MARTIN LAIRD BIRDIES
LAST TO WIN $90,000
FIRST PRIZE IN USA
Martin Laird bravely holed a birdie putt at the last hole to win the Athens Regional Foundation Classic and the $90,000 first prize by a single shot in Georgia today.
The 24-year-old Glaswegian, a winner on the Gateway Tour in the States last year, was winning on the Nationwide Tour – America’s No 2 pro circuit – for the first time.
It was an impressive front-running display by the 6ft 2in Scot (pictured right) who turned pro in 2004 after four good years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
He led the Athens Regional Foundation Classic stats in driving distance (averaging a phenomenal 327 yards off the tee), hitting fairways and greens in regulation (80.6%).
Although Martin averaged 1.759 putts per hole, he was only 34th in the stats, which shows how good the standard of putting is over there.
Laird had rounds of 66, 67, 70 and 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272. He led by four shots at the halfway stage but his lead had been cut to one with 18 holes to play.
In the end the Scot won by one shot from two charging Americans, Justin Bolli (74-68-65-66) and Jeremy Anderson (68-73-66-66).
Bolli had an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th in his final round. Bolli’s. only bogey came at the fourth.
Anderson bogeyed the third and then birdied the seventh, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th, covering the last nine hole sin only 30 strokes.
The pair really put the pressure on Laird who bogeyed the third but steadied up with birdies at the fourth and sixth in an outward one-under-par 35. Then Martin birdied the 10th, 13th and 14th before wobbling with bogeys at the 15th and 16th. That allowed Bolli and Anderson to catch him so that Laird had to birdie the long 18th to avoid a play-off.
That he did secure a 4 for victory speaks volumes for the Scot’s ability to respond to intense pressure.
Laird had 24 birdies over the 72 holes. He had only one bogey in the first round and none at all in the second. But seven bogeys over the final 36 holes allowed the field to close up on him.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
272 M Laird Sco) 66 67 70 69.
273 J Bolli (US) 74 68 65 66, J Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other totals:
284 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 75 (jt 39th).
285 G Christian (Eng) 71 72 72 70 (jt 46th).
Martin Laird bravely holed a birdie putt at the last hole to win the Athens Regional Foundation Classic and the $90,000 first prize by a single shot in Georgia today.
The 24-year-old Glaswegian, a winner on the Gateway Tour in the States last year, was winning on the Nationwide Tour – America’s No 2 pro circuit – for the first time.
It was an impressive front-running display by the 6ft 2in Scot (pictured right) who turned pro in 2004 after four good years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
He led the Athens Regional Foundation Classic stats in driving distance (averaging a phenomenal 327 yards off the tee), hitting fairways and greens in regulation (80.6%).
Although Martin averaged 1.759 putts per hole, he was only 34th in the stats, which shows how good the standard of putting is over there.
Laird had rounds of 66, 67, 70 and 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272. He led by four shots at the halfway stage but his lead had been cut to one with 18 holes to play.
In the end the Scot won by one shot from two charging Americans, Justin Bolli (74-68-65-66) and Jeremy Anderson (68-73-66-66).
Bolli had an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th in his final round. Bolli’s. only bogey came at the fourth.
Anderson bogeyed the third and then birdied the seventh, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th, covering the last nine hole sin only 30 strokes.
The pair really put the pressure on Laird who bogeyed the third but steadied up with birdies at the fourth and sixth in an outward one-under-par 35. Then Martin birdied the 10th, 13th and 14th before wobbling with bogeys at the 15th and 16th. That allowed Bolli and Anderson to catch him so that Laird had to birdie the long 18th to avoid a play-off.
That he did secure a 4 for victory speaks volumes for the Scot’s ability to respond to intense pressure.
Laird had 24 birdies over the 72 holes. He had only one bogey in the first round and none at all in the second. But seven bogeys over the final 36 holes allowed the field to close up on him.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
272 M Laird Sco) 66 67 70 69.
273 J Bolli (US) 74 68 65 66, J Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other totals:
284 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 75 (jt 39th).
285 G Christian (Eng) 71 72 72 70 (jt 46th).
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, April 22, 2007
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