With 350 players vying for the largest prize in video sports history, the stakes at the 2008 Golden Tee World Championship couldn't have been higher. With ESPN.com following every move and all of Golden Tee's brightest stars in attendance, the Las Vegas Hilton became the epicenter for the largest tournament in Golden Tee history.

After a long night of practice and the much-anticipated Team USA vs. World Team showdown, the individual competition took center stage Saturday morning.

The early morning squad roughed out the quick turn around from an action-packed Friday night and began their qualifying at 10 AM. Playing in mostly threesomes and foursomes the squad played their five-course cycle with the goal of making the top 32.

Qualifying began with familiar faces taking center stage. Canada's Tim Glenn set the pace in the early going posting a –120 five course qualifying total. St Louis native and 2004 Golden Tee World Champion Jeff Harlow posted a –119 good for second best in the morning crowd. Young Floridian Riley Hitchcock closed with a –27 on Cypress Cove and a –26 on Summit Lakes to finish third.

Rounding out Squad 1's top ten were Brandon Bell (-117), Todd Lueders (-115), Andrew Fox (-115), Mike Demko (-114), Stu Fox (-114), Dannyboy Beall (-114), and Jimmy Parker (-112).

Team USA member and top online qualifier Chris Litzinger entered live qualifying with his finals spot secure, but with seeding on the line he wowed the crowd firing a –127. That score topped both squads and included a 1-better –25 on Eagles Crest, and a 2-better –28 on Bayou Bay!

The second squad got going just before 4 PM, and featured more seasoned players looking to crack the early precedent set by Squad 1.

Houston native and GT pro Dayton Root topped the afternoon qualifiers firing an impressive –122 total. Two-time Golden Tee world champion Chris Eversole shot a –117 including a qualifying best –26 on Misty Springs, good for fifth overall. Also shooting a –117 was North Dakota's Lance Harris, Canadians Enzo Polidori, Eddy Nesdoly, and Illinois native Jeff Lannen.

Other notables from Squad 2 included Ramsey Thomas (-116), Chris Longino (-115), Rodney Roberts (-115), James Dambrosia (-114), and Erik Strowbridge (-114).

Those who just missed out on making the semifinal bracket (57th-100th) were awarded $100 for their effort.

3-time national champion GT ambassador of good will, Steve Sobe, played in the second squad to gauge how he would fair against the top players. Although his employee status wouldn't allow him to compete in the tourney, his –113 qualifying score would have been good enough to put him into the semis. Not bad considering how much fun he had the night before.

Each player who posted the lowest score on each course throughout qualifying was awarded a $100 Golden Tee gift card. Here are the top shooters:

**** CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE 5-COURSE QUALIFIER LEADERBOARD! ****

With the twelve Team USA and twelve World Team members already locked into the final bracket, eight spots were up for grabs to fill out the rest of the 32-man finals field. To make the final eight, a player had to win two matches in the 32-man semifinal bracket. While these players weren't on the World Team or Team USA, all had played in big tournaments and were capable of beating anyone in the world.

Perhaps the most unique first round match paired top qualifying seed Dayton Root against close buddy Sonny Tunstall. The Houston natives and GT sharpshooters were happy to be out of harms way of Hurricane Ike, but unhappy about facing one another so early in the bracket. Playing as the lowest seed in the semifinal bracket, Sonny's three hole outs including a double eagle were enough to take down top seeded Root –26 to –23.

Former world champions Jeff Harlow and Chris Eversole both cruised to easy victories, while the hot hand of Minnesota native Richard Scoville upset Canadian mainstay Enzo Polidori. Erik Strowbridge and Todd Lueder, also out of Minnesota played perhaps the most exciting match of round one as Strow aced the sixth sudden death hole to move into the next round.

For their efforts, all of those who lost went home with $200.

With sixteen players left and only eight spots available for the finals, the winners of these round 2 would move on to the next bracket and have a chance at the title.

While world champ Jeff Harlow cruised to a four shot victory over Erik Strowbridge, another former world champion had to work hard to earn his. Chris Eversole's battle with Minnesota's Tony Johnson was one of the premier matchups of the tourney. After the two tied at –22 after eighteen, Eversole holed out the second hole of sudden death to take down TJ and show he still has some GT magic.

