Stuard earns breakthrough win with brilliant approach shot in Zurich Classic play-off

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM

By Alex Myers

A Monday morning finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans went on even longer when three players finished tied at the end of 54 holes. For Brian Stuard, though, waiting a bit more for his first US PGA Tour title was no problem.

The 33-year-old Michigan native had already shown plenty of patience as a tour pro. But after going winless in 100 career starts on the Web.com Tour and in 119 attempts on the US PGA Tour, Stuard finally broke through in his 120th try in New Orleans. And he did it in dramatic fashion.

After Byeong-hun An was eliminated on the first hole of sudden death, Stuard and Jamie Lovemark went back to the 18th tee. And after a poor drive cause him to have lay well back for his third shot on the par 5, Stuard delivered the best clutch shot of his life:

He converted a short birdie putt to beat Lovemark and pick up a title that gives him a spot in next year's Masters as well as some much-needed job security.

"For me, playing out of the 125 to 150 category, and then winning this week, that makes this year and next year, easy, I guess," said Stuard, who entered this week at 184th in the FedEx Cup standings and with just $70,095 in earnings this season.
Stuart, Lovemark and An tied at the rain-reduced tournament distance of 54 holes with a total each of 201

LEADING FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY

1   +Brian Stuard         64   68   69   201    $1,260,000
T2 Byeong-Hun An   68   68   65   201    $616,000
T2 Jamie Lovemark   67   66   68   201   $616,000
4   Bobby Wyatt          67   71   64   202   $336,000
T5 Chris Kirk             71   67   65   203   $255,500
T5 Jason Day             69   68   66   203   $255,500
T5 Jhonattan Vegas   64   69   70   203   $255,500
T8 Patton Kizzire       67   70   68   205   $203,000
T8 Harold Varner, III 69   67   69   205   $203,000
T8 Bryce Molder      71   67   67   205   $203,000
T11 Charles Howell    67   69   70   206   $154,000
T11 Charley Hoffman 67   73   66   206   $154,000
T11 Scott Stallings   72   68   66   206   $154,000
T11 Stuart Appleby   69   70   67   206   $154,000
T15 Thomas Aiken   68   69   70   207   $112,000
T15 Chad Collins      72   64   71   207   $112,000
T15 Andres Gonzales 69   71   67   207   $112,000
T15 Will Wilcox       70   69   68   207   $112,000
T15 Spencer Levin   68   70   69   207   $112,000
T20 Joe Affrunti       69   73   66   208   $64,909
T20 John Senden      70   67   71   208   $64,909
T20 Seung-yul Noh 68   69   71   208   $64,909
T20 Marc Leishman 71   71   66   208   $64,909
T20 Daniel Berger   71   65   72   208   $64,909
T20 Chesson Hadley 71   69   68   208   $64,909
T20 David Hearn      69   71   68   208   $64,909
T20 Rickie Fowler   68   73   67   208   $64,909
T20 Ryan Ruffels      70   68   70   208   $64,909
T20 Gary Woodland 72   66   70   208   $64,909
T20 Chris Stroud       72   66   70   208   $64,909

SELECTED TOTAL
T48 Jamie Donaldson   73   69   69   211   $16,968

    +Stuard won three-man play-off at second extra hole.

Labels: US PGA TOUR

Brian Stuard wins three-man play-off at Zurich Classic

It's a three-way play-off to the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Lousiana.

Reduced from four rounds to three because of ongoing torrential rain, here are the leading placings at the end of 54 holes this morning
Later news: South Korean Beyeong-Hun An was eliminated at the first extra hole, the par-5 18th, which he bogeyed.
Americans Brian Stuard and Jamie Lovemark both had par 5s and will play the 18th once more.
Even later news: Stuard birdied the second extra hole to win the first prize of well over $1million.

T1 B. An -15 (eliminated with bogey 6 at first play-off hole)
T1 B. Stuard -15 (par 5 at first play-off hole, par-5 18th, birdie 4 at second extra hole, also the par-5 18th).
T1 J. Lovemark -15 (par 5 at first play-off hole, par-5 18th, par 5 at second extra hole to lose the play-off.
4 B. Wyatt -14 F
T5 C. Kirk -13 F
T5 J. Day -13 F

Labels: US PGA TOUR

Royal Troon won’t be mixed-gender

club before Open championship

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM

By John Strege

The Open will be played at Royal Troon for the ninth time this summer, yet it “will definitely not be a mixed gender club before hosting this year's Open Championship, although the club is on course to vote on the controversial issue by the end of the year,” Phil Casey of the Press Association writes.

