October 3, 2009
Norwalk (IA)

By Jon Levy

Entering the final round of the 2009 Gateway Tour Championship Presented by Mercy Medical two strokes behind 36-hole co-leaders Trevor Murphy (69/74/72-215, T2) & Brian Prouty (71/72/73-216, T5), 2008 PGA TOUR member and Adelaide, Australia native, David Lutterus, posted five birdies, an eagle and three bogeys -- including an impressive closing nine of 3-under par -- to shoot 68 and notch a two-stroke victory over Murphy, Bobby Collins (74/74/67-215) and Nick Malinowksi (73/72/70-215).

An official comeback victory in the books during the week where the weather at the Legacy Golf Club failed to comeback from anything other than conditions of cold, wet and windy, Lutterus takes home $27,000 and an exemption into the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Perhaps more importantly on a personal note though, he takes home a good start to his comeback trail towards the PGA TOUR.

“It’s been frustrating this year because I lost my (PGA) TOUR card last year and didn’t have any status at all this year,” said Lutterus. “But, I’ve been working really hard and I think this is proof that it’s finally starting to pay off.”

“This win really means a lot,” he continued. “ Especially now, this time of year with Q-School, it’s just a good feeling and a big boost of confidence.

And the exemption into the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am?

“That’s one of the main reasons I came here to play this event,” said Lutterus. “I played (the AT&T) last year when I was on TOUR and that area is just one of the greatest places on earth. It’s about as good as it gets there and it’s a great tournament, so I’m pumped now I’ll be able to play it.”

Lutterus credits his good play this week to the work he’s done with Justin Poynter of the Jim McLean Golf School in Forth Worth, but he feels carrying a good attitude through a brutal week of weather was the true key to taking home the title.

“I first have to thank (Poynter) for everything he’s helped me with, because things have really been getting back on track recently, but I think the main thing for me this week was not letting the conditions get to me and staying patient,” said Lutterus. “I got kind of used to that on TOUR last year, but when you get those delays like we had here, it’s like you just have to turn yourself off for a while and do what you can to relax and then be ready to play again.”

“As cliché as it sounds, I’ve just been trying to have a good attitude every day and that’s really been my only goal because I’ve learned that’s the only thing I can control,” he added. “I was pretty beat up by the end of last year after not keeping my TOUR card and then missing out at Second Stage by two shots, so this year has been all about getting my motivation back. I kept a good attitude through everything this week and it really made the difference for me.”

Originally slated for 72 holes, Gateway Tour officials were forced to shorten the Championship to 54 holes because of repeated weather delays on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was a last resort for the Tour to make that call, but as the Tour’s VP of Tour Operations, Ryan Pray, states, it was a needed one.

“We always hate to cancel a scheduled round in any of our events, especially a Championship,” said Pray. “But, unfortunately, the weather didn’t let up for three straight days and by Saturday afternoon, that was the only decision we were left with.”

“Regardless, we were still able to hold a successful Championship because of all of the hard work the Mannings and the rest of the staff at the Legacy put in to keep the golf course as playable as it was, so I’d like to thank all of them for their hard work and also thank all of our players for their patience and understanding,” he continued. “Even though the weather didn’t cooperate, it was still a great week and it’s been one where I know everyone who was involved feels accomplished for being a part of it.”

Lutterus expressed his thoughts on the subject as well.

“I’d just like to say thanks to The Gateway Tour for putting on a great event and thank the staff for doing all they could to help us through these conditions this week,” he said. “The whole staff is very professional and for it being as brutal as it was out there, I think they ran a great event.”

Turning his sights now to the First Stage of PGA TOUR Qualifying, Lutterus also commented on the upcoming event and the confidence the win has given him to get ready for it.

“When you look at past champions of this event like Steve Marino and see what he’s done out there on TOUR, it just gives you a big boost of confidence that you’re on the right track,” said Lutterus. “I have First Stage at a course I’ve played well at before and really like (St. Johns, FL), so I’m just really looking forward to it now and ready to continue what I’ve started here.”


Click here for final results and earnings of the 2009 Gateway Tour Championship Presented by Mercy Medical…


Gateway Tour/Championship Highlights - Images by Allan Henry