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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on Apr 25, 2022 6:20:53 GMT -5
Event 22 - 2000 Kemper Insurance Open at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm - Round 4
There was hardly a breath of wind for this round, but the greens were like ice, treacherously fast, and rumours had already spread about the round-destroying pin position on the 16th green. Charlie Roberts stumbled his way in Biden-esque fashion to a 75 which left him in last place, but I have no doubt he will again be a force to be reckoned with once he sorts out his swing. Hans Kunok added a 78 to his previous rounds of 74, 67 and 76 to finish one stroke ahead of Charlie, while Bob Fletcher luckily managed a birdie on the frightening 16th on his way to a 68, his best effort of the week. Matching Bob's score was Randy Grant, his second 68 of the event, who narrowly missed out on a top 20 place but should be encouraged by his performance. Randy finished level with the consistent Ian McKinley who registered his second 69 of the tourney, and clinched the Spring Swing trophy in the process. Overnight leader Les Souter had played well all week, and he continued in that vein right up to the feared 16th hole. Les must have somehow upset the Golfing Gods because he walked off the green having completed the hole in 11 strokes, thereby leaving his winning aspirations in ruins for yet another week. The eventual winner was tour pro Tom Scherrer, who finished two shots clear of no less than five other pros.
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on Apr 25, 2022 6:58:10 GMT -5
The SPRING SWING - FINAL STANDINGS
The Spring Swing trophy is awarded to the top money-earner for events 12 to 22 inclusive of the 2000 PGA Tour season. The winner is IAN McKINLEY, so many congratulations to him. Ian also heads the overall season money-list with Tiger Woods in hot pursuit.
This week is the BUICK CLASSIC, the first event in the SUMMER BOWL series of tournaments, which includes 3 Major events.
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on Apr 28, 2022 6:11:26 GMT -5
Event 23 - 2000 BUICK CLASSIC at Friars Head - Round 1
It was quite windy in New York State for the opening round, and the greens were dry and fast. Randy Grant's 68 was a bit of a mixed bag, but he enthused about the greens and the course in general. Ian McKinley did slightly better with a 67, assisted by a very rare animal - a HOLE-IN-ONE on the short par 4 5th!!! Les Souter looked determined to make up for his disappointing finish last week, and his excellent 64 included only one bogey when his putter failed on the 11th. The round of the day surprisingly came from Bob Fletcher, whose sublime 62 provided him with an early 2-shot lead. Bob almost had an ace too, his near miss coming on the par 3 10th, but can he hang on to his lead...?!
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on Apr 29, 2022 6:27:45 GMT -5
Event 23 - 2000 BUICK CLASSIC at Friars Head - Round 2
Less wind but very quick greens were the order of the day. Ian McKinley put his disappointing 71 down to a bad mindset, seemingly caused by missing a 2-foot par putt on the first hole. After the front nine, which included an eagle on the 2nd, Randy Grant looked all set to post a very low score, but a triple-bogey on #10 followed by three bogeys on the way in restricted him to a 68 - still a good score but one that leaves him some distance behind the frontrunners. Les Souter's very good 65 should have been even better, but poor club selection on two par 3's and a 3-putt on #18 put a big dent in his card. Bob Fletcher extended his lead over Les from two strokes to three after he negotiated this round in 64 shots, a score he was delighted with as he quite often has a problem with very fast putting surfaces. However, you wouldn't have thought that when Bob holed a 64-foot downhill eagle putt on the par 5 11th. So it's looking like a two-horse race at the moment, but that could easily change...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 1, 2022 5:43:34 GMT -5
Event 23 - 2000 BUICK CLASSIC at Friars Head - Round 3
The wind had risen during the night and brought with it heavy rain, so the greens will be a little slower than they have been so far this week. Randy Grant's 72 was his worst effort of the tourney, so much so that he called it "pitiful" and was not a happy bunny. Ian McKinley knew he should have scored a lot lower than his 68 and he is now resigned to not winning this week, but instead is looking forward to next week's US Open at Pebble Beach. Les Souter was another unhappy hacker after posting a 70 today, cursing the inconsistent, blustery winds and the apparently inconsistent green speeds. The only reasonably contented guest was Bob Fletcher, who appeared to have found the perfect mindset for this round, the consequence of which was a stunning score of 59. Currently this gives him a huge lead of 14 strokes over Les, his closest adversary, but Charlie Roberts' hasn't finished this round yet and, judging from his scores for the first two rounds, a 61 and an incredible 57, he has become the hot favourite for this event...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 2, 2022 10:36:14 GMT -5
Event 23 - 2000 BUICK CLASSIC at Friars Head - Round 4
