Longbella, Flanagan & Grevlos Sweep Top 3 Spots in West Florida Tournament

VALRICO, Fla. -- As they were handing out the checks last week at the end of the River Hills Series tournament at River Hills Country Club, it was almost like a reunion for the University of Minnesota golf team.

The winner was a former Gopher from Chippewa Falls, Thomas Longbella. The 2021 Wisconsin State Amateur champion birdied two of the first three holes and ended up with a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65, which was good enough for a four-stroke victory -- and $2,000.

Angus Flanagan, the former Gopher All-American from Woking, England, shot 69 and tied Will Grevlos, a former Gopher from Sioux Falls. They were both 1 over after 11 holes, but then went 4 under for the last seven. They both birdied the 548-yard, par-5 12th. Grevlos then made two pars and followed with three consecutive birdies at the 15th, 16th and the par-5 l7th. Flanagan, a two-time Tapemark Charity Pro-Am champion (he also won the Minnesota State Open as an amateur in 2020), concluded his round with three birdies in a row at the 16th, 17th and 423-yard, par-4 18th.

Yet another former Gopher, Connor Glynn of Waconia, the 2019 Minnesota Mr. Golf from Waconia, shot 72 and tied for ninth in the River Hills tournament, which was part of the West Florida Golf Tour.

We're not quite two months into 2024, but Longbella has already won three times this year. He and George Kneiser, a U-W Green Bay alumnus from Oconomowoc (probably the only city in the United States with five Os in the name), Wis., won the Winter Team Championship in early February with a 12-under 60 at Jensen Beach Golf Club. A scramble format was used on the front nine and a four-ball (best-ball) on the back. The victory was worth $1,333 to Longbella.

That event was part of the Minor League Golf Tour, and so was The Nest Par-3 Shootout, which was was played in January, and where Longbella claimed his first victory of the new year. He shot a 4-under 50 and got $1,100 for winning, plus $231 from the bonus pool and $168 for skins, for a total of $1,499.

River Hills Series

At River Hills Country Club

Par 72, 6,932 yards

Feb. 19, 2024

Valrico, Fla.

1. Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls, Wis. $2,000 65

T2. Angus Flanagan, Woking, England $635 69

T2. Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls, S.D. $635 69

4. Drew Macpherson, Canada $380 70

T5. Ronald Robinson, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. $313 71

T5. Sam Jean, Greenwood, Ind. $313 71

T5. Christo[pher Crawford, Bensalem, Pa. $313 71

T5. Alec Stopperich, Pittsburgh $313 71

T9. Connor Glynn, Waconia $265 72

T31. Evan Long, New Castle, Pa. -- 77