Tour Report: LPGA star interested in playing vs. men (PGATOUR.com)
October 31, 2011
LPGA star Yani Tseng told a news agency in China over the weekend that she would be interested in competing against professional male golfers as a way to refine her game.
Tseng
"I wouldn’t care about the results because I’d just want to enjoy the feeling of playing with guys and learning from them to further improve my skills," Tseng told the China News Agency.
It’s difficult to imagine that she needs much improvement. The 22-year-old from Taiwan won her 11th title of the year over the weekend at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China.
LPGA stars such as Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie have played in PGA TOUR events, although neither player was able to make the cut.
Tseng said she would view such competition against the men as a learning experience, nothing more.
"If an opportunity presents itself, I would like to play in a PGA tournament to learn more from male golfers," she said.
Tseng has won seven LPGA events this year, including two of her five career majors.
Caption this: Fredrik Jacobson
Chou/Getty Images
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson appears to have lost his clubhead during the third round of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. What is going on? Leave your answer below, and please, keep it clean! To see the best photos from last week, click here.
Tour Report: Caption this: Fredrik Jacobson (PGATOUR.com)
October 31, 2011
Chou/Getty Images
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson appears to have lost his clubhead during the third round of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. What is going on? Leave your answer below, and please, keep it clean! To see the best photos from last week, click here.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng wins in China
October 31, 2011
SUZHOU, China (AP)—Top-ranked Yani Tseng won the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Openon Sunday for her 11th worldwide victory of year, closing with a 6-under 6 tobeat Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg by seven strokes.
The 22-year-old Taiwanese star, coming off a victory last week in the LPGATour’s Taiwan Championship, finished at 16 under at Suzhou International in theLadies European Tour event.
“It’s very exciting,” Tseng said., “I played so consistently. I wasreally patient. … I just play one shot at a time and be patient and keeplearning. I just learn from mistakes.”
The victory was Tseng’s 30th in her professional career. She has won seventhis season on the LPGA Tour, including major victories in the LPGA Championshipand Women’s British Open.
Lindberg shot a 70. South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, the 2010 winner, had a 70to tie for third with England’s Melissa Reid (68) at 8 under.
Duke claims Nationwide Tour Championship title (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C.—Ken Duke admitted early in the week that he had a thing or two to learn about patience if he wanted to win again. With a 4-under 68 on Sunday at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island Club, something had sunk in. By two strokes, Duke emerged victorious at the season-ending event, good for a re-berth onto the PGA TOUR in 2012. With the win, he jumped from 36th on the money list to seventh.
Duke and the Nationwide Tour’s other 24 leading money winners earned PGA TOUR cards for 2012. J.J. Killeen of Fort Worth, Texas topped the money list with $414,273 in earnings.
Billy Hurley III began the week on the bubble in the 25th spot on the money list. His T18 at the Daniel Island Club allowed him to maintain his 25th-place-ranking and prepare for the PGA TOUR in 2012.
“The last few days have really been fun from a patience perspective,” Duke said. “I realized that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
At nearly 43 years old, Duke becomes the second-oldest winner in the history of the Nationwide Tour Championship in the event’s history. Allen Doyle holds the distinction of being the oldest having won the event in 1995 at nearly 48 years old.
“Things are nice. I’m older now, but I’ve hired a trainer and have worked very hard to keep up,” said Duke. “I’ve lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of strength in my core. I have a lot more flexibility and hopefully I can keep right on going.”
Duke followed an eagle-three at the sixth with a birdie at seven to open up a four-stroke advantage. He would never relinquish his lead coming down the stretch.
Duke, who had been a member of the Nationwide Tour for five years prior to 2011 (1995, 2003, 2005-2006 and 2010), previously won the 2006 BMW Charity Pro-Am. He played on the PGA TOUR in 2004, 2007-2009, where he collected three runner-up finishes.
“On the PGA TOUR in 2009, I didn’t hit it good, I didn’t putt it good. There were just a lot of variables why I couldn’t keep my card,” Duke said. “But I feel so much better now, so much more prepared.”
