User:Aarone67/Rob Navarro Invitational

The Rob Navarro Invitational, which is commonly referred to as The RNI or The Rob Navarro Open, is an annual, by invitation only, golf tournament held in South Carolina. The RNI was formed by Rob Navarro, Jr., a native of Youngstown, Ohio currently residing in Columbus, Ohio.

The RNI is an unofficial money event on the Demechko Group Tour. In 2010, the prize fund was US$1,400.00.

Early years
The first Rob Navarro Invitational was held on April 17, 1998, and was won by Ed Aaron. The tournament has been held since 1998 and has ranged from 16 to 32 participants.

Format
In accordance with typical golf tournament formatting, the RNI Tournament is a 72-hole tournament held over four days. It is held under the rules of golf, as defined by the United States Golf Association and is also be subject to special rulings and regulations set by the RNI Tournament Committee.

In addition to the celery jacket (see below), winners of the tournament receive a Wooden Plaque and have their names engraved on it.

Celery jacket
In addition to a cash award, the winner of the tournament is presented with a distinctive celery jacket, awarded since 2001, and highly coveted among all golfers. The celery sport coat is actually the official attire worn by the champion out to the local watering holes the night winning the garment and the following year's pre-tournament gathering. The jacket is returned every year and passed on to that years champion. By tradition, the winner of the previous year's RNI puts the jacket on the current winner at the end of the tournament. No player has ever won in consecutive years and donned the jacket himself.

Multiple winners
2 men have won the RNI Tournament more than once through 2010.
 * 5 wins
 * Ed Aaron: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007
 * 2 wins
 * Bob Kirkland: 2003, 2010

Records

 * Youngest winner: Gary Lyons (1999) at 26 years.
 * Oldest winner: Bob Kirkland (2010) at 52 years.
 * Widest margin of victory: 12 strokes, Ed Aaron in 2007.
 * Lowest individual round: 76 Todd E. Jones (2008), Gary Lyons (2005) gross - 64, Soapy Waters (2006) net

Past Participants

 * Tim Robinette
 * Russ Ford
 * Woody Freed
 * Tim Skees
 * Chet Sutphin
 * Keith Stokes
 * Robert Kirkland
 * Robert Weckstien (Sandman)
 * Brian Moore (Mike Weir)
 * Chuck Stover
 * Ed Demechko (Big E)
 * Frank Magda (Hot Liquid)
 * George Diamond
 * George Svetlak
 * Jim Brown
 * Steve Sewell (Gorilla)
 * Mike Carey
 * Joe Simon
 * Jim Lingo (Bubba)
 * Ken Digiacamo (Dr Sickness)
 * Bob Costello
 * Chuck Lyons
 * Courtney Blosser
 * Mark Demechko (Zardo)
 * Ray Wandersleben
 * Rob Navarro Jr. (Bobby)
 * Mike Aaron (Soapy)
 * Todd Jones
 * Rob Navarro Sr. (Don Boblo)
 * Gary Lyons
 * Chris Craft
 * Kerry Clark
 * Denny Lyons
 * Frank Kobzowicz (Lizard Man)
 * Joe Aaron
 * Bob Kirkland
 * Ed Aaron (Lil E)