com.
The ten finalists in the Trump Million Dollar Invitational were all from the U.S. Pro Golf Tour. Finish and payout is as follows:
1st Stuart Deane Arlington, TX $1,000,000
2nd Gibby Martens Scottsdale, AZ $150,000
3rd Anders Hultman Irving, TX $90,000
4th Steve Friesen Lincoln, NE $65,000
5th Alex Rodger Ft. Worth, TX $45,000
6th Joe Lanza Lafayette, CA $40,000
7th Kevin Streelman Winfield, IL $35,000
8th Chad Saladin Gilbert, AZ $30,000
9th Chad Ginn Alexandria, LA $25,000
10th William McGirt Spartanburg, SC $20,000
UserGroupOtherFile VersionsWarning: Restoring an older version will overThe inaugural Trump Million Dollar Invitational was held at Trump International Golf Club at Raffles Resort Canouan Island. The par 72, 18-hole Jim Fazio-designed course offers views of the Caribbean sea from every hole. Donald Trump?s first international venture, the course debuted in November 2004 with the opening of the luxurious Raffles Resort Canouan Island. It was named as Robb Report?s ?Best of the Best? in 2005.
Trump International?s well-earned reputation as the most picturesque and challenging course in the Caribbean attracted several celebrities. Competitors included actor Dennis Quaid; Adrian Young, the drummer of No Doubt; Olympic gold and silver medalist Ed Moses; baseball great Jose Alvarez; and Cincinnati Bengals? celebrated kicker, Jim Breech. In addition, 78 members of the U.S. Pro Golf Tour participated. The Trump Million Dollar Invitational is a Major Championship of the U.S. Pro Golf Tour.
The dramatic finish, along with all the action from the Trump Million Dollar Invitational, will re-air on ESPN2 on July 12, 2006, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET.
The Trump Million Dollar Invitational is a production of Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based Innovative Media Solutions and Winnercomm, Inc. IMS and Winnercomm also produce the People vs. the Pros, a unique television golf event that will be hosted by Pinehurst in 2006 from Aug. 18-22 and telecast on ESPN2. Title sponsors of the Trump Million Dollar Invitational include The Trump Organization, Canouan Resorts Development and Raffles Resort-Canouan Island. Presenting sponsor is TaylorMade-adidas. Official sponsors include Golf Digest, Golfsmith, Laser Link Golf, Peak Vision Sports and St. Vincent & The Grenadines Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The event?s web site is www.trumpmilliondollar.com.