On the Nationwide Tour in 2006, Duke lost in a playoff to Michael Sim on Sim’s 22nd birthday at the Daniel Island Club at the Palmetto Pride Classic. That year, Duke went on to become the Nationwide Tour Player of the Year and leading money winner.
Third-round leader Scott Brown followed his 5-under 67 in round three with a 2-under 70 to finish at 8-under for the week. On a day where names were sliding up and down the leaderboard with the blink of every eye, Brown finished solo second. On the year-long money list, he finished eighth and is headed with Duke to the PGA TOUR.
“This is an absolute dream come true,” said Brown. “I’m still numb. I’m sure it will come to me later on tonight. The year has been kind of like a rollercoaster….up and down, but the finishes have been up there. I can’t wait to get to that next level and see how I measure up.”
Final-Round Notes
• Ken Duke followed an eagle-three on the par-5 sixth hole Sunday with a birdie on seven to open up a spacious four-stroke lead. He would never relinquish the lead and won the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at the Daniel Island Club by two strokes at 10-under over Scott Brown
• At 42 years, 9 months and 1 day old, Duke becomes the second-oldest player to win the Nationwide Tour Championship. In 1995, Allen Doyle won the event at Settindown Creek GC in Roswell, GA at the age of 47 years, 8 days.
• Duke, who has played full-time on both the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR, began the week 36th on the money list, needing to get inside the top 25.
• Duke is making his 24th start of the season this week, with his best previous finish being a T2 at the Cox Classic. He did not make a start on the PGA TOUR in 2011.
• Prior to 2011, Duke played on the Nationwide Tour five seasons; 1995, 2003, 2005-2006 and 2010. His lone win on the Nationwide Tour prior to this week was the 2006 BMW Charity Pro-Am. He was a member of the PGA TOUR in 2004, 2007-2009, where he had three runner-up finishes.
• Duke has made it to the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship three times prior to 2011, but not since 2006 (T14).
• Interestingly, Duke lost in a playoff to Michael Sim on Sim’s 22nd birthday at the Daniel Island Club in 2006 at the Palmetto Pride Classic. That year, Duke went on to become the Nationwide Tour Player of the Year and leading money winner.
• Scott Brown closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday, good for solo second-place-honors. That distinction moved him to No.8 on the season-long money list, good for his first-ever exemption onto the PGA TOUR.
• Brown’s previous best finish on the Nationwide Tour was a T2 at the 2011 Rex Hospital Open. Heading into the week, Brown had made 25 Nationwide Tour starts, four of which he converted into top-10 finishes.
• Despite a double-bogey at the 72nd hole, Daniel Chopra managed to post a final-round, 1-under 71, good for a share of third. The finish moved him to 19th in the year-long money standings. Chopra is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR.
• Prior to 2011, 64 different players represented 17 different countries in graduating classes on the Nationwide Tour. The most from any one year was seven different players. However, as the game of golf continues to expand globally, it’s interesting to note that of the top-25 money finishers on the 2011 Nationwide Tour money list, nine hail from overseas.
• Forty-three year-old Gavin Coles, who began the week 15th on the Nationwide Tour money list, ended the week +8 following his T47 at Daniel Island Club. By doing so, he joins Jeff Gove as the only four-time graduate of the Nationwide Tour in this week’s field (2002, 2004, 2006, 2011).
• When the last putt dropped and Ken Duke received the Nationwide Tour Championship trophy, the 25 graduates were feted at a card ceremony on the grounds of Daniel Island Club. PGATOUR.COM streamed. The ceremony featured the graduates, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee and Nationwide Insurance’s associate vice president John Aman, with player family, friends and associates in the audience.
• Course statistics this week:
Round Front 9 (36) Back 9 (36) Total (72) R1 35.333 35.983 71.317 R2 35.467 35.550 71.017 R3 36.283 38.500 74.783 R4 36.867 37.033 73.900
Tour Report: Blixt highest ranked without a win (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Jonas Blixt had the luxury of entering this week knowing that his 2012 PGA TOUR card was locked up. What was missing from his season, though, was a win.