While the large Minnesota crew took a hit with TJ and Strowbridge failing to make the final, Richard Scoville and Ramsey Thomas picked up the slack by grabbing exciting one-shot victories.

Dannyboy Beall out of Wichita took down Illinois's Ed Godfrey in a thriller, (-24 to –23), while South Carolina's Chris Longino topped the hot hand of Tim Glenn by three strokes to move on.

Those who didn't win took home $400 for their efforts.

The eight players who played their way into the finals were placed into the 32-man finals bracket with the twenty-four Team USA and World Team members. Qualifying scores determined the seeding, and $20,000 was only five wins away.

South African Francois Janeke, the lowest seed in the bracket gave top seed Chris Litzinger everything he could handle. The two battled it out the entire match and Chris entered the 18th up one stroke. After both players nearly drained their tee shots, Litz tapped in and took Francois down by the score –26 to –25 avoiding the greatest upset in the history of the Worlds.

When asked how he felt about dodging that first-round bullet, Litzinger could only say that the quality of play in South Africa and the rest of the world was getting better and better everyday.

Former world champ Chris Eversole saw his chance at a third title end against Team USA member Michael Jaeger. It took 27 holes, but Jaeger bested the GT legend in the ninth hole of sudden death.

In a marathon battle of Team USA members, Chris Thorbrogger took out fellow teammate Brian Bernhardt on the twelfth sudden-death hole, and Ramsey Thomas continued his Cinderella story taking out Sonny Tunstall –23 to –22.

For their efforts, players who failed to advance took home $1,250.

With only 16 players remaining the competition heated up, and the upsets began to take their toll on some of the world's finest players.

Kinzler's dream of back-to-back world titles came to a sudden halt. A water ball cost Kinzler a stroke on the ninth a hole and a very determined Ryan McCook played near perfect golf. In the end the Jacksonville native took down the two-time champ by the score of –26 to –22.

While surprise Minnesotan Richard Scoville's dream run was cut short by Anthony Goertz, Ramsey Thomas and Chris Thorbrogger kept the state pride going strong with wins over Michael Jaeger and Sonu Khatri.

With only one former champ now left in the field, Jeff Harlow continued his strong play taking down Canada's Robert Brown. Championship hopefuls Litzinger and Andy Haas each earned two stroke victories over Canadian David Garnett and 2007 Team USA member Dannyboy Beall.

For their efforts, players who didn't make it out of the second round each earned $1,500.

The night went on and midnight came and went. The players put the long hours aside and teed it up on Bayou Bay with the top prize only three wins away.

In the biggest clash up to this point, '04 champ Harlow matched up with brash and confident Haas. Haas set the tone immediately holing out the first hole. From then on he put it in cruise control, hit the 18th green, and beat the seasoned pro by five. With Harlow out, a first-time champ was guaranteed to win.

Chris Thorbrogger making the most of his first world's experience took on one of worlds most experienced player Anthony Goertz. Thorbrogger holed out the 12th hole to go up four and won convincingly against Canada's best.

"I got Tanqueray!" rang through Ballroom A as Ramsey Thomas continued his surprising run through the field. An excited Thomas nailed a hole-in-one on the 11th hole to ease to a three shot victory over Ryan McCook. An excited Ramsey Thomas yelled, "I'm just free swinging baby," as he continued to rack up the upsets.

Surprise top-8 finisher, (except to his British friends in attendance), Marc Douglas went head to head with juggernaut Litzinger. Douglas put up a good fight, but in the end Litzinger prevailed winning the match –25 to –22. "Coming here I hoped to win one match," said a pleased Douglas. "I loved being here and I really hope to build off this success in the future."

Douglas along with Harlow, McCook, and Goertz all earned $1,750 for their efforts.

Andy Haas vs. Ramsey Thomas
While many expected Haas to make it this far, Thomas' place amongst the top four was somewhat a surprise, except of course to Thomas.

