Golf World - April 16, 2012

�� When the Nationwide Tour’s
Soboba Golf Classic was held last
fall, Andres Gonzales was a playoff
loser. This year, with the tournament
moved to the spring, Gonzales did
himself one better, beating Andrew
Svoboda by two strokes for his first
Nationwide Tour victory. Gonzales,
who had a PGA Tour card in 2011,
shot an eight-under 276 at the CC
at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto,
Calif. “I’m overjoyed right now,”
said Gonzales, who became the first
start-to-finish winner on tour since
2008. “Last year was tough, com-
ing in here and losing a playoff. I’m
happy I got a little bit of revenge this
year.” … Iowa’s Chris Brant, Texas’
Dylan Frittelli, Baylor’s Joakim
Mikkelsen, Georgia Tech’s James
White and Dartmouth’s Peter Wil-
liamson have been named finalists
for the 2012 Byron Nelson Award,
which is given to the graduating
senior who has best combined strong
academics, quality play and citizen-
ship. Sean Dove, head men’s and
women’s coach at Washington &
Jefferson, is chairing the selection
committee. The award, which has
been given since 2002, is sponsored
by the Golf Coaches Association of
America and Cleveland Golf/Srixon.
… AriZona Beverages has joined with
Jack Nicklaus to produce a line of
lemonade drinks under the “Golden
Bear” name. There are three flavors,
including regular Lemonade with
Honey and Ginseng, Mango Lemon-
ade and Strawberry Lemonade. …
Thomas (Smitty) Smith, a member
of the National Black Golf Hall of
Fame and the first president of the
North American Golfers Association,
died March 29 in Atlanta after com-
plications from diabetes. He was 88.
Smith, whom the Atlanta Journal-
Constitution described as the first
black pro to work at an Atlanta-area
golf course, worked at Candler Park
GC, Lincoln CC and Tup Holmes
GC. An operator/owner of his own
golf shop for years, Smith worked
tirelessly on behalf of aspiring black
golfers, sponsoring tournaments and
providing them equipment.

01An emotional Bubba Watson wins the 76th Masters in a play-off over Louis Oosthuizen. He shed so many tears on the 10th hole after the playoff, the SubAir system under the green had to work overtime. 02 Oosthuizen makes the fourth double eagle in Masters history. He should have kept the ball, seeing how he missed the green jacket. 03 Rookie honorary starter Gary Player outdrives Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus during the first-ball ceremony. You know what they say. You only get one chance to make a first impression. 04 Phil Mickelson has two triple bogeys on the week, and finishes two shots out of a playoff. Three over par on those holes equaled stuck on three green jackets for Lefty. 05 Patrick Cantlay survives an up- and-down final round to clinch Masters low amateur honors. He’s not a talker, but his clubs keep making lots of noise. 06 Sergio Garcia claims he’s not good enough to win a major. If he thinks he’s frustrated, imagine how Lee Westwood feels. 07 IBM CEO Virginia Rometty (above) watches the final round from Augusta National in a pink jacket. Wouldn’t green be a better color? 08Callaway Golf sells the Top-Flite brand to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Callaway received $20 million—or about two year’s worth of Phil Mickelson’s endorsement contract.