Blixt kept grinding for that elusive win all the way to Sunday. He charged early with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-7, but unfortunately some bogeys on the back kept him from putting pressure on eventual champion Ken Duke.
And while he’s disappointed on some levels, Blixt is proud of his third season on the Nationwide Tour.
“I learned a lot this year. That’s the most important thing,” he said. “Of course I’m disappointed I didn’t get a win. I had a lot of opportunities this year, and I probably should have seized at least two of them.”
Most recently he finished runner-up at the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open. “I felt like I gave that one away a little bit.
“I look at more of the progress. I’ve been playing solid all year — since Columbus — and I’m happy about that,” he said.
While Blixt was all smiles, his countryman David Lingmerth was less so. During most of Lingmerth’s final round he was projecting to finish inside The 25. A few bogeys on the back ended his chances. He finished the year 27th on the money list. Blixt was there when he finished his round.
“I feel really horrible for David right now,” he said. “I wanted him to do well. I feel for him now.”
Despite missing out on his card, Lingmerth will be exempt into the final round of q-school.
For Blixt, he now looks forward to the PGA TOUR, and maybe finally getting that first professional win.
“It’s a weird feeling. It really is because you always wanted to do this and now it’s here,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to sink in until I get to Hawaii to be honest with you.”
And his goals at that point? “Hopefully I can win one of [the tournaments] and then play Augusta in the beginning of the year.”
Tour Report: Duke headed back to the PGA TOUR (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Ken Duke will return to the PGA TOUR for the first time since 2009.
The veteran stayed patient at the Ralston Creek Course on Sunday to shoot the only round in the 60s in windy conditions.
“[The wind] laid down and sure there’s a few tough shots out there,” he said. “You just had to hit some decent shots.
“It just seems like the last few weeks I’ve been playing pretty good. The golf courses that we played were very demanding on the driver and putting and the greens were great.”
He entered the final day one stroke back, but a call from coach Bob Toski gave him some confidence.
“‘I watched every shot yesterday and the wind blew hard. And if it blows hard again, you’ll win. These guys aren’t flighting the ball the way you do,” Toski told him.
Duke birdied the par-5 third hole, but it was an eagle on the fifth that really got him going.
“I didn’t birdie that hole the whole week,” he said. “I made about a 30 footer and that kinda set it off. Now I just gotta hold on.”
Duke hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in his final-round 68.
He made bogey on 11 and 16 but was able to stay in the lead.
“You know the holes you can birdie, you know the holes you gotta make par on,” he said. “It was just great that no one was putting any presusre on me.”
Duke had made his last three cuts coming into this event, and had two top-3 finishes during the season. He was 36th on the money list entering this week, and was the only player to play his way into The 25.
Now he’s just looking forward to getting back to the PGA TOUR.
“I enjoy it out there. It’s a great family,” he said. “I feel like my golf game fits better for that TOUR than this Tour. You have to drive it good out there and that’s what I did the last few days — get the ball in the fairway.”
i hit four or five
Duke continuing to charge
Ken Duke has not let go of the lead in his final round. He’s 10-under through 16 holes and projected at 8th on the money list.
At this point, the money list should be set. David Lingmerth was keeping Billy Hurley out of the top 25, but with several bogeys on the back, Lingmerth has dropped out.
Follow the leaderboard live as the final groups end their holes
Lingmerth shaking things up
For David Lingmerth, the battle started last week at TPC Sawgrass. He entered that week ranked 75th and finished third to jump to 50th. Now he’s making another final charge for his 2012 PGA TOUR card.
Lingmerth didn’t let yesterday’s windy weather get to him. He carded one of the few rounds under par with a 70.
Today, he opened his round with a bogey on the first, which so far is the seventh hardest hole on the course with just seven birdies all day. But since then, he’s made four birdies to get to 7-under for the week.
At 50th on the money list, a win or second place finish could mean a PGA TOUR card. He’s currently projected to finish 22nd.
