Bill Lunde looking beyond the summit at Viking Classic on PGA Tour
While many of the players at this week’s Viking Classic on the PGA Tour would be hoping to break into the top rank, American Bill Lunde will be pitched for a more lucrative prize of all, bigger than the winner’s share or even the coveted PGA trophy. Lunde
will be eyeing the $1-million 18-hole Kodak Challenge which has been going on for the last 13 weeks.
Lunde is currently at the top of the list of contenders who are hoping to bag the colossal amount of money by pulling the lowest score for the 18 designated holes at the Viking Classic. The challenge, which kicked off in 2009, engages some of the notorious
holes on the PGA circuit and Viking Classic is 22nd of the 30 tournaments where the Kodak Challenge will be brought into play.
“As the year progresses, people are more and more aware of it,” Lunde, 35, told reporters at Annandale Golf Club on Wednesday. “You are focused on that hole, and obviously you want to birdie it. Its a million dollars. Everyone could use an extra million.
I'm trying really hard, but it's something that falls into place as the year progresses.”
Lunde is closely contended by Charley Hoffman, who is also one of his the close associates and a former University of Nevada-Las Vegas team mate, trailing Lunde by just one shot. The duo has been battling for the prize for several events now. Lunde won last
year's Turning Stone Resort Championship, on the PGA Tour title, his maiden victory on the PGA Tour and is confident that his current form will help him.
“I feel good,” he said after playing in Wednesday's pro-am competition. “I played pretty well today. It's just more of like you feel comfortable about going into the weekend instead of I'm not hooking my driver.”
Most of the high profile players on the tour have flown to Royal St. George’s for the third major of the season, The Open Championship and the field at the Viking Classic is considerably week for this time of the year. Defending champion, American Bill Haas
has also managed to get a place in the Open and the tournament is left wide open for any of the player who would be successfully able to read the par-72 Annandale this week.
There are however, still a few mainstream players who will be eager to win the title in the absence of the blazing guns. Tommy Gainey, is the highest ranking player on the money list who is playing at the event and is coming in good form. Keegan Bradley,
Matt McQuillan and Chez Reavie will be some of the player who will be teeing off in their best forms.
Chez Reavie, who has just come out of a rehab for his knee injury, shot his career best 62 at last week’s John Deere Classic. Matt McQuillan, a rookie on the tour, finished for the joint third.
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