Playing on Misty Springs, Haas put his mark on the match by holing out the first hole. From there he played nearly perfect the rest of the round. Ramsey kept the match close but the steady hand of Haas wouldn't budge. Haas went on to win –24 to –21 and move into the finals, while Ramsey's Cinderella story came to an end.

"Nobody expected me to get this far," he exclaimed. "I was just free-swingin'! What a great tournament!"

Chris Litzinger vs. Chris Thorbrogger
In a match of Golden Tee titans, Chris Litzinger and Chris Thorbrogger teed it up on Misty Springs.

Thor knocked in a crucial hole-in-one on the third hole to gain a quick stroke. The top qualifier stayed close however and after nine Thor led the very competitive match –14 to –13.

The match remained tight, but Thor gained another shot on the 13th and from there held off the tournament favorite. Litzinger attempted an "all or nothing" chip on eighteen but put his ball in the water. Thor went on to win the match by five, although it was much closer throughout. In his first Golden Tee Worlds, Chris Thorbrogger moved on to the finals.

Ramsey Thomas vs. Chris Litzinger
While both players certainly had hoped to be playing in the final, the consolation game was huge considering the payouts. With third place taking home $5,000, and fourth taking home $2,500, there certainly was a lot at stake for Litzinger and Ramsey.

Playing on Summit Lakes, Litzinger hit an ace on the second hole for an early lead. While Ramsey tried to battle back, a chip on hole 16 secured the match for Litz as he went on to win –24 to –20, and take home a very rewarding $5,000. While the top online qualifier had his eyes set on the Cup, Litzinger proved he will be a force for years to come and played an excellent tournament.

What began with 350 people finally played its way down to the final two.

Andy Haas and Chris Thorbrogger certainly proved they were up for the challenge. With morning approaching the two Team USA members took a short break, shook hands, and began their first match. Unlike the previous matches, the finals were played the best two out of three format.

Playing on Summit Lakes, both players were all square through the front nine. On the 13th hole however Haas took a one-stroke lead with an eagle bettering Thorbrogger's birdie. Haas struck again on the 16th with an eagle, as Thorbrogger put his drive in the water on tough setup. Much like he had done the entire weekend, Haas played comfortable with the lead, and ended up taking the first match by the score of –25 to –21.

He was now only one win away from grabbing the elusive Golden Tee World Championship.

After a short break between games the two went back at it again this time on Bayou Bay.

Haas once again struck first by bettering Thor's birdie on the par 5 4th with his eagle. From there he applied even more pressure, picking up two more shots in the next five holes to take a three shot lead. The championship along with the $20,000 top prize was in his sights. Only nine holes remained.

Thorbrogger would not go down easily however. He hit an amazing double eagle on the par 5 13th to cut Haas's lead in half and apply some pressure of his own.

With the money and match on the line Haas refused to give up strokes and played the same quick-paced, machine-like virtual golf that is his trademark. Up two going into eighteen Haas avoided trouble and tapped his putt in for a championship win, and $20,000!

With hugs and congratulations from everyone in the room Haas joined the likes of Jeff Harlow, Chris Eversole, and Graig Kinzler as Golden Tee World Champions!

For his unbelievable efforts Chris Thorbrogger was awarded $10,000 and certainly made it very apparent that he is here to stay. Thorbrogger had this to say about this year's champ. "Andy Haas is just a great player. If you get down a stroke to him, which happens a lot, it's just almost impossible to come back. Congrats to Andy and to all the players on a great tournament."

Two-time world champion Graig Kinzler said Haas' win was only a matter of time. "Anyone who has played in tournaments with Andy knows what a phenomenal player he is. What an incredible achievement for such a great player and a great guy. He deserves every bit of this."

As for Haas, his Golden Tee trophy mantel is now loaded with pretty much every accolade a player can have. The world championship however is by far his most impressive and for him was the hardest to come by.

"I thought at sometimes that this might never happen," said a relieved and exhausted Haas. "With the size of the field and the amount of exceptional players in the event I knew I would have to play pretty much perfect. I honestly didn't think it would be this year, but I couldn't be happier. I still can't believe I won!"