Follow his progress in the final round
Five to watch in battle for The 25
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — There are several players shuffling around at the 25 spot on the projected money list. Here’s five players to keep an eye on as we get ready for the 2:30 p.m. ET Golf Channel broadcast.
Ken Duke (36th on the money list) — The veteran’s back is finally cooperating with him this season, enough for two top-3 finishes. He survived the tough windy conditions of the third round with a 70. Duke said after his round that the tough conditions would be in his favor, as a super low round wouldn’t be necessary.
Daniel Chopra (24th on the money list) — Chopra made a big statement in the second round when he broke the course record with a flawless 62. He stumbled a bit in the third when he shot 77, but with Kokrak off to a tough start today, he has a chance to move forward again. Chopra won earlier this year at the Fresh Express Classic.
Camilo Benedetti (49th on the money list) — Benedetti kicked off his week with a 67 to add his name to The 25 conversation. He’s grinded through the wind and cold to keep himself 5-under for the week. The way the projected standings are looking, he’ll need a win to get his TOUR card.
David Lingmerth (50th on the money list) — The Swede is 1-under through 12 in his final round. He’s only projected to get to 33rd at this point, which will be good enough to skip to the final round of q-school. The back at the Ralston Creek Course is not easy, but if he can find a few birdies, he could improve his position. He finished third at last week’s Winn-Dixie Open to get here.
Scott Brown (21st on the money list) — Brown entered this week knowing his PGA TOUR card for 2012 was not secure. He surprised everyone with a 67 in nasty conditions yesterday to move up the leaderboard as everyone around him struggled. If Brown can stay steady in this final round he should be able to keep his top 25 position.
Blixt on the move at Daniel Island
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Jonas Blixt entered this week as the highest ranked player on the money list without a win, but with three-straight birdies on the front nine he may not leave that way.
Overnight leader Jason Kokrak kicked off his round double bogey-bogey to drop down the board and leave the final round wide open.
Fifth-ranked Blixt saw the opening and birdied five, six and seven. A good time to get on a hot streak, but he now enters the more difficult part of the Ralston Creek Course. Eight, nine and 10 have only yielded seven birdies total to the field in the final round. The back side of the course is less protected from the windy conditions and has been described by players as “brutal.”
Blixt is also in a position to take the money title with a win. With J.J. Killeen in the clubhouse 5-over for the week, that $180,000 paycheck would give him a big boost.
View Blixt’s scorecard here
Keep an eye on top 40 in finale
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — The leaders have teed off at the Nationwide Tour Championship and the final round is in full swing.
The biggest focus is on The 25 today, but there’s another bubble to keep an eye on. Players who finish inside the top 40 get to skip ahead to the final round of q-school. When the week started, the bubble looked like this:
35. Matt Davidson (started today T23)36. Ken Duke (started today T2)37. Brian Smock (started today T31)38. Paul Claxton (started today T26)39. Jeff Gove (started today T8)40. Will Wilcox (started today T19)41. Matt Hendrix (shot 83 in his final round)42. Bubba Dickerson (shot 77 in his final round)43. Aaron Watkins (started today T26)44. Rob Oppenheim (started today T31)45. Casey Wittenberg (started today T26)
With Ken Duke currently in the lead, he’s likely to make it inside the 25. Wittenberg, Oppenheim and Watkins need to start finding some birdies if they’re going to make a move up the money list. Bubble boy Wilcox is currently projected to move up to 35th.
Camilo Benedetti is another player to watch. He’s one stroke off the lead and started the week ranked 49th. If he can hold his position, he may be able to move into The 25, but he’s at least put himself in position for a top-40 money list finish.
Follow the final round at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Tune in: Card ceremony live online
After Sunday’s last putt drops and the winner receives the Nationwide Tour Championship trophy, the 25 graduates will be feted at a card ceremony on the grounds of Daniel Island.
PGATOUR.COM will begin streaming the always lively event at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony will feature the graduates, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee and Nationwide Insurance’s chief marketing officer Matt Jauchius, with player family, friends and associates in the audience.