Royal Troon Golf Club's men-only clubhouse. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

“A ‘comprehensive review’ of membership policy was announced by Royal Troon Golf Club in January 2015 and the issue will not be resolved until the ‘back end’ of 2016. club captain Martin Cheyne told Press Association Sport:

‘What’s important is that we do this thoroughly and properly. We have 138 years of history across the two clubs (Troon Ladies is a separate club) and it’s important that we get this right.’”

Royal Troon shares facilities with the Ladies Golf Club, Troon, and both clubs are involved in hosting the Open.

**Getty Images**
The Postage Stamp, the renowned par-3 eighth hole at Royal Troon.
If you miss it left, there's a bunker will gather it up. It you miss it right, you will be several yards below the level of the green and that bunker on left will be at the back of the green as you play it from the lower level. If you are short or long with your tee shot, there's also trouble waiting for you.
You have to hit the green and one or two-putt. Some people have been lucky enough to get holes in one!

Labels: GOLF NEWS

Doherty and Kay in the MENA Tour mix

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scots Paul Doherty and Daniel Kay were sharing fourth place on three-under-par 69 at the end of the first round of the MENA Tour event, the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates today (Monday).

Former Scottish U18 boys champion Doherty had six birdies in his his round. Kay, who hails from Dunbar, had four but only one bogey.
Aberdonian Clarke Lutton, whose 28th birthday it is today, was tied 43rd with a 75.
Scottish amateur Ben Alexander had a 78 for a share of 66th place.
Englishmen Zane Scotland and Craig Hinton shared the lead on five-under-par 67.
Scotland had a bag of eight birdies and Hinton six, including four of the last five holes.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 Z Scotland (Eng), C Hinton (Eng)
68 M Tunnicliff (Eng)
69 J Shepherd (Eng), M Goyal (India), S Dodd (Wal), P Doherty (Sco), R Thomas (India) (am), D Kay (Sco), J Alm (Swe).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
75 C Lutton (T43)
78 B Alexander (am) (T66)

Labels: MENA TOUR

Aboyne to host Ryder Cup Open Pairs

North-east Qualifier

NEWS RELEASE
Aboyne Golf Club is celebrating after being chosen to host the Ryder Cup Open Pairs competition for North-east Scotland. The regional qualifier will be held on Saturday, May 14 at Aboyne

with some 240 players scheduled to take part during the day.
Aboyne club president Scott Mackie said "We are absolutely delighted to be hosting this prestigious event with a chance to win an all-expenses trip to the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Minnesota in September.
"The competition has attracted a lot of interest from player's right across Aberdeenshire and we look forward to showcasing our course which is in fabulous condition, thanks to the sterling efforts of our head greenkeeper, Colin Forbes, and his hard working team. It promises to be a great day."

Managing Secretary Allan Taylor added "the competition is open to players over 18 years of age with any combination of pairs playing in a better-ball stableford format. The best net and best gross scores will play in the final at Piperdam Golf Resort near Dundee. The lucky winning pairs at Piperdam will have a trip of a lifetime to witness first-hand the excitement and atmosphere of the Ryder Cup. What a fantastic prize to win."

There are a few places still available for the Aboyne competition on 14th May. Entries can be booked on line at www.aboynegolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=36061 or by contacting the Managing Secretary.

Contact

Allan Taylor, Managing Secretary

Aboyne Golf Club, Formaston Park, Aboyne Aberdeenshire, AB34 5HP

Tel: 013398 86328

Email: aboynegolfclub@btconnect.com aboynegcmarketing@gmail.com

Labels: Amateur Men

Gunn 27th in Web.com Tour money table: top

25 at end of season will go up to US PGA Tour

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Dingwall-born Jimmy Gunn finished tied 7th and earned $18,700 for rounds of 71, 69, 74 and 67 for seven-under 281 - five behind the winner, Irishman Seamus Power, who earned $108,000 in the Web.com Tour's weekend event at Victoria National Golf Club, Newburgh in Indiana.
Gunn has earned $48,950 this season and is 27th in the Web.com Tour money table. The top 25 at the end of the season will gain promotion to the US PGA.
This was Gunn's second top-10 finish of the season. He tied sixth in Columbia last month.

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY
IN WEEKEND WEB.COM TOUR EVENT

PAR 288 (4X72) YARDAGE 7242

1	Seamus Power	69	70	70	67	.	276	$108,000
T2	Jonathan Randolph	71	68	71	67		277	$44,800
T2	Cody Gribble	71	69	68	69		277	$44,800
T2	Adam Schenk	69	70	68	70		277	$44,800
5	Roger Sloan	71	73	65	69		278	$24,000
6	Jin Park	69	75	69	67		280	$21,600
T7	Curtis Thompson	71	73	72	65		281	$18,700
T7	Jimmy Gunn	71	69	74	67		281	$18,700
T7	Ollie Schniederjans	73	69	67	72		281	$18,700

Labels: PRO GOLF

Monday shoot-out for US PGA Tour event
- By Brian Allee-Walsh, Special to PGATOUR.COM .

