So Northeast Ohio Golf put another series of questions to Hastings — and again he provided complete, direct replies.

Q: There have been a number of rumors about the amount of money owed to players and golf courses, and about how you spent the money collected. Can you provide some details about what is owed?

Hastings: I read your article and appreciated your comments very much. I would like to end some rumors myself because they aren’t making my job of trying to make this right very easy.

There are seven golf courses owed money and the amount owed is in excess of $20,000.  [Editor's note: the golf courses owed money are Firestone, StoneWater, Lake Forest, Rosemont, Shale Creek, Portage Lakes and Windmill Lakes.]

There are approximately 20 players owed either money or gift certificates ranging from $50 to $1,300. Players are owed a total around $5,000.

Q: There is a talk that you have moved out of town, and that you have spent money on building a new house, that you bought a new car.

Hastings: No, I have not moved out of town and I am not building a new home with this money. Nor have I bought a new car. I did give my son some money this summer to buy an 8-year-old Chevy at auction. I still drive the same 11-year-old minivan I had at the beginning of the year. I did trade some entry fees with a friend this year to paint it.

The truth is I ran 20 tournaments this year and lost money on almost every one. This combined with the expense of the office, phones, staff — and yes I did take some expense money each week for myself — as well as other expenses caused this failure.

As I stated earlier, I am totally to blame for this. I was overly optimistic and emotionally involved. I probably should have shut it down very early but was sure we would turn things around either with the signing of a large sponsor or a pick up in play. Neither happened and the situation worsened. I know there have been some guys who start these tours with the intent of ripping people off. I never did. I only wanted to start something that would be good for the golfing community; as our slogan stated, competition for every golfer. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out; but again it was because of poor decisions, not deliberate intent.

Q: Have you moved to another city?

Hastings: I was out of town last week working at a member guest in Nashville to make some money. I have applied for a number of jobs here and in other cities and will take the one that gives me the best chance to pay off this debt at the earliest time. Meanwhile I have closed the office, sold its contents, sold the golf clubs given to me by Cleveland Golf for their sponsorship, and sold any other assets in the company. I will be sending out partial payments to every course this week and will continue to do so until every penny is repaid.

Q: Guys who have tried to get in touch with you say they can’t.

Hastings: Personally, I have cut off my cell phone and moved in with family to eliminate any personal debt so I can concentrate on this task. I have received many positive emails from many of our players and I appreciate all of them and their prayers. I do realize that there are those out there that aren’t as kind.

I have responded with as much candor as possible. I will say that it is very difficult to keep a positive attitude through all of this and I don’t see a lot of good continuing to go over this, so I hope this answers all the questions your readers have.

I know who and what I owe — and the people owed know — so I ask everyone to please let me concentrate my efforts on the task before me.

Q: What do you think was the cause behind the failure of The Medalist Tour?

Hastings: Unfortunately I’m not sure exactly what happened to cause this mess. More than likely, it was a flawed plan from the beginning.

Yes we had 350 members, but just a handful paid for their membership. We started the season with no beginning balance that most tours enjoy from their membership fees.

Secondly, we started the season with what was supposed to be a fundraiser at Boulder Creek, but instead that event lost thousands of dollars. We never could make that up.

Third, we were completely unsuccessful in attracting sponsors. Consequently, we relied on entry fees for most of our tournament purses. But with the cost of the courses we played, the amounts we paid out to our amateur participants were much more than we collected.

Fourth, we had too many players playing for free, either because they were volunteers, board members or whatever. The costs per player was
too much of a burden with smaller fields.

Lastly, and most importantly, I made some terrible decisions. I did not face reality, was too optimistic and not very smart. Consequently, the tour failed and I owe a number of players and courses money.

Q. Why the decision to fold the Tour?

Hastings: I had some people approach me to invest in the tour, and I was talking to some other sponsors about next year. But I felt it would better for someone else to start fresh if they wanted to invest in a tour and use that money to help overcome obstacles they may face, rather than bail me out.

Q. How will you handle the monies still due to players and courses?

Hastings: I will try to sell what little assets we have remaining and pay the players owed with that money. It will not be enough to pay everyone
owed, but I will pay everyone eventually out of my own pocket. I have everyone’s address and will send out the prizes won and green fees owed
as soon as I can.

Q: Any regrets?

Hastings: I wish it was different, but that is the situation. I apologize to anyone effected by this.

Everyone –

Sincerely,
Mike Hastings
Tour Director

Hastings did not appear at the final Medalist Tour event, a pro-am scramble held last Friday at Raintree Golf Club — one that was originally scheduled for Rosemont Country Club. Instead, he left Tour associate Chris Marino to handle the operations at the scramble. The final event attracted only had a handful of teams to play, and a very small cash payout was distributed upon the completion of play. Other than a quick posting of Friday’s starting times, the scramble was not referenced on the Tour’s website at all during the week, leading to speculation that a bigger problem existed.