Follow all the final-round action at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Ken Duke has not let go of the lead in his final round. He’s 10-under through 16 holes and projected at 8th on the money list. At this point, the money list should be set. David Lingmerth was keeping Billy Hurley out of the top 25, but with several bogeys on the back, Lingmerth has […]
Compton qualifies for PGA Tour
October 30, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)—Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Comptonearned his PGA Tour card Sunday when he finished in the top 25 on the NationwideTour money list.
Compton was 13th on the money list as the season closed with the NationwideTour Championship. His next official event will be in January at the PGA Tour’sSony Open in Honolulu
Ken Duke played his way back to the PGA Tour with a two-stroke victory overScott Brown on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course. J.J. Killeen wonthe money title, which made him fully exempt on the PGA Tour and also gave himentry into The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in May.
Former active-duty Naval lieutenant Billy Hurley III hung for the 25th spot.
Tour Report: Duke continuing to charge (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
Ken Duke has not let go of the lead in his final round. He’s 10-under through 16 holes and projected at 8th on the money list.
At this point, the money list should be set. David Lingmerth was keeping Billy Hurley out of the top 25, but with several bogeys on the back, Lingmerth has dropped out.
Follow the leaderboard live as the final groups end their holes
Lingmerth shaking things up
For David Lingmerth, the battle started last week at TPC Sawgrass. He entered that week ranked 75th and finished third to jump to 50th. Now he’s making another final charge for his 2012 PGA TOUR card.
Lingmerth didn’t let yesterday’s windy weather get to him. He carded one of the few rounds under par with a 70.
Today, he opened his round with a bogey on the first, which so far is the seventh hardest hole on the course with just seven birdies all day. But since then, he’s made four birdies to get to 7-under for the week.
At 50th on the money list, a win or second place finish could mean a PGA TOUR card. He’s currently projected to finish 22nd.
Follow his progress in the final round
Five to watch in battle for The 25
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — There are several players shuffling around at the 25 spot on the projected money list. Here’s five players to keep an eye on as we get ready for the 2:30 p.m. ET Golf Channel broadcast.
Ken Duke (36th on the money list) — The veteran’s back is finally cooperating with him this season, enough for two top-3 finishes. He survived the tough windy conditions of the third round with a 70. Duke said after his round that the tough conditions would be in his favor, as a super low round wouldn’t be necessary.
Daniel Chopra (24th on the money list) — Chopra made a big statement in the second round when he broke the course record with a flawless 62. He stumbled a bit in the third when he shot 77, but with Kokrak off to a tough start today, he has a chance to move forward again. Chopra won earlier this year at the Fresh Express Classic.
Camilo Benedetti (49th on the money list) — Benedetti kicked off his week with a 67 to add his name to The 25 conversation. He’s grinded through the wind and cold to keep himself 5-under for the week. The way the projected standings are looking, he’ll need a win to get his TOUR card.
David Lingmerth (50th on the money list) — The Swede is 1-under through 12 in his final round. He’s only projected to get to 33rd at this point, which will be good enough to skip to the final round of q-school. The back at the Ralston Creek Course is not easy, but if he can find a few birdies, he could improve his position. He finished third at last week’s Winn-Dixie Open to get here.
Scott Brown (21st on the money list) — Brown entered this week knowing his PGA TOUR card for 2012 was not secure. He surprised everyone with a 67 in nasty conditions yesterday to move up the leaderboard as everyone around him struggled. If Brown can stay steady in this final round he should be able to keep his top 25 position.
Blixt on the move at Daniel Island
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Jonas Blixt entered this week as the highest ranked player on the money list without a win, but with three-straight birdies on the front nine he may not leave that way.
Overnight leader Jason Kokrak kicked off his round double bogey-bogey to drop down the board and leave the final round wide open.
Fifth-ranked Blixt saw the opening and birdied five, six and seven. A good time to get on a hot streak, but he now enters the more difficult part of the Ralston Creek Course. Eight, nine and 10 have only yielded seven birdies total to the field in the final round. The back side of the course is less protected from the windy conditions and has been described by players as “brutal.”