AVONDALE, Louisiana -- Torrential rains once again wreaked havoc at TPC Louisiana, causing US PGA TOUR officials to suspend third-round play Sunday and shorten the waterlogged Zurich Classic of New Orleans to 54 holes.
Play will resume play Monday at 7 a.m. local time, weather permitting.
Co-leaders Brian Stuard and Jhonattan Vegas share the lead at 13 under through 41 holes after managing to play five holes before play was suspended at 10:08 a.m.
Stuard is seeking his first win on the US PGA TOUR, Vegas his second.
"(Winning) would mean a lot,'' said Stuard, who has scrambled his way into contention with a perfect 17 of 17 up and downs from around the greens. "It would be a dream come true.''

Vegas is trying to add to his pair of top-10 finishes on TOUR this season.
"Your mindset changes a lot,'' said Vegas when asked about the tournament being shortened from 72 holes to 54. "You have less holes to play and being near the lead you have to make sure that you stay aggressive and start making some birdies because anything could happen.''

(Getty Images)

ACHTUNG! GERMAN BOYS'

1-2-3 FINISH AT FAIRHAVEN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

German boys filled the first three places in the prestigious Fairhaven Trophies 72-hole junior golf tournament at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire today.

Nick Bachem won by six shots with scores of 74, 71, 72 and 70 for one-under-par 287.

Compatrots David Rauch (76-74-71-72) and Marc Hammer (74-74-71-74) tied for second place on 293.

Lily Humphreys (Hintlesham) won the girls' title with scores of 77, 75, 73 and 74 for a total of 299 over the par-75 girls' course. Amelia Williamson (Royal Cromer) was the girls' runner-up with 82, 70, 74 and 81 for 307.

Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly), sharing the lead after opening rounds of 76 and 69, had Sunday scores of 79 and 80 for a total of 304 and a tied 18th finish.ends

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

Irishman Seamus Power wins first Web.com

Tour title after rivals collapse

Sometimes you need some help to get your first win.
That was exactly the case for Irishman Seamus Power, who got into the clubhouse Sunday at the Web.com Tour's United Leasing and Finance Championship at 12 under and watched as others ahead of him fell back at the Victoria National Golf Club, Newburgh in Indiana.
When Power posted at 12 under, Roger Sloan sat at 14 under with two holes to play and Cody Gribble (also through 16) was posted up at 13 under.
Sloan, though, would finish with consecutive double bogeys to fall to solo fifth. Gribble posted a bogey-bogey finish to fall one short in a tie for second.
Consequently, Power, in his 33rd Web.com Tour start, had his first victory on the circuit.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in. Crazy day,” Power said. “But, yeah, obviously, over the moon. It’s going to take me a couple hours to figure out what it all means, but yeah, right now I’m just very happy and obviously over the moon.”
Even if the others faltered down the stretch, Power did need to put in the work to even reach 12 under. The 29-year-old Irishman posted a final-round 67 that included consecutive 15-footers (for birdie on 17, for par on 18) to end his round on a high note.
The 12-under number was a strong one to post in the clubhouse, but Power didn’t have the impression it would be enough for the trophy.
“To be honest, I was just trying to post a number and hope for the best,” Power said. “I knew the finish was playing very, very difficult, so to pick one up at 17 was a huge bonus. Then got a good up and down at the last after a poor second shot. So when I finished I didn’t think it was going to win, but I saw some of the guys dropping shots and just hoped for the best.”
The best indeed arrived. Sloan’s double bogey pair put him out of the running, but Gribble’s late fall proved the most dramatic event of the week.
The American bogeyed 17 and would need a par on 18 to force a playoff with Power. His tee shot found the fairway, leaving him an opportunity for his second-shot into a green closely guarded by water on the right.
The lefty’s approach, however good it looked for a time, ended up sinking Gribble’s chances. Playing a draw, Gribble saw his ball drift just right of the flag, land five feet from the hole pin high and then proceed to roll off the green, down a bank and into the water.
The seemingly gorgeous second shot turned into a tournament-ender. Gribble would bogey the hole to finish one behind. After Adam Schenk, the 54-hole leader, missed a 20-footer for birdie at the last, Power was the official champion.
Power’s first win jumped him to seventh on the Web.com tour money list in 2016. He previously finished 67th on the circuit’s money list in 2015.
Jonathan Randolph joined Gribble and Schenk (who closed in 2-under 70) in a tie for second. Ollie Schniederjans finished T-7 at 7 under, and Jack Maguire placed in a tie for 10th one further back.