A number of professional and amateur players have indicated they have not yet received full payment for winnings earned in this year’s events, so NEOHgolf.com will continue to follow up on this story…

Frishette shot 4-under 67 on Thursday at Stonewater to take a commanding 5-shot lead over Brian Unk and six shots over Mike Hastings. His even-par 71 Friday at Little Mountain was all he needed to secure the victory.

Unk, Garrett Frank and Jake Scott all matched Frishette’s 71 Friday. Frishette finished at 138 for the 5-shot win. Unk finished second at 143, while Frank and Scott finished tied for third at 145.

In the Senior Division, Hastings ballooned to 84 in the wind on Friday, opening the door for Robertson. The veteran took full advantage, shooting the low score of the day, a 4-under 67 to turn a 6-shot deficit into a 5-shot victory.

Kenny Kowall had the low round among the Championship Flight competitors on Thursday and Friday. His 73 – 74 = 147 total was five shots better than runner-up Paul Kish, who shot 74 at Stonewater and 78 at Little Mountain. Josh DeWees and Tommy Li tied for third place at 155.

Kish’s net 142 was good enough to win the First Flight.

FINAL RESULTS: The Medalist Tour Championship
Stonewater CC and Little Mountain CC, Sept. 23 – 24, 2010

In addition to a slew of birdies, both Lee and Ailes recorded an eagle-two on a par four, although in different ways: Lee holed out from the fairway on the 428-yard 11th hole, while Ailes drove the green on the 290-yard 14th hole and made the putt. Their rounds at Hawks Nest broke the old course record of 66 shared by Ryan Armour and Chris Wohlman.

In the Senior Open Division, Mike Hastings made three birdies on the back nine to shoot even par 72 and win by two shots over Joe Nowak and Warren Cohen.

In the Amateur Championship Flight, Carl Albright overcame a slow start, bogeying the par 5 first hole and double bogeying the par 4 third hole, to shoot even-par 72 and win by a stroke over Kenny Kowall and Josh DeWees.

Chris Plute played great on the front then held on to win the First Flight. Keith Scott finished second, but had the shot of the day: playing the white tees, Scott holed his tee shot from 264 yards on the par 4 14th for the rarest of scores – a 3-under albatross.

Hastings and Albright won the pin shots, worth $50 each. Gary Nowak won two skins worth $200, while Scott and Lee each won $100 in skins.

The next event on the Medalist Tour schedule is The Tour Championship on Thursday and Friday, September 23-24 at Little Mountain Country Club and StoneWater Country Club.

FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Medalist Tour Buckeye Classic
Hawks Nest Golf Course, Creston, Ohio – Par 71
Thursday, September 16th, 2010

It was the second week in a row that Frishette and Wackerly squared off. Like last week, Wackerly got off to a fast start, with birdies on four of the first six holes, and a front nine score of 31. But like last week, Frishette stayed in touch on the front, then caught and passed Wackerly on the back nine. After a three-under 32 one the front, the former Kent State star birdied four holes on the back for another 32.

Walt Robertson was the low senior player for the third week in a row, shooting a 1-under 70. Robertson fired two birdies on the front, but followed with three bogies heading into the back nine. There, he was picture perfect, parring the first four holes, then making birdies on the 16th and 18th to finish under par.

Big Richard Martin proved that persistence pays off by firing a net 65 to win the amateur division by four shots over two-time winner Chris Plute. Martin, who has been a regular on tour since he joined in July, was also steady. Showing signs that he’s become more comfortable with the competition, Martin avoided the big numbers that have plagued him in previous events. Plute was applying the pressure before a double bogey on the last hole ended his surge.

There were five skins out, each worth $52. They went to Frishette, Wackerly, Robertson, Dave Snell and Russ Papa. Robertson and Steve Lee won $27 each for their pin shots.

Next week’s event, the last regular event of the season, will be played at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Thursday, September 16th.

FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Medalist Tour Carroll County Open
Carroll Meadows Golf Club, Thursday, Sept. 9 – Par 71

Wackerly, the head pro at next week’s venue Carroll Meadows, came out firing a 4-under par 32 on the front nine to lead Frishette by two at the turn. But Frishette, the two-time All-American from Kent State, came right back with a birdie on 10 to pull within one. Frishette then birdied again on 13 to catch Wackerly. Both players birdied 14 then parred 15 through 17 to go to the last hole tied at 4-under. When Wackerly couldn’t get up and down to save par at the last, Frishette two-putted to win.

