Category: PGA

Justin Leonard, who signed with Nike only 25 days ago and who missed his first cut with Nike equipment at last week’s Buick Invitational, today shot 5-under 67 to capture the 2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at 28-under 332.

Joe Ogilvie, who led the tournament after four rounds, remains winless after six years on tour. He shot a closing-round 73 and finished T2 with Tim Clark at -25, three back. Ogilvie joked “The rain dance didn’t work. I was trying for a rainout today, but that didn’t happen.”

Said Leonard of this victory, his first in 22 months since the 2003 Honda, “it will inspire me a bit, knowing that one is not enough. I’ve been sitting on eight wins for almost two years, and it’s nice to get a ninth.” Leonard had only three top-10s last year and finished 42nd on the money list with $1.5 million. He failed to qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time since joining the PGA Tour.

As the last two Hope champions went on to capture the Green Jacket of Augusta, Leonard may now be the odds-on favorite to capture the Masters.

Photo Credit: © Nike

Joe Ogilvie is holding on to a two-stroke lead going into the fifth and final round of the 2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He managed only a 3-under 69 in Saturday’s round while Justin Leonard leapt into third with a 64 and Peter Lonard sits in second. Ogilvie’s round included an eagle and two birdies at La Quinta Country Club.

Peter Lonard also shot 69 and remains two strokes back. Justin Leonard, currently at -23, is three strokes back. Tim Clark is four back at 266, and Phil Mickelson, defending champ, sits with several others at 268, six back, after shooting a Saturday 68.

Continue reading “Saturday at the Bob Hope”

During the second day of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the strong trend of low scoring continued across the professional ranks. Today it was Joe Ogilvie who took a three shot lead with a stellar nine-birdie, no-bogey round of 63. Ogilvie, who played at Bermuda Dunes, recognized that the most difficult rounds of golf were still to come, saying: “Mickelson shot a 64 today at La Quinta. I’d say technically he’s probably leading. Score-wise, I am, but technically I’d say he’s leading.” Indeed, Mickelson has played well early in this tournament, now at 14-under par after turning in rounds of 66 and 64. First round leader Robert Damron is also close behind 4-shots back with five other players.

Continue reading “Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Round 2”

After the first round of the Buick Invitational, Dean Wilson was one shot off the lead at 9-under par. Things were finally looking up for Wilson who has had a tough road to the PGA Tour. Friday, Wilson faltered a little shooting a 75. Despite his poor round, he was still tied for 16th, set to make the cut, and finish with a nice check. With the bad round behind him and things finally starting to look up; Wilson headed to the scoring tent, turned in his card, and left. However Wilson forgot to sign his scorecard and was disqualified from the tournament for simply forgetting to put pen to paper and write his name. All Wilson could say after the fact was, “First time as a pro.” However, this is hardly the first time this mistake has happened. Padraig Harrington lead the final day of the Benson and Hedges Invitational but was disqualified for failing to sign his first round scorecard.

Continue reading “Dean Wilson’s Growing Pains”

Tiger Woods began the day three back of first- and second-round leader Tom Lehman. It took him three holes to make that up, and as play began on their fifth hole, darkness halted round three of the Buick Invitational after a lengthy fog delay.

Woods came out firing and birdied his first two holes, the second from the bunker on the difficult par-3 11th. Lehman missed a 6-footer on the first for birdie, then struggled to make two eight footers on the next two holes for par and bogey. Tiger had teed off on the 14th (his fifth hole) when the siren sounded. Woods and playing partner Peter Lonard, who had also driven, elected to finish the hole while Tom Lehman headed for the clubhouse. Perhaps Lonard should have followed Lehman, as he double-bogeyed the hole to slide back to -11.

Continue reading “Fog Off: Buick Round 3 Halted by Weather”

Tiger Woods made a charge on the easier North course, but Tom Lehman played well on the tough South to hold onto a lead. The story of the day was not Lehman’s ageless play or Tiger’s possible comeback from a disappointing 2004, but the fog that delayed play and prevented 59 players from completing their rounds before darkness fell over Torrey Pines.

Lehman’s 10-under 62 (North) and 5-under 67 (South) put him at -15, tying the tournament record set in 1996 by none other than Lennie Clements. (No, Roger is the pitcher. Lennie who? We don’t know; don’t ask us. He finished in third.) Tiger Woods finished 17 holes, leaving the relatively easy 18th on the North course for Saturday morning, and sits in third at -12.

Continue reading “In a Torrey Fog, Lehman Leads”