KOKRAK AND CHOPRA SHARE NATIONWIDE TOUR LEAD
FROM THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour staff
MIAMI, Florida -- Jason Kokrak and Daniel Chopra, a pair of tournament winners this year, posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead in the Miccosukee Championship.
Kokrak, winner of the Albertsons Boise Open last month, was the first player off the tee in the morning and put together a bogey-free effort that held up for most the opening round at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
Chopra, winner of the Fresh Express Classic back in April, dunked a wedge from 112 yards on the final hole for an eagle-2 and a spot the top.
"Its one of those that just looks so good, you're hoping it's the right distance," said Chopra, who was making up for a bogey at the previous hole. "This makes dinner taste better, that's all it does for me. It's just a number on the board now."
Brett Wetterich, winner of the Chitimacha Louisiana Open back in March, heads a group of six players tied for third at 6-under 65. Tyrone Van Aswegen, Mark Anderson, Scott Sterling, Cameron Percy and Diego Velasquez are also two back of the co-leaders.
Nine players -- including defending champion Jason Gore -- are in at 5-under 66.
Wetterich had, perhaps, the most interesting round of the bunch. The 38-year old got a call in the pre-dawn hours that his wife was going into labour -- 1,100 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"It was tough," he said of his day that included four straight birdies to close out his round. "I was thinking about Erin a bunch today and wish I could be there with her. She wasn't due until Monday and I was hoping it wouldn't happen until then. We talked about it and we came up with a plan. She knows I need to be here, even though I'd rather be there."
The 38-year old sat down to lunch when he got the call that his wife had just given birth to the couple's second child, and first son.
"If I was 10th on the money list or better, I probably wouldn't have come this week," said Wetterich, who is No. 24 with only three weeks left in the season. "I'm not in that position and this is a critical point in the year. We came up with a plan and we stuck with it. I'll see them first chance I get."
Kokrak is No. 15 on the money list and comes into the week much more relaxed after taking a breather from competition. Despite a head cold and congestion, the time away was a bonus for the 26-year old from Ohio, now living near Orlando. He went an entire week without hitting a shot.
"It was such a whirlwind after winning in Boise," he said. "There was a lot of stuff going on the next week, then I wound up missing the cut the next week because I was just going through the motions. I didn't play bad but my head wasn't in it."
His head is clear and his concentration was up to par on Thursday and on display at the shortened, par-4, 7thhole. Kokrak, No. 1 on Tour in Average Driving Distance (322 yards) figured he'd gamble because the tee was moved forward and it measured about 320 yards to the front edge of the green.
What he didn't figure was knocking the ball over the green and into the water.
"We had a helping wind and I thought I could get it pretty close," he said. "I took my drop on the cart path, then took relief from the path and then just heaved it up on the green and it rolled right in the hole. It was an odd birdie, for sure."
Odd or not, it helped stake him to a lead that looked solid until Chopra's closer.
Chopra needs a good finish this week. The 37-year old from Sweden was No. 2 on the money list when he won in California but has been sinking slowly ever since.
"I think I may have been trying too hard. I might have put too much pressure on myself," he said. "I felt that I had gotten off to such a great start that I have to take advantage of it. I honestly don't care now. I've cared the whole year and I've been slipping and falling further and further back. Now I'm at the point where I say to hell with it, just go out and finish the year off."
Maybe not the year, but the transplanted Floridian sure knew how to finish his round off in style.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour staff
MIAMI, Florida -- Jason Kokrak and Daniel Chopra, a pair of tournament winners this year, posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead in the Miccosukee Championship.
Kokrak, winner of the Albertsons Boise Open last month, was the first player off the tee in the morning and put together a bogey-free effort that held up for most the opening round at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
Chopra, winner of the Fresh Express Classic back in April, dunked a wedge from 112 yards on the final hole for an eagle-2 and a spot the top.
"Its one of those that just looks so good, you're hoping it's the right distance," said Chopra, who was making up for a bogey at the previous hole. "This makes dinner taste better, that's all it does for me. It's just a number on the board now."
Brett Wetterich, winner of the Chitimacha Louisiana Open back in March, heads a group of six players tied for third at 6-under 65. Tyrone Van Aswegen, Mark Anderson, Scott Sterling, Cameron Percy and Diego Velasquez are also two back of the co-leaders.
Nine players -- including defending champion Jason Gore -- are in at 5-under 66.
Wetterich had, perhaps, the most interesting round of the bunch. The 38-year old got a call in the pre-dawn hours that his wife was going into labour -- 1,100 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"It was tough," he said of his day that included four straight birdies to close out his round. "I was thinking about Erin a bunch today and wish I could be there with her. She wasn't due until Monday and I was hoping it wouldn't happen until then. We talked about it and we came up with a plan. She knows I need to be here, even though I'd rather be there."
The 38-year old sat down to lunch when he got the call that his wife had just given birth to the couple's second child, and first son.
"If I was 10th on the money list or better, I probably wouldn't have come this week," said Wetterich, who is No. 24 with only three weeks left in the season. "I'm not in that position and this is a critical point in the year. We came up with a plan and we stuck with it. I'll see them first chance I get."
Kokrak is No. 15 on the money list and comes into the week much more relaxed after taking a breather from competition. Despite a head cold and congestion, the time away was a bonus for the 26-year old from Ohio, now living near Orlando. He went an entire week without hitting a shot.
"It was such a whirlwind after winning in Boise," he said. "There was a lot of stuff going on the next week, then I wound up missing the cut the next week because I was just going through the motions. I didn't play bad but my head wasn't in it."
His head is clear and his concentration was up to par on Thursday and on display at the shortened, par-4, 7thhole. Kokrak, No. 1 on Tour in Average Driving Distance (322 yards) figured he'd gamble because the tee was moved forward and it measured about 320 yards to the front edge of the green.
What he didn't figure was knocking the ball over the green and into the water.
"We had a helping wind and I thought I could get it pretty close," he said. "I took my drop on the cart path, then took relief from the path and then just heaved it up on the green and it rolled right in the hole. It was an odd birdie, for sure."
Odd or not, it helped stake him to a lead that looked solid until Chopra's closer.
Chopra needs a good finish this week. The 37-year old from Sweden was No. 2 on the money list when he won in California but has been sinking slowly ever since.
"I think I may have been trying too hard. I might have put too much pressure on myself," he said. "I felt that I had gotten off to such a great start that I have to take advantage of it. I honestly don't care now. I've cared the whole year and I've been slipping and falling further and further back. Now I'm at the point where I say to hell with it, just go out and finish the year off."
Maybe not the year, but the transplanted Floridian sure knew how to finish his round off in style.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
Labels: NATIONWIDE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, October 14, 2011
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