TheGrint Tour Jacksonville

It's RECAP TIME!

The Jacksonville Open at Esplanade at St. Mary’s

What a way to introduce a brand-new golf course to tournament golf! The Jacksonville Open took us just across the Georgia line to Esplanade at St. Mary’s, where our players had the opportunity to compete on a course that had only been open to the public for a matter of days. With virtually no course knowledge to lean on, everyone was starting from the same place—figure it out on the fly, stay patient, and try to avoid the mistakes that come with seeing a golf course for the first time.

And this new track certainly provided its share of challenges. We saw tight battles, late pushes, players traveling from out of state, movement in the Sunshine Cup race, and even a back-to-back champion emerged. There was plenty to talk about across all five flights, so let’s get into the Jacksonville Open!

Champ Flight: Eric Shin (76)

The Champ Flight came all the way down to the wire, and Eric Shin had to survive a little adversity to get this one across the finish line. Eric played a nearly flawless opening nine, making the turn at even par and putting himself in great position heading to the back. Things got considerably more interesting after the turn, though, including a costly triple bogey on the par-3 13th that suddenly opened the door for the rest of the flight.

David Watkins Jr. and Chris Skiba were waiting to take advantage. After an up-and-down start to this round, David found another gear and incredibly closed with 10 consecutive pars. Chris Skiba pulled to within one after Eric’s blunder on the 13th but Eric had done just enough to hold on and claim the Champ Flight victory. Both Chris and David’s late charge made sure there was absolutely no breathing room down the stretch. A great battle at the top!

Albatross Flight: Matt Rickle (76)

With 11 players in the Albatross Flight, there wasn’t much room for error—and North Carolina’s Matt Rickle certainly didn’t make many. Matt made the trip south and put together one of the cleanest rounds of the event, firing a 76 without a single double bogey on the card.

Greg Matthews was right there with him and kept the pressure on throughout the day, but sometimes a tournament can be decided by one early mistake. Greg’s double bogey on the second hole ultimately proved costly, as that early two-shot swing became the difference between first and second. Matt’s ability to keep the big numbers off the card paid off in a big way, earning him a two-stroke victory and making the trip from North Carolina well worth it.

Eagle Flight: Chris Beeman (80)

The largest flight of the Jacksonville Open belonged to the Eagle Flight, where 15 players were battling for the trophy. With that many names on the leaderboard, Chris Beeman knew there would be very little room to relax—and he responded with an impressive round of 80.

Xander Walker made his move on the back nine and did everything he could to close the gap, but Chris had already built himself too much of a cushion. Even as the pressure increased coming home, Beeman stayed composed and never allowed Xander to get close enough to completely flip the script. When the final putt dropped, Chris had secured a three-stroke victory in the deepest flight of the tournament. Well played!

Birdie Flight: David Watkins (84)

David Watkins picked a pretty good time to start making a move. An 84 was good enough for another three-shot victory, but this win could end up meaning much more than another trophy on the shelf.

David saved some of his best golf for the closing stretch, firing a 39 on the back nine to pull away and secure the victory. The win also delivered valuable race points, potentially moving him into the top 10 of the points race as the battle for the Sunshine Cup continues to tighten. With the top six ultimately earning their opportunity to represent Jacksonville, David has officially put himself into the conversation. There’s still work to do, but with the season moving toward its final stretch, this was exactly the kind of performance he needed.

Par Flight: Joe Potts (93)

Apparently Joe Potts has decided that winning is pretty fun. After breaking through at The WAR at WGV in July, Joe arrived at Esplanade looking to prove that his first victory was no fluke.

On a brand-new golf course where everyone was learning their way around for the first time, consistency was easier said than done. Joe handled that challenge better than the rest, taking a two-shot advantage into the back nine and refusing to give it away. Rather than allowing the field to close the gap, he stretched the margin to three by the finish and posted a 93 to secure his second consecutive victory. From first-time winner at WGV to back-to-back champion at Esplanade—Joe Potts is officially on a run.

Closing – Next Stop: Amelia River

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Esplanade and helped make the first tournament event on this brand-new golf course such a memorable one. We also want to thank the team at Esplanade at St. Mary’s for opening their doors to us and giving our players the opportunity to experience the course so soon after its debut.

Now we turn our attention back to Florida and our next stop: Amelia River Golf Club! The season is getting to the point where every event—and every point—starts to matter a little more. Sunshine Cup positions are still up for grabs, the points races continue to tighten, and there is plenty of golf left for someone to make a run.

Next stop: Showdown at Amelia River. Let’s keep it rolling! ⛳🔥

TheGrint Tour | Jacksonville | Event | Showdown at Amelia River https://share.google/7EpToP5RufueqarCM

Jacksonville Grinters,

If you are on the fence about playing Esplanade at St. Mary's GA with us this coming Friday, allow me to share some pictures with you!

