COLLEGE KIDS LEAD THE PROS IN US NATIONWIDE TOUR EVENT
FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Saturday was College Spirit Day at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational so it seemed only fitting that a couple of recent college graduates stole the spotlight from the professionals.
Louisiana State Universitiy's John Peterson birdied three of his final five holes and maintained his lead after three rounds at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course. Peterson's 14-under 199 total is one shot better than college rival Harris English of Georgia University, who carded a bogey-free 68.
"We had our college stuff on and it was just the two of us out there together. It really didn't feel like a professional tournament," said English, dressed in his red Bulldog shirt. "We were joking on the range that we thought our college coaches were going to show up at some point, and they still might."
If they do, they'll find a couple of relaxed 22-year olds who aren't feeling any pressure and have nothing to lose. Neither will count in the money payoff in the $800,000 event, so the first-place check of $144,000 will go to the highest finishing pro.
Currently that honour falls to Texas Christian University gradyate and rookie pro James Sacheck, who charged into contention by matching the course record with an 8-under 63. Sacheck's 11-under total puts him three back of the leader, Peterson, who has held a one-shot advantage after each of the first three rounds.
"You never know who's going to play well. It might be you, it might be the guy you're playing with, it might ba a guy three or four back and they beat you by five," said Peterson, who hit 16 greens but had 32 putts. "You've always got to stay aggressive, especially on this Tour. It's not like you're playing a U.S. Open where pars are good, pars don't get you anywhere here."
Columbus native Kyle Reifers (68), Kansas State's Aaron Watkins (68) and 38-year old Brian Smock (69) of San Diego are tied for fourth place, four off the pace.
Leading money winner Mathew Goggin (66) of Australia and Clemson's Matt Hendrix (68) are tied for seventh, five back.
Reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Peter Uihlein (70) of Oklahoma State is one of four players tied for ninth heading into Sunday chase
Peterson, dressed in a yellow LSU shirt and purple pants, struggled through most the day and had fallen back to even-par for the day after a bogey at No. 12. He was at 11-under and two back of his playing partner, English.
"I didn't hit it good early," said Peterson, winner of the 2011 NCAA Individual Championship. "I needed to finish strong because Harry had me by a few."
Birdies at Nos. 14, 16 and 18 restored the order just as it stood after the second round.
English, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Saturday, turned the front nine in 3-under par to overtake his playing partner and friend for the lead.
"I played solid today and kept the ball in front of me and felt like I hit a lot of greens," said English, winner of last week's prestigious Southern Amateur Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida.
"I left myself in good spots, which is what you have to do out here. I didn't really let anything get away from me and made a lot of pars."
English also hit 16 greens in regulation but faced a bundle of birdie putts from 20-feet-plus on the back nine and had to settle for nine consecutive pars coming in.
* There have been two previous amateurs who have won on the Nationwide Tour --Daniel Summerhays 2007, Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. Russell Henley, 2011 Stadion Classic at UGA.
* There are three amateurs currently in the top 10 -- John Peterson (1st), Harris English (2nd) and Peter Uihlein (T9). None of the three are eligible to receive any money and the final payouts will be divided only among the professionals. First-place money is worth $144,000 and second-place money is $86,400.
* Leading Nationwide Tour money winner Mathew Goggin also moved into contention with a 5-under 66. Goggin won the Panama Claro Championship to open the season and was also victorious at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open. A win here would give Goggin the Tour's "3-win promotion" to the US PGA Tour for the rest of this season. He is 9-under for the tournament and tied for seventh.
* Kyle Reifers is T2 in Driving Accuracy (31 of 42 --73.8 percent) and first in Greens in Regulation (46 of 54 -- 85.2 percent). He is tied for 48th in Total Putts with 92.
* Harris English continues to lead in Total Putts (80) despite 31 putts in Saturday's round.
* John Peterson leads the field in Total Birdies with 20.
* Matthew Richardson is the leading Brit on three-under 210 with scores of 73, 67 and 70 for a share of 34th place. Inverness exile Russell Knox is tied for 58th place on 214 with scores of 67, 73 and 73. Richardson's English compatriot Gary Christian is joint 61st with 73, 69 and 73 for 215.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Saturday was College Spirit Day at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational so it seemed only fitting that a couple of recent college graduates stole the spotlight from the professionals.