Just a light breeze today, and quick greens, conditions that invite good scoring. Although in the top 3 overnight, Les Souter was so disenchanted with the alleged inconsistencies of Friars Head and the wind that he didn't show up for his tee time today, so received a DQ. Ian McKinley's mind was already concentrating on Pebble Beach and today he just went through the motions, posting a poor 75 but still finishing in the top 20. Randy Grant just couldn't find the right lines on the greens today but still managed a fine 65, his best effort of the event and a score that elevated him into 3rd spot. Late starter Charlie Roberts had an 8-stroke lead over Bob Fletcher at halfway, only to lose all his swing timing in Round 3 to shoot a level par 71, while Bob Fletcher took full advantage by carding a 59, thereby overtaking Charlie and creating his own 4-shot lead going into today. Charlie played a lot better in this final round, producing an impressive 63, but Bob was not to be denied, his own 62 rewarding his week's work with the victory, his second of the season having already won the MCI Classic at Harbour Town a couple of months ago. So now we head into the second Major of the season, but Pebble Beach may prove to be a tough challenge...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 5, 2022 5:07:24 GMT -5
Event 24 - 2000 U.S. OPEN at Pebble Beach Golf Links - Round 1
We were at Pebble Beach earlier in the season for the AT&T National Pro-Am, won by Tiger Woods who is one of the favourites for this second Major of the 2000 season. The par has been reduced from 72 to 71 for this event and the weather forecast was not favourable. In fact, the opening day would see plenty of rain and howling winds, and would provide a stiff challenge. If Ian McKinley had been hoping for his favourite dry, fast greens he would have been disappointed. After the heavy downpours the putting surfaces were left sluggish and many putts were left short of their target. Ian came in with a slightly unsatisfactory 72 and headed straight to the clubhouse for a few beers. Randy Grant, like Ian, lost interest during his round but still managed a 71 and was last seen also heading for the clubhouse, no doubt intending to join his disgruntled colleague for a few libations.
On a more positive note Bob Fletcher, after his win at Friars Head last week, appears to have found a new level to his game and he was delighted with his 67, which included finishing birdies on #17 and #18. Bob was tied 4th, just behind Miguel Jimenez and Tiger Woods, but the leader at close of play was Charlie Roberts who turned more than a few heads with an exceptional 62 that rewarded him with a three-stroke lead. Can Charlie maintain his hot form?
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 6, 2022 7:15:18 GMT -5
Event 24 - 2000 U.S. OPEN at Pebble Beach Golf Links - Round 2
The high winds persisted but the rain disappeared and the greens were a little faster for this round. Ian McKinley moved up into a share of 4th spot after putting together a fine 68. Bob Fletcher matched that score, helped by a last-gasp eagle on the 18th which keeps him five shots ahead of Ian and still with an outside chance over the weekend. Tiger Woods' 69 has him one stroke ahead of Bob but, once again, the plaudits went to Charlie Roberts who blazed around Pebble with another round of 62 which included five birdies on the last six holes!! Charlie has carved out a lead of no less than ten shots over Tiger, and surely only a total collapse by the winner The Masters earlier this season can deny him a second Major title...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 8, 2022 7:55:29 GMT -5
Event 24 - 2000 U.S. OPEN at Pebble Beach Golf Links - Round 3
We still had high intensity winds, and the greens were becoming speedier. Also, barring a catastrophe of biblical proportions, Charlie Roberts will be the US Open champion of 2000 because he is absolutely blitzing this course! Today Charlie fired his third 62 of the tourney, even with a couple of bogeys, to extend his lead over Tiger Woods to an incredible 19 shots with one round still to play!! Ian McKinley enjoyed his round of 70 which included an eagle on the 6th, a score that moved him into 4th spot, just three strokes behind Bob Fletcher. Bob carded a 72 and his putting was the main reason for his highest score of the event so far, but he remains in 3rd place, just two shots behind Tiger. Les Souter and Randy Grant were still out on the course at the time of this report, but I doubt if either of them will be challenging Charlie...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 9, 2022 7:22:26 GMT -5
Event 24 - 2000 U.S. OPEN at Pebble Beach Golf Links - Round 4
Strong winds still buffeted the course, and the completely dried-out greens were ultra-fast. Les Souter got better and better as the event progressed, carding 74, 73 and 68 before ending the week with a 67, the joint best round of the final day, and perhaps suggesting that he prefers the drier conditions. Les finished tied 4th with his old adversary Ian McKinley who enjoyed his battle with the elements and the course before stumbling off the 18th green suffering from nervous exhaustion to report his 72. Bob Fletcher felt apprehensive about the slippery greens today but he negotiated them mostly quite well and was quite satisfied with his eventual 72, a score good enough to claim 3rd place, albeit seven shots adrift of Tiger Woods in 2nd spot. No surprises for guessing who won the tourney - going into this round with a 19-stroke lead it was never going to be anyone else but CHARLIE ROBERTS, who has now been victorious in both Majors played so far this season. He didn't have it all his own way though - whether it was a lack of focus, physical tiredness, or just plain old age, Charlie took a while to settle, spraying his ball to parts of the course he didn't know existed early on. Inevitably he found a groove, almost aced the 12th, and ended with a 68. The question now is can he go on and complete the Grand Slam of Majors this season?!
