Guillaume Earns Citrus Open Title With Final-Round 68
Orlando, FL - Vaita Guillaume of Tahiti entered the final round of the Citrus Open trailing 36-hole leader Spencer Cole of Winter Park, FL by one shot following a 71-67--138 start to his week at host Rio Pinar Country Club. The former Campbell University star took advantage of a hot final-round putter en route to carding six birdies on the demanding venue to close with a 4-under 68 and a 10-under 206 total - good for his first win in an eGolf-sanctioned event and the tournament's guaranteed $10,000 first-place prize.
Guillaume's final-round charge started early on Friday morning, as birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 6 allowed the former Camel standout to turn at 2-under 34 and 8-under par for the event. Birdies on 10 and 14 gave him the outright lead at 10-under par, while a late birdie on the par-5 16th all but wrapped up the title for the affable Lillington, NC resident. Needing nothing more than a bogey at the last to lock up the tournament title, Guillaume delivered exactly that, closing out a final-round 68 to win the prestigious Citrus Open title. The win puts his name alongside some of the game's best, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Julius Boros and Hale Irwin.
Former Penn State golfer and two-time Metropolitan Golf Association "Player of the Year" Mike Miller of Brewster, NY finished in solo-second place at 9-under 207, one shot back of Guillaume. Miller, who posted just three bogeys all week, played flawless golf on day three, notching five birdies for a bogey-free 67 and runner-up honors - which came with a $6,000 payday.
Chas Narramore of Kingston, TN finished alone in third place at 8-under 208, good for a $4,000 check.