The victory earned Frishette $800 and pushed his leading money total to $6,880.00 on the year.

The Amateur Championship Flight finish was just as exciting. Kenny Kowall and Tommy Li both shot 2-over par 73 and headed to a sudden-death playoff. Each player was trying to win for the first time on tour. After both players matched par twice on hole number 10, the playoff went to the par-3 11th hole. Li hit first and hit his shot over the elevated green. Kowall’s shot landed just short of the green about 35 from the pin. Li attempted to hit a flop shot but the club slipped right under the club on the first attempt. He tried again and that shot landed short of the green. Kowall then putted up to around five feet. When Li’s putt missed, Kowall tapped in for the victory.

Walt Robertson matched par 71 to beat Mike Hastings by 4 shots in the Senior Open competition. Ken Fishman finished third with a 77 and Joe Nowak’s 78 was good enough for fourth.

There were some great scores in the Amateur Net Flight, with Kevin Zhang’s net 65 leading the way. Matt Knez finished one shot back at net 66 and Ken Fishman was another shot back in third.

Five skins were won on the day, each worth $120. The winners were Wackerly, Li, Dave Snell, Dan Rush and Mike Angie. Li and Zhang each won a pinshot and another $75.

The next event is Thursday, September 9th at Carroll Meadows Golf Club.

FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Medalist Tour Granite Classic
Shale Creek Golf Club, Medina, Ohio – Par 71

Frishette edged Tour Invitational champion Dan Rush by a single stroke, while Vaughn Snyder finished third in the Open Pro division.

Russ Papa won the Senior Open Division. He was incredible around the greens all day and finished regulation play at 74, tied with veteran Walt Robertson. After both players made 5s on the first playoff hole, Robertson hit his tee shot in the water on the next hole and that was the opening Papa needed, making par for his first Medalist Tour win. Bob Karshner and Mike Hastings finished tied for third in the Senior Division.

In the Amateur Net Division, Dave Snell went to extra holes with Warren Cohen after both players finished regulation play with net 70s. Both players shot 75 with 5 handicaps. Snell drained a long birdie putt to earn his second victory of the year.

Scott, Rush, Karshner, Mike Snell and Oscar Suski all won skins, while Rush and Frishette won the pin shots.

The next event on The Medalist Tour schedule is the Granite Golf Classic, to be held at Shale Creek Golf Club on Thursday September 2, 2010.

FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Medalist Tour Stark County Open
The Legends of Massillon, Massillon, Ohio – Par 72

We still have five events remaining on our schedule, including our Tour Championship plus a brand new event that we are announcing today.

We  just added a 2-man scramble event to precede our end-of-year banquet on Friday October 1st. That event will be held at Rosemont CC with an afternoon shotgun start followed by our awards banquet. The cost will be $300 per team and first place will be a guaranteed $3,000. The price includes the dinner after. Your team can be made up of one pro/one am or two amateurs.

Our next two events are tomorrow at Legends of Massillon and next Thursday at Shale Creek GC. We are already finalizing our schedule for next season and the details will be announced at the awards banquet.

Thanks for everyone who has helped us get our tour off the ground and we hope to see those of you who haven’t played with us yet out at one of our remaining events. Until then, thanks again for all your support.

- Mike Hastings, The Medalist Tour

Walt Robertson, Louis Lapos and Randy Dietz all finished tied for third in the Professional Division with 78s.

Lake Forest member Dave Pulk and Head Golf Professional John Goodson took advantage of their local knowledge, finishing 1-2 in the Senior Open Division. Pulk’s even-par round of 72 was three shots better than Goodson’s 75 and six shots better than Robertson’s 78. Mike Hastings finished another shot back in fourth place.

The Amateur Championship Division provided some of the best golf of the day and the tightest competition. Nate Tarter, Pete Skirpstas and Pulk all tied at the end of regulation play with even-par 72s. Tarter emerged victorious in the three-way playoff to capture the crown. Kenny Kowall finished fourth with a 74 and Josh DeWees was another shot back in fifth place.

In the First Flight, Dave Snell shot a net 73 to win by four shots over Matt Knez. Oscar Suski was another shot back in third place.

There were plenty of skins to go around: a new record 9 in all. Josh DeWees continued his winning ways, grabbing two worth $160. Snyder, Snell, Skirpstas, Pulk, Robertson, Mike Angie and Chip Knuckley each had one for $80. Knuckley and Snyder had the two pin shots and won another $70 each.

The next event on The Medalist Tour schedule is the Stark County Open at The Legends of Massillon on Friday, August 27th. Entry details here.

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FINAL RESULTS: 2010 Medalist Tour Player’s Classic
Lake Forest Country Club, Hudson – Par 72
Thursday August 19, 2010

Results to follow…