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 12, 2022 6:43:42 GMT -5
Event 25 - 2000 FEDEX ST JUDE CLASSIC at TPC Southwind - Round 1
It was pretty breezy on the opening day, with some tricky pins and very quick greens, so it wasn't going to be easy to score well. After 10 holes Bob Fletcher was cruising along at level par, but his focus was destroyed by a double on the par 3 11th. With his composure having disappeared, the rest of his round was a disaster, and he ended up with a score of 82, thereby ending his interest in the tourney. Les Souter could only manage a 75, while Ian McKinley reckoned that a 71 would be a good score considering the pins and conditions, and that's exactly what he scored. It's looking like a tough week for the guests...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 13, 2022 5:51:32 GMT -5
Event 25 - 2000 FEDEX ST JUDE CLASSIC at TPC Southwind - Round 2
The strong winds of the California coast from last week appeared to have found their way to Tennessee today but, although the greens were playing a little slower, they were still quick. When it looked as if he would produce an under-par round Bob Fletcher had to make do with a 72 after some poor play on the closing holes. Les Souter improved on his opening effort by carding a 71, and that now sees him tied with Ian McKinley who struggled in with an uncharacteristically poor 75. The guests are probably already looking towards next week's tourney...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 15, 2022 8:12:23 GMT -5
Event 25 - 2000 FEDEX ST JUDE CLASSIC at TPC Southwind - Round 3
The wind decreased in intensity for today's play, and the greens were playing marginally slower. Bob Fletcher didn't take full advantage of the easier conditions, but he certainly played the lest few holes a lot better than he had in the previous round, even carding a fine birdie on the danger-ridden 18th on his way to a pretty solid 67. Ian McKinley registered his second 71 of the week and he is now only four strokes clear of Bob. Charlie Roberts had begun this event with a 75 and a 72, both rounds marred by two disaster holes, #9 and #18 in the opening round, and #4 and #15 yesterday. However, today Charlie showed why he's won two Majors this season when he posted a stunning 62 that included eagles on both the par 4 2nd and the par 5 5th!! It's almost certainly a case of 'too little, too late' to mount a charge in the final round but, as they say, stranger things happen at sea. Note: Tennessee is land-locked...
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 16, 2022 7:19:39 GMT -5
Event 25 - 2000 FEDEX ST JUDE CLASSIC at TPC Southwind - Round 4
The strong winds were back and the greens were exceedingly fast for this round. And what an unexpected finish we had!! Ian McKinley looked as if he was just going through the motions as he carded his third level par round of 71 of the event. Ian finished joint last with Bob Fletcher who played well to repeat his third round score of 67, which enabled him to tie the Canadian. Charlie Roberts couldn't conceal his dislike of this course, and maybe that affected his play because he certainly wasn't firing on all cylinders today. His putting was good but his ball-striking wasn't, and his 71 left him in mid-leaderboard. Les Souter had a sluggish first two rounds this week, but then he turned on his afterburners to rocket through the field. Round 3 saw him produce the equal best score of the tournament, a sublime 62, lifting him to a tie for 23rd, seven strokes behind the overnight leader, tour pro Bob May. Today he again blitzed the course and, whilst his stunning 63 (mainly due to a red-hot inward nine) was not quite enough to give him the outright win, it drew him level with another tour pro, Notah Begay III - so we had a play-off!!
So it was back to the 18th tee, the first play-off hole. Notah Begay could only get a par but Les, still with lots of momentum, managed a great birdie to clinch his first tournament win for quite some time!! And with the third Major of the season not too far away, has Les found his form at just the right time?!
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Post by PLAYTOURGOLF BOSS on May 17, 2022 19:09:29 GMT -5
Here are the SUMMER BOWL (events 23 to 33 inclusive) standings after Event 25, the FedEx St Jude Classic. Charlie Roberts leads the Summer Bowl money list after 3 events, mainly due to his U.S.Open win. Ian McKinley currently tops the overall season money list, closely followed by Charlie with Tiger Woods back in 3rd spot.
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