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY
PAR 288 (4X72) YARDAGE 7242

1	Seamus Power	69	70	70	67	.	276	$108,000
T2	Jonathan Randolph	71	68	71	67		277	$44,800
T2	Cody Gribble	71	69	68	69		277	$44,800
T2	Adam Schenk	69	70	68	70		277	$44,800
5	Roger Sloan	71	73	65	69		278	$24,000
6	Jin Park	69	75	69	67		280	$21,600
T7	Curtis Thompson	71	73	72	65		281	$18,700
T7	Jimmy Gunn	71	69	74	67		281	$18,700
T7	Ollie Schniederjans	73	69	67	72		281	$18,700
T10	Ryan Blaum	74	70	71	67		282	$14,400
T10	Jack Maguire	69	70	71	72		282	$14,400
T10	Greg Chalmers	68	71	70	73		282	$14,400
T10	Ben Kohles	71	69	69	73		282	$14,400
T14	Richy Werenski	70	74	69	70		283	$10,500
T14	Joel Dahmen	73	69	70	71		283	$10,500
T14	Daniel Mazziotta	72	69	69	73		283	$10,500
T14	Ted Potter Jr.	69	71	70	73		283	$10,500
T18	Wesley Bryan	71	73	69	71		284	$8,700
T18	Bhavik Patel	65	69	74	76		284	$8,700
T20	Rafael Campos	78	65	72	70		285	$7,240
T20	Mark Silvers	75	70	73	67		285	$7,240
T20	Ryan Spears	71	71	72	71		285	$7,240
T23	Timothy Madigan	71	70	74	71		286	$5,760
T23	J.T. Poston	77	69	72	68		286	$5,760
T23	Sebastian Vazquez	75	63	70	78		286	$5,760
T26	Brad Elder	73	72	71	71		287	$4,540
T26	Chris Baker	71	74	72	70		287	$4,540
T26	Rick Cochran III	74	72	73	68		287	$4,540
T26	Brett Drewitt	71	72	68	76		287	$4,540
T26	J.J. Spaun	73	73	74	67		287	$4,540
T31	Mark D. Anderson	73	69	74	72		288	$3,660
T31	Zack Sucher	71	72	74	71		288	$3,660
T31	Bo Hoag	72	73	72	71		288	$3,660
T31	Scott Gardiner	72	69	74	73		288	$3,660
T31	Bryden MacPherson	73	73	71	71		288	$3,660
T36	John Merrick	73	71	73	72		289	$2,723
T36	Andrew Svoboda	69	75	73	72		289	$2,723
T36	Roland Thatcher	73	71	73	72		289	$2,723
T36	Steve Allan	74	70	72	73		289	$2,723
T36	Rodolfo Cazaubon	73	73	71	72	.	289	$2,723
T36	Julian Etulain	75	70	73	71		289	$2,723
T36	Brandon Hagy	68	68	78	75		289	$2,723
T36	Todd Baek	71	74	68	76		289	$2,723
T44	Justin Peters	75	68	75	72		290	$2,100
T44	Kevin Tway	71	73	70	76		290	$2,100
T46	Jim Renner	74	70	74	73		291	$1,812
T46	Byron Smith	73	70	72	76		291	$1,812
T46	Travis Bertoni	69	77	73	72		291	$1,812
T46	Adam Svensson	73	73	73	72		291	$1,812
T46	Craig Barlow	69	76	76	70		291	$1,812
T51	Michael Hebert	72	72	72	76		292	$1,655
T51	Matt Fast	70	72	76	74		292	$1,655
T51	John Rollins	75	71	68	78		292	$1,655
T51	Chris Wilson	75	70	74	73		292	$1,655
T51	Ian Davis	77	69	74	72		292	$1,655
T51	Jeff Gove	74	72	74	72		292	$1,655
T57	Jesse Speirs	74	72	71	76		293	$1,566
T57	Andy Winings	73	73	72	75		293	$1,566
T57	Trey Mullinax	72	72	76	73		293	$1,566
T57	Greg Eason	72	71	77	73		293	$1,566
T57	Adam Long	71	75	74	73		293	$1,566
T57	Taylor Pendrith	73	70	77	73		293	$1,566
63	Doug Letson	70	74	78	75		297	$1,524
T64	Sebastian Cappelen	73	69	73	83		298	$1,506
T64	Steve Flesch	72	69	77	80		298	$1,506
66	Chas Narramore	73	73	75	78		299	$1,488
T67	Peter Tomasulo	77	68	76	79		300	$1,470
T67	Ryan Yip	70	76	75	79		300	$1,470
69	Charles Wang	77	69	83	72		301	$1,452
70	Tommy Cocha	71	74	78	79		302	$1,440
71	Peter Lonard	72	71	79	81		303	$1,42

Labels: NATIONWIDE TOUR

Monday, May 02, 2016