Golf Update: John Mallinger wins the Pebble Beach Invitational
John Mallinger carded a 4-under 68 to win the Pebble Beach Invitational that took place at the Pebble Beach, California on Sunday. Mallinger secured this title