The practice round went better than we ever expected! Absolutely amazing brand new course and we are the first organization lucky enough to host an event! The pictures do not do this course any justice! It's absolutely amazing from start to finish!

Three spots left....

https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42571

🚨NEW COURSE ALERT!🚨

Preview play at Esplanade is coming to an end and they are almost ready to open up the full 18 holes.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

TheGrint Tour will be the very first competition rounds ever played on this full 18 hole golf course!

Join us on Friday, August 7th for our TPC Sawgrass warmup event:

TheGrint Tour | Jacksonville | Event | The Jacksonville Open https://share.google/Pzr61nAur8kDn3J7v

$30/player added to the prize fund
Sterling Cut Glass Trophies
Event Winners Coins

Optional Side Games including:

$25 Super Skins
$20 Flighted Skins
$5 2's on 3's (all par 3 birdies get paid)

We Can't Wait To See You There!

⛳ The WAR at WGV – Recap

Two courses. Two days. One battle.

The WAR at WGV brought together 39 players for a full weekend test across Slammer & Squire and King & Bear—and the competition delivered. From dominant performances to breakout wins, this event had everything you want from a mid-season showdown.

🏆 Champ Flight: Carlos Coeto (141)

Carlos Coeto put on a clinic from start to finish.

After opening with 5 birdies in Round 1, he never let up—adding 3 more birdies and an eagle in Round 2 to separate himself from the field. His consistent ball striking and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities led to a commanding 11-shot victory over Jack Rodish.

👉 A complete performance and one of the strongest showings of the season.

🏆 Albatross Flight: Zach Tutak (156)

Zach Tutak delivered two steady rounds to cruise to victory.

A 79 on Saturday followed by a 77 on Sunday gave him full control, as he steadily pulled away from the field. In the end, Zach secured a 15-shot win over Mike Morgan and Austin Kilpatrick.

👉 Consistency wins—and Zach proved it.

🏆 Eagle Flight: Ross Burns (158)

After multiple seasons on tour, Ross Burns finally broke through—and did it in style.

Ross caught fire in the final round, carding six birdies to slam the door on the field. That surge propelled him to a six-shot victory over Scott Lee, marking his first career win on tour.

👉 A long time coming—and a well-earned victory.

🏆 Birdie Flight: Robert Kim (169)

Robert Kim played the cleanest round in his flight—and it made all the difference.

An opening 83 with no major mistakes set the tone, and his 86 in Round 2 was still the best score in the flight by four shots. He pulled away late to secure a 7-shot win over Ken Millhone.

👉 Smart golf, steady results.

🏆 Par Flight: Joe Potts (182)

Another first-time winner—and a great story.

Joe Potts entered Sunday with just a 3-shot lead, but turned it on down the stretch. A strong back nine allowed him to extend that margin to 7 shots over Joe McGee and secure his first win after years of competing and traveling.

👉 Persistence pays off.

JACKSONVILLE'S SIGNATURE EVENT IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42571

🚨🚨 LIMITED SPOTS REMAINING!!🚨🚨

https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42567

REGISTRATION CLOSES THURSDAY 4.30.2026 @ 7:00 PM
Or
WHEN THE LAST 5 SPOTS ARE FILLED

https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42564

8:30 am TEE TIME START

5 Flights, gross score wins each flight

Augusta Race: Champ and Albatross: ~6500 yards (TheGrint Gold)

Pebble Race: Eagle, Birdie, and Par: ~6250 Yards (TheGrint Blue)

**Augusta players 60+ years can move forward one (1) tee box**

**Pebble players 60+ years can play TheGrint White Tees**

What do I win?

Flight payout is based on $25/player.

Second-place prizes for flights with 8 or more players (Tour Credits)

High-quality commemorative trophy from Sterling Cut Glass

TheGrint Tour Winner’s Coin

Prize money to be paid in PGA Tour Superstore Gift Cards

or

Amazon Gift Cards

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS:

Champ Flight - Eric Shin (75)

Albatross Flight - Eric Bruns (74)

Eagle Flight - Mike Morgan (79)

Birdie Flight - Chris Carbee (87)

Par Flight - Justin Cope (98)

BENT CREEK BRAWL!

https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42564

Saturday, May 2nd at 8AM!

Flights: (based on handicap index)

Champ: Up to 3.9
Albatross: 4.0 to 7.9
Eagle: 8.0 to 11.9
Birdie: 12.0 to 15.9
Par: 16.0 and above

Prizes:

•$25/Player into the overall prize pot
•Winners Ball Marker
•High-Quality Sterling Cut Glass trophy
Prizes to be paid in a combination of the following:
•PGA Tour Superstore Gift Cards
•AMAZON Gift Cards

REMINDER: $5/Player goes toward the race payout at the end of the season.

