By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
Before long the Emerald Coast Golf Tour may be renamed the Shane Supple Invitational when it makes its stop at the Country Club of Brewton.
Supple picked up his third championship in the history of the seven-year-old Winter Championship Pro-Am Tournament Sunday with a 10-stroke victory over his closest competitor.
A resident of Defuniak Springs (Fla.), Supple led from start to finish. Supple had rounds of of 68 on day one, 71 on day two and 66 on day three for a final score of 215.
Payton Osborn of Birmingham was runner-up to Supple throughout the tournament. Osborn was one stroke behind after the first day, five off the pace after day two and 10 back after the last day of play with respective rounds of 69, 75 and 71 for a final score of 215.
Wes Tuck, also of Birmingham, was one shot off of Osborn in third place with rounds of 72, 73 and 71 for a final score of 216.
Fourth place went to Scott Parel of Augusta (Ga.). Parel had rounds of 73, 73 and 71 for a total of 217. Fifth place was a deadock between Chip Deason of Tuscaloosa and Judson Smith of Shreveport (La.). Deason went 71-76-74 for his total of 221. Smith compiled rounds of 71, 75 and 75 for his 221 total.
Supple's victory netted him a $6,000 purse, while Osborn walked away with a $2,000 prize. Tuck netted $1,200, Parel claimed $800 and both Deason and Smith took home $250.
Brewton resident Comby Booker had the best finish by an amateur player, as he finished in 14th place overall with rounds of 82, 76 and 84 for a final total of 242.
The top foursome at the tournament was the quartet of PGA member Richard Counts along with Jerry Sellers, Bud Wallace and Bill Watson.
There was a tie for second place. Osborn, a PGA member, Matt Pair, Ashton Hayward, Jr., and Jane McMillan finished in a deadlock with Tuck, a PGA member, Paul Owens, Dave Kreig and Ron Edge.
Fourth place was claimed by the quartet of Parel, a PGA member, Howard Macht, Randy Akridge and Ken Waters.