Category: Other

One week after missing the cut at the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, 15-year-old Michelle Wie has made the grade at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Wie finished at 8-over-par 148 to make the two-round cut by a stroke at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. Now she and the rest of the field will duke it out in match play. Wie will take on Will Claxton of Swainsboro, Georgia at 11:18 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Claxton tied for 8th at 140 over two rounds of medal play. Anthony Kim of Norman, Oklahoma won medallist honors at 4-under-par 136. See all the scores here.

At stake, aside from the pride of winning one of the USGA’s top events, is an automatic entry into next year’s Masters Tournament. That would create another spot in the history books for Wie, who today became the first woman to qualify for a men’s USGA championship.

The man once and forever known as “Radar” – as much due to the fact that he looked like his M.A.S.H. counterpart as he was accurate with his irons – quietly walked away with the Senior PGA Championship on Sunday. In true tortoise-meets-hare fashion, Mike Reid plodded along, firing three consecutive rounds in the 70s to enter the final round two back.

Continue reading “Reid on Target at Senior PGA”

Jerry Pate (-5) was two strokes ahead of the field when round two ended on Friday. By the time rain had halted play this afternoon he was one stroke above par and in a tie with Dana Quigley (-5) and Mike Reid (-5) for first. Reid birdied his opening hole and continued consistent play with pars through the 10th hole while Quigley posted four birdies and only one bogey through 11 holes to jump into the first-place tie.

Pate expressed confidence in his ability to hold up during Sunday’s extended day. “I’m in pretty good shape so there won’t be a fatigue factor — it’s not going to come into my game. I’m looking forward to playing.” That sounds good coming from a guy who had to drop out of competitive golf for so many years because of shoulder trouble.

Continue reading “Rain Halts Round Three at Senior PGA Championship”

The second round of the Senior PGA Championship on Friday was moving day for many players in the field. Most notably Jerry Pate whom was four under for the day leaving him with a one stroke lead. First round leader Graham Marsh had a somewhat disappointing day finishing at two-under par for the day, a score that could have easily been worse. Hale Irwin was also left in Pate’s dust after finishing three-over on the day, six shots behind for the tournament.

As Josh Permuda mentioned yesterday in the first round recap of the Senior PGA Championships, Irwin trails only Sam Snead for most Senior PGA Championship victories. A victory at the 66th Championship would mean he only trails Snead by one. His chance of victory may have diminished after today’s second round of play.

Continue reading “Pate Leaps atop Leaderboard as Others Stumble at Senior PGA Championships”

Graham Marsh looked impressive in his first round at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania as he shot a 4-under 68. Marsh was able to take advantage of the warmer temperatures and clear skies on Thursday to take the first round lead at the Senior PGA Champioships.

The real story of the first round could be Hale Irwin’s quest for a fifth Senior PGA Championship. Irwin was able to birdie three of his last four holes to finish at 3-under par, one back of Marsh. Irwin trails only Sam Snead for most Senior PGA Championship victories. A victory at the 66th Championship would mean he only trails Snead by one.

Marsh sits one stroke in front of Irwin, Canadian Tour Player Dave Barr, Tom McKnight and R.W. Eaks.

Continue reading “Graham Marsh Takes First Round Lead at Senior PGA Championships”

As we all know, Erik is on-site at the Senior PGA Championship, which is set to begin on Thursday in Ligonier, Pennsylvania at the Laurel Valley Golf Club. This is the oldest championship in senior golf, started by Bobby Jones in 1937, and boasts a list of past winners that includes Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus.

Assuming the weather holds up in the Pennsylvania region (it looks like rain is in the forecast), the players will be competing for over $2 million with $360,000 going to the winner. Last year, Hale Irwin won his fourth Senior PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Lousiville, Kentucky and looks to add a fifth title to trail only Sam Snead in holding the most Senior PGA Championship victories (Slammin Sammy owns six titles).

Continue reading “Senior PGA Championship Preview”

While yesterday was a day of getting acquainted with the course and the wet, wet weather, today was more getting acquainted with the players and, again, the wet, wet weather. Rains continued to trickle from the skies at varying intervals throughout the day. On the up side, fans were not out in droves, and autograph getting was pretty easy. I nabbed autographs on an embroidered flag from about 20 of my favorite Champions Tour players and at least one autograph from someone I can’t identify.

Continue reading “On Location at the Senior PGA – Tuesday”

I’m on location at the Laurel Valley Golf Club, 15 minutes from the home of Rolling Rock, Arnold Palmer, and my sister and her husband – my home base for the week. Aside from a wedding (my own) on Friday, I’ll be reporting each day from the LVGC and the Senior PGA Championship.

Weather
The story this year on the PGA Tour has been the weather, and unfortunately it was no different today. Though players got out several different times, there was never more than ten minutes without rain until 5pm or so, when the sun finally came out and most players had given up.

Continue reading “On Location at the Senior PGA – Monday”