Both Brandon Babineaux of Minnesota and John Ramirez of California went head to head for the 5th Annual DeafNation Golf Classic, with Babineaux winning his second consecutive tournament two weeks in a row.

Babineaux first won the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships (USDGC) in Windsor, Colorado, held from July 14-18, 2009, defeating Bill Roberts of St. Louis, Missouri. After the USDGC championships, Babineaux drove from Colorado straight to Illinois for DeafNation’s Golf Classic, renewing his fire to win again.

This time, Ramirez posed as a challenge to Babineaux, fighting for the championship the entire 18 holes. Ramirez is a Nationwide Tour Player, thus he was projected to be very tough to beat.

The Dark Horse Eric Brumm was leading in the second round getting a 69 before both Babineaux and Ramirez brought more consistency to their game while Brumm’s faltered. How fast things change.

And suddenly it all came down to the 18th hole.

Said Babineaux, “One player I watched carefully is John Ramirez seeing the process he goes through in becoming a top deaf golfer in his level; now I know what is required to move up to his level in reaching the same goals all PGA-bound players have.”

Coming into the 16th hole, Babineaux noticed Jed Barish, a fellow golf player who tours in the DeafNation RV around the country, he saw Jed discussing excitedly with surrounding players and fans about the final holes.

That brought a realization that he had a chance to win, and that pumped him up. His game had more intensity the last three holes than the previous 15 holes, the same for Ramirez.

“The 17th hole eagle in par five was the play that stood out the most,” Babineaux offered, “it was electrifying.”

In the 18th hole, he bombed a drive into the middle of the fairway leaving him a good opportunity for his 2nd shot in the green giving him a chance for a birdie improving the outcome of his championship run.

Not only the fan base fueled Babineaux’s motivation to win the golf tournament, but the presence of his girlfriend Stephanie Rude of six years, also of Minnesota, helped get the bonfire going, we all strive to do better when our loved ones are around us. Rude’s best friend Allison Dufresne was also at hand to root for Babineaux.

Upon clinching yet another victory, Babineaux could imagine “that playing in a PGA golf course is tough even for the PGA players themselves.”

A PGA golf course are sometimes designed to turn tricks on your game, that is why it is very crucial to have a game plan with strategy of the game, playing in a standard PGA course will improve all aspects of the serious golfer’s game.

Two female deaf golfers playing in the Senior Division had their own duel, with Coleen Sweeney having a better day than Judith Clark. Sweeney and Clark came to play as there weren’t enough female players signed up for the DeafNation Golf Classic. It requires 4 or more female golfers to create a Women’s Division, and their participation was inspiring.

“I came here to play to represent women in the DeafNation Golf Classic,” said Sweeney, an outgoing woman always walking around with a smile. “Judith and I made many new friends here.”

After a good day of tournament play, her smile became broader.

See you next year in Las Vegas for the 6th Annual DeafNation Golf Classic!