Louisiana State Universitiy's John Peterson birdied three of his final five holes and maintained his lead after three rounds at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course. Peterson's 14-under 199 total is one shot better than college rival Harris English of Georgia University, who carded a bogey-free 68.
"We had our college stuff on and it was just the two of us out there together. It really didn't feel like a professional tournament," said English, dressed in his red Bulldog shirt. "We were joking on the range that we thought our college coaches were going to show up at some point, and they still might."
If they do, they'll find a couple of relaxed 22-year olds who aren't feeling any pressure and have nothing to lose. Neither will count in the money payoff in the $800,000 event, so the first-place check of $144,000 will go to the highest finishing pro.
Currently that honour falls to Texas Christian University gradyate and rookie pro James Sacheck, who charged into contention by matching the course record with an 8-under 63. Sacheck's 11-under total puts him three back of the leader, Peterson, who has held a one-shot advantage after each of the first three rounds.
"You never know who's going to play well. It might be you, it might be the guy you're playing with, it might ba a guy three or four back and they beat you by five," said Peterson, who hit 16 greens but had 32 putts. "You've always got to stay aggressive, especially on this Tour. It's not like you're playing a U.S. Open where pars are good, pars don't get you anywhere here."
Columbus native Kyle Reifers (68), Kansas State's Aaron Watkins (68) and 38-year old Brian Smock (69) of San Diego are tied for fourth place, four off the pace.
Leading money winner Mathew Goggin (66) of Australia and Clemson's Matt Hendrix (68) are tied for seventh, five back.
Reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Peter Uihlein (70) of Oklahoma State is one of four players tied for ninth heading into Sunday chase
Peterson, dressed in a yellow LSU shirt and purple pants, struggled through most the day and had fallen back to even-par for the day after a bogey at No. 12. He was at 11-under and two back of his playing partner, English.
"I didn't hit it good early," said Peterson, winner of the 2011 NCAA Individual Championship. "I needed to finish strong because Harry had me by a few."
Birdies at Nos. 14, 16 and 18 restored the order just as it stood after the second round.
English, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Saturday, turned the front nine in 3-under par to overtake his playing partner and friend for the lead.
"I played solid today and kept the ball in front of me and felt like I hit a lot of greens," said English, winner of last week's prestigious Southern Amateur Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida.
"I left myself in good spots, which is what you have to do out here. I didn't really let anything get away from me and made a lot of pars."
English also hit 16 greens in regulation but faced a bundle of birdie putts from 20-feet-plus on the back nine and had to settle for nine consecutive pars coming in.
* There have been two previous amateurs who have won on the Nationwide Tour --Daniel Summerhays 2007, Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. Russell Henley, 2011 Stadion Classic at UGA.
* There are three amateurs currently in the top 10 -- John Peterson (1st), Harris English (2nd) and Peter Uihlein (T9). None of the three are eligible to receive any money and the final payouts will be divided only among the professionals. First-place money is worth $144,000 and second-place money is $86,400.
* Leading Nationwide Tour money winner Mathew Goggin also moved into contention with a 5-under 66. Goggin won the Panama Claro Championship to open the season and was also victorious at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open. A win here would give Goggin the Tour's "3-win promotion" to the US PGA Tour for the rest of this season. He is 9-under for the tournament and tied for seventh.
* Kyle Reifers is T2 in Driving Accuracy (31 of 42 --73.8 percent) and first in Greens in Regulation (46 of 54 -- 85.2 percent). He is tied for 48th in Total Putts with 92.
* Harris English continues to lead in Total Putts (80) despite 31 putts in Saturday's round.
* John Peterson leads the field in Total Birdies with 20.
* Matthew Richardson is the leading Brit on three-under 210 with scores of 73, 67 and 70 for a share of 34th place. Inverness exile Russell Knox is tied for 58th place on 214 with scores of 67, 73 and 73. Richardson's English compatriot Gary Christian is joint 61st with 73, 69 and 73 for 215.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
Labels: NATIONWIDE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, July 24, 2011
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