**NEW THIS SEASON** $2/Player jumpstarts the Tour Championship Prize Pot

Optional Side Games:

$20 - Flighted Skins Game
$25 - Super Skins Game
$5 - 2's on 3's Contest

TheGrint Tour | Jacksonville | Event | Bent Creek Brawl TheGrint Tour is a competition that offers professionally run events to golfer of all skill levels, creating a competitive yet friendly environment for all participants.

RUMBLE AT EAGLE HARBOR

A perfect mix of familiar faces and new contenders set the stage for an exciting event at Eagle Harbor. From dramatic upsets to clutch playoffs and dominant performances, Saturday delivered a little bit of everything.

Let’s get into the recap.

Champ Flight: Eric Shin (73) – Playoff Winner

At the halfway point, this looked like a completely different story. Devin Parnell appeared to have the tournament firmly in hand, especially after a blistering 3-under 33 on the front nine. It felt like a runaway—but Eric Shin’s steady play kept him within striking distance.

Devin stepped onto the 18th tee needing only a triple bogey to secure the victory. In a tough turn of events, he walked off with an 8, forcing a sudden-death playoff and sending the Champ Flight back to the first tee.

In the playoff, Eric stayed composed and closed it out with a par on the opening hole, securing his second consecutive victory and third win of the season.

Credit to Devin as well—despite the heartbreaking finish, his composure and attitude never wavered. That level of resilience speaks volumes.

Great competition all around!

Albatross Flight: Eddie Roberts (77)

The birdies were flying in the Albatross Flight. It had been a while since Eddie Roberts made his presence felt, but sometimes all it takes is a small adjustment to reignite that competitive flame.

Eddie started the round with a steady, almost “boring” style of golf—something new for him. Two bogeys and a birdie on his opening nine kept him in control, but the leaderboard stayed tight. Zack Tutak, Elliott Vandyke, and first-timer Tim Johnson all remained within four strokes, ready to capitalize on any mistake.

That moment came on #14, when Eddie found trouble off the tee, leading to a triple bogey and shrinking his lead to just one shot. The pressure was on.

But instead of letting it unravel, Eddie responded like a seasoned competitor. He drove the green on #17 and calmly two-putted for birdie, finishing his final stretch strong at one under par.

In the end, Eddie pulled away to secure his first victory of the season in impressive fashion.

Congratulations, Eddie!

Eagle Flight: Travis Helms (79)

While some players got off to rocky starts in the Eagle Flight, it ultimately produced the tightest competition of the day. First-timer Travis Helms found himself in a battle down the stretch against Alan Clark and John Brophy.

Heading into the closing holes, Travis was tied with Alan and holding a slim one-shot advantage over John. The pressure was high, and every shot mattered.

In an impressive display of consistency, neither Travis nor Alan recorded a bogey until the 17th hole. That moment proved to be the turning point, as Travis maintained his composure when it mattered most.

In the end, he held on for a hard-fought two-stroke victory in one of the closest finishes of the event.

Birdie Flight: Scott Lee (83) – Playoff Winner

Another playoff? Yes, please. Scott Lee and LaMont Battle went back and forth all day in one of the most competitive matchups of the event.

Scott trailed by one stroke heading into the back nine and found himself down as many as three before making a clutch birdie on the difficult par-3 15th to keep the pressure on.

A key moment came on #13, where a rules decision was needed after Scott hit two balls over the wall. After everything was sorted out, the two players finished tied, sending them back to the first tee for a sudden-death playoff.

Scott completed the comeback in style, securing the win with a par on the first playoff hole—earning his first victory of the season.

Well done!

Par Flight: Pat LaPage (92)

Consistency and avoiding big numbers—that’s the winning formula in the Par Flight. It certainly helps when the course feels like home, and for Pat LaPage, Eagle Harbor provided exactly that advantage.

Pat came out strong, building a commanding six-stroke lead through the opening nine over fellow Eagle Harbor resident Jeff McKinney.

The margin tightened slightly on the back nine as Jim Davis found his rhythm and made a push, but the early lead proved too much to overcome. Pat’s steady play throughout the round kept him firmly in control.

In the end, LaPage secured his first victory of the season in convincing fashion.

Congratulations, Pat!

As all of the players saw on Saturday, we had a guest at the registration table and on the first tee. I would like to extend a huge thank you to Julian Giglio for spending some valuable time with us this weekend. Please feel free to reach out to Julian for all of your photography needs!

The link to the photos he took will be placed here: https://gigliomedia.pixieset.com/rumbleeagleharbor/

Bent Creek Brawl: https://thegrinttour.com/tours/JAX2026/event/42564

Well.... Who's it going to be?