5 Pointz Golf Series Opener

The 5 Pointz Golf Series Opener brought the heat as the second stop on the 2025 BAG Tour schedule—and it did not disappoint. Hosted at River Oaks Golf Club in Statesville, NC, the field was stacked, the competition fierce, and the vibes unmatched. From long bombs off the tee to pressure-packed clutch putts, players left it all out on the course. As the official kick-off for the 5 Pointz Series, this event set the tone in a big way, attracting talent from across the Carolinas and locking in some serious bragging rights. The Tour energy is building fast—next stop, our first Major of the Year– Waynesville Inn & Country Club. Let’s keep it rolling!

Division A came to play at River Oaks, and it was Dominick Vennari and Andrew Watkins who rose to the occasion, righting the ship after a shaky season opener. The DraftKings Sportsbook preseason favorites for 2-Man Team of the Year showed exactly why the hype was real, grinding out a narrow win in a stacked field. They held off a late push from former Duke University and NBA standout Gerald Henderson and his teammate Troy Kennedy, whose stellar play continues to boost his growing buzz as a legit Dark Horse POY candidate.

The Young Phenom and Phil Miller, fresh off their win at Verdict Ridge, came back to earth in Statesville. Despite high hopes for a back-to-back, their putters went cold at the worst time, resulting in a disappointing 7th place finish—though there’s no doubt they’ll be back in the mix soon.

Drake Foster made his long-awaited return and looked sharp, securing a Top 5 finish and dropping jaws with a hole-out eagle on No. 9 to snag a skin in style. Meanwhile, the Pieper Brothers made the long haul from Arizona for their BAG Tour debut—and they made it count. Sitting at 7-under through 9, the AZ duo had it blazing hot early, but the Carolina humidity caught up to them and they cooled off just outside the Top 5.

This event also marked the return of John Leak and Zake Masterson, still finding their rhythm, as well as the ever-talented father/son pairing of Chad and Tanner Frye— fan favorites who bring great vibes and serious potential to every event.

It finally happened—Dave Bornack and Christian Fleetwood are officially BAG Tour winners. After knocking on the door for what felt like forever, the duo broke through in Division B at the 5 Pointz Series Opener, securing their first career win in what was one of the most stacked and tightly contested divisions of the day.

Bornack and Fleetwood stayed steady down the stretch, fending off a late surge from the always-consistent Caleb Marsh and Bryan Snow, as well as the newly formed Moffett father/son combo of Kyle and Johnny, who are looking to build on their chemistry week by week.

The event also brought back some familiar faces and firepower, including the much-loved reunion of Jolley & Jones—and the return of fan favorite, “Money” Mike Thornburg. Jon Wood and Nick Hinton, preseason Team of the Year hopefuls, made their 2025 season debut but looked like a team still working off the offseason rust.

Alex Hunter and Scott Helfrich came out hot and held the lead for most of the day, but couldn’t quite close it out, settling for a T3 finish. A strong showing nonetheless for a team that keeps proving they belong in the convo every week.

Elsewhere, Zach Lawing—still reeling from a heartbreaking loss at the Season Opener—hit the reset button, parting ways with his former teammate and teaming up with Kevin Demeny in search of more consistency. The move showed promise, but the new squad landed mid-pack with more questions than answers heading into the next stop.

Brian Harris and Wayne Carver showed flashes of brilliance but are still working on putting together that complete round. The pieces are there—now it’s about timing.

Division B is turning into a dogfight. Bornack and Fleetwood finally got theirs—but the season’s just getting started. On to Waynesville.

What a bounce back. After a rough season opener that saw them finish dead last, former 2-Man Team of the Year Hunter Coggins & Jordan Davis reminded everyone why they’ve got hardware on the shelf. The veteran duo steadied the ship and clawed their way to a big-time W at River Oaks, getting back on track in a tightly contested Division C battle.

They weren’t alone at the top for long though—newcomers The Harris Brothers came out swinging and made things very interesting late. The chemistry was instant, and their strong debut has definitely turned some heads. Keep an eye on this squad moving forward.

This week was more than just another stop—it marked the highly anticipated return of BAG Tour OG and fan favorite, the Billy Horschel Prodigy himself: Red Stakes Ryan Litaker. Not only did Litaker make his long-awaited comeback, but he made the bold leap from Division D to Division C—because of course he did. Teaming up with Tour Founder & CEO Andrew Keene, the duo actually held the lead early in the day, before a wild back nine collapse opened the door for Caleb Tench and Jacob Faggart to outduel them down the stretch for that final podium spot. Still, seeing Red Stakes back in action was a moment.

And if that wasn’t enough drama for one division, Chip Koepka made his first Tour start in over a year. Love him or hate him, the polarizing golf mind was back—though rumor has it, his flatstick didn’t survive the round. Nonetheless, Chip is back and ready to restore his game to its former glory. Division A, watch out!

All aboard The Layne Train. Hello world, meet your newest Division D threat—and possibly your new fan favorites. This electric father/son duo stormed onto the BAG Tour scene with confidence, charisma, and a message: there’s a new sheriff in town. Coming off the sidelines with something to prove, they delivered in a big way, taking down a field that included D Division staples like Fred Heintz and Eric Molyneaux. But now? The Layne Train’s pulling into the station and ready for any and all challengers.

Also in the mix was another father/son combo, Cory and Callaway Lane, who put together a strong showing and kept themselves in the hunt most of the day. A few missed putts proved costly, but their chemistry and poise were on full display—and it’s always special seeing the family bond shine at BAG Tour events. This kind of camaraderie is what makes Division D such a vibe.

Speaking of vibes—it might’ve been a golf tournament, but Division D had a musical undertone this weekend. With Fred Lee, Austin McNeill, and Cory Lane all in the field—each of them successful professional musicians in their own right—it added a subtle star power to the group without overshadowing the action. Just a little extra rhythm to the round.

Meanwhile, rumors are starting to swirl in the lower flight’s power alley—Jim Goff and Eric Molyneaux are still searching for that spark, and word on the fairway is that both may be quietly exploring new partnerships. No confirmations yet, but let’s just say: things could get interesting heading into Waynesville.

Division D is evolving fast—and The Layne Train might just be leading the charge.