Blixt is also in a position to take the money title with a win. With J.J. Killeen in the clubhouse 5-over for the week, that $180,000 paycheck would give him a big boost.
View Blixt’s scorecard here
Keep an eye on top 40 in finale
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — The leaders have teed off at the Nationwide Tour Championship and the final round is in full swing.
The biggest focus is on The 25 today, but there’s another bubble to keep an eye on. Players who finish inside the top 40 get to skip ahead to the final round of q-school. When the week started, the bubble looked like this:
35. Matt Davidson (started today T23)36. Ken Duke (started today T2)37. Brian Smock (started today T31)38. Paul Claxton (started today T26)39. Jeff Gove (started today T8)40. Will Wilcox (started today T19)41. Matt Hendrix (shot 83 in his final round)42. Bubba Dickerson (shot 77 in his final round)43. Aaron Watkins (started today T26)44. Rob Oppenheim (started today T31)45. Casey Wittenberg (started today T26)
With Ken Duke currently in the lead, he’s likely to make it inside the 25. Wittenberg, Oppenheim and Watkins need to start finding some birdies if they’re going to make a move up the money list. Bubble boy Wilcox is currently projected to move up to 35th.
Camilo Benedetti is another player to watch. He’s one stroke off the lead and started the week ranked 49th. If he can hold his position, he may be able to move into The 25, but he’s at least put himself in position for a top-40 money list finish.
Follow the final round at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Tune in: Card ceremony live online
After Sunday’s last putt drops and the winner receives the Nationwide Tour Championship trophy, the 25 graduates will be feted at a card ceremony on the grounds of Daniel Island.
PGATOUR.COM will begin streaming the always lively event at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony will feature the graduates, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee and Nationwide Insurance’s chief marketing officer Matt Jauchius, with player family, friends and associates in the audience.
Follow all the final-round action at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Ken Duke has not let go of the lead in his final round. He’s 10-under through 16 holes and projected at 8th on the money list. At this point, the money list should be set. David Lingmerth was keeping Billy Hurley out of the top 25, but with several bogeys on the back, Lingmerth has […]
Tour Report: Lingmerth shaking things up (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
For David Lingmerth, the battle started last week at TPC Sawgrass. He entered that week ranked 75th and finished third to jump to 50th. Now he’s making another final charge for his 2012 PGA TOUR card.
Lingmerth didn’t let yesterday’s windy weather get to him. He carded one of the few rounds under par with a 70.
Today, he opened his round with a bogey on the first, which so far is the seventh hardest hole on the course with just seven birdies all day. But since then, he’s made four birdies to get to 7-under for the week.
At 50th on the money list, a win or second place finish could mean a PGA TOUR card. He’s currently projected to finish 22nd.
Follow his progress in the final round
Five to watch in battle for The 25
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — There are several players shuffling around at the 25 spot on the projected money list. Here’s five players to keep an eye on as we get ready for the 2:30 p.m. ET Golf Channel broadcast.
Ken Duke (36th on the money list) — The veteran’s back is finally cooperating with him this season, enough for two top-3 finishes. He survived the tough windy conditions of the third round with a 70. Duke said after his round that the tough conditions would be in his favor, as a super low round wouldn’t be necessary.
Daniel Chopra (24th on the money list) — Chopra made a big statement in the second round when he broke the course record with a flawless 62. He stumbled a bit in the third when he shot 77, but with Kokrak off to a tough start today, he has a chance to move forward again. Chopra won earlier this year at the Fresh Express Classic.
Camilo Benedetti (49th on the money list) — Benedetti kicked off his week with a 67 to add his name to The 25 conversation. He’s grinded through the wind and cold to keep himself 5-under for the week. The way the projected standings are looking, he’ll need a win to get his TOUR card.
David Lingmerth (50th on the money list) — The Swede is 1-under through 12 in his final round. He’s only projected to get to 33rd at this point, which will be good enough to skip to the final round of q-school. The back at the Ralston Creek Course is not easy, but if he can find a few birdies, he could improve his position. He finished third at last week’s Winn-Dixie Open to get here.
Scott Brown (21st on the money list) — Brown entered this week knowing his PGA TOUR card for 2012 was not secure. He surprised everyone with a 67 in nasty conditions yesterday to move up the leaderboard as everyone around him struggled. If Brown can stay steady in this final round he should be able to keep his top 25 position.
Blixt on the move at Daniel Island
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Jonas Blixt entered this week as the highest ranked player on the money list without a win, but with three-straight birdies on the front nine he may not leave that way.
Overnight leader Jason Kokrak kicked off his round double bogey-bogey to drop down the board and leave the final round wide open.
Fifth-ranked Blixt saw the opening and birdied five, six and seven. A good time to get on a hot streak, but he now enters the more difficult part of the Ralston Creek Course. Eight, nine and 10 have only yielded seven birdies total to the field in the final round. The back side of the course is less protected from the windy conditions and has been described by players as “brutal.”
Blixt is also in a position to take the money title with a win. With J.J. Killeen in the clubhouse 5-over for the week, that $180,000 paycheck would give him a big boost.
View Blixt’s scorecard here
Keep an eye on top 40 in finale
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — The leaders have teed off at the Nationwide Tour Championship and the final round is in full swing.
The biggest focus is on The 25 today, but there’s another bubble to keep an eye on. Players who finish inside the top 40 get to skip ahead to the final round of q-school. When the week started, the bubble looked like this:
35. Matt Davidson (started today T23)36. Ken Duke (started today T2)37. Brian Smock (started today T31)38. Paul Claxton (started today T26)39. Jeff Gove (started today T8)40. Will Wilcox (started today T19)41. Matt Hendrix (shot 83 in his final round)42. Bubba Dickerson (shot 77 in his final round)43. Aaron Watkins (started today T26)44. Rob Oppenheim (started today T31)45. Casey Wittenberg (started today T26)
With Ken Duke currently in the lead, he’s likely to make it inside the 25. Wittenberg, Oppenheim and Watkins need to start finding some birdies if they’re going to make a move up the money list. Bubble boy Wilcox is currently projected to move up to 35th.
Camilo Benedetti is another player to watch. He’s one stroke off the lead and started the week ranked 49th. If he can hold his position, he may be able to move into The 25, but he’s at least put himself in position for a top-40 money list finish.
Follow the final round at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Tune in: Card ceremony live online
After Sunday’s last putt drops and the winner receives the Nationwide Tour Championship trophy, the 25 graduates will be feted at a card ceremony on the grounds of Daniel Island.
PGATOUR.COM will begin streaming the always lively event at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony will feature the graduates, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee and Nationwide Insurance’s chief marketing officer Matt Jauchius, with player family, friends and associates in the audience.
Follow all the final-round action at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
For David Lingmerth, the battle started last week at TPC Sawgrass. He entered that week ranked 75th and finished third to jump to 50th. Now he’s making another final charge for his 2012 PGA TOUR card. Lingmerth didn’t let yesterday’s windy weather get to him. He carded one of the few rounds under par with […]
Tour Report: Five to watch in battle for The 25 (PGATOUR.com)
October 30, 2011
For David Lingmerth, the battle started last week at TPC Sawgrass. He entered that week ranked 75th and finished third to jump to 50th. Now he’s making another final charge for his 2012 PGA TOUR card.
Lingmerth didn’t let yesterday’s windy weather get to him. He carded one of the few rounds under par with a 70.
Today, he opened his round with a bogey on the first, which so far is the seventh hardest hole on the course with just seven birdies all day. But since then, he’s made four birdies to get to 7-under for the week.
At 50th on the money list, a win or second place finish could mean a PGA TOUR card. He’s currently projected to finish 22nd.
Follow his progress in the final round
Five to watch in battle for The 25
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — There are several players shuffling around at the 25 spot on the projected money list. Here’s five players to keep an eye on as we get ready for the 2:30 p.m. ET Golf Channel broadcast.
Ken Duke (36th on the money list) — The veteran’s back is finally cooperating with him this season, enough for two top-3 finishes. He survived the tough windy conditions of the third round with a 70. Duke said after his round that the tough conditions would be in his favor, as a super low round wouldn’t be necessary.
Daniel Chopra (24th on the money list) — Chopra made a big statement in the second round when he broke the course record with a flawless 62. He stumbled a bit in the third when he shot 77, but with Kokrak off to a tough start today, he has a chance to move forward again. Chopra won earlier this year at the Fresh Express Classic.
Camilo Benedetti (49th on the money list) — Benedetti kicked off his week with a 67 to add his name to The 25 conversation. He’s grinded through the wind and cold to keep himself 5-under for the week. The way the projected standings are looking, he’ll need a win to get his TOUR card.
David Lingmerth (50th on the money list) — The Swede is 1-under through 12 in his final round. He’s only projected to get to 33rd at this point, which will be good enough to skip to the final round of q-school. The back at the Ralston Creek Course is not easy, but if he can find a few birdies, he could improve his position. He finished third at last week’s Winn-Dixie Open to get here.
Scott Brown (21st on the money list) — Brown entered this week knowing his PGA TOUR card for 2012 was not secure. He surprised everyone with a 67 in nasty conditions yesterday to move up the leaderboard as everyone around him struggled. If Brown can stay steady in this final round he should be able to keep his top 25 position.
Blixt on the move at Daniel Island
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — Jonas Blixt entered this week as the highest ranked player on the money list without a win, but with three-straight birdies on the front nine he may not leave that way.
Overnight leader Jason Kokrak kicked off his round double bogey-bogey to drop down the board and leave the final round wide open.
Fifth-ranked Blixt saw the opening and birdied five, six and seven. A good time to get on a hot streak, but he now enters the more difficult part of the Ralston Creek Course. Eight, nine and 10 have only yielded seven birdies total to the field in the final round. The back side of the course is less protected from the windy conditions and has been described by players as “brutal.”
Blixt is also in a position to take the money title with a win. With J.J. Killeen in the clubhouse 5-over for the week, that $180,000 paycheck would give him a big boost.
View Blixt’s scorecard here
Keep an eye on top 40 in finale
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. — The leaders have teed off at the Nationwide Tour Championship and the final round is in full swing.
The biggest focus is on The 25 today, but there’s another bubble to keep an eye on. Players who finish inside the top 40 get to skip ahead to the final round of q-school. When the week started, the bubble looked like this:
35. Matt Davidson (started today T23)36. Ken Duke (started today T2)37. Brian Smock (started today T31)38. Paul Claxton (started today T26)39. Jeff Gove (started today T8)40. Will Wilcox (started today T19)41. Matt Hendrix (shot 83 in his final round)42. Bubba Dickerson (shot 77 in his final round)43. Aaron Watkins (started today T26)44. Rob Oppenheim (started today T31)45. Casey Wittenberg (started today T26)
With Ken Duke currently in the lead, he’s likely to make it inside the 25. Wittenberg, Oppenheim and Watkins need to start finding some birdies if they’re going to make a move up the money list. Bubble boy Wilcox is currently projected to move up to 35th.
Camilo Benedetti is another player to watch. He’s one stroke off the lead and started the week ranked 49th. If he can hold his position, he may be able to move into The 25, but he’s at least put himself in position for a top-40 money list finish.
Follow the final round at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
Tune in: Card ceremony live online
After Sunday’s last putt drops and the winner receives the Nationwide Tour Championship trophy, the 25 graduates will be feted at a card ceremony on the grounds of Daniel Island.
PGATOUR.COM will begin streaming the always lively event at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony will feature the graduates, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee and Nationwide Insurance’s chief marketing officer Matt Jauchius, with player family, friends and associates in the audience.
Follow all the final-round action at Daniel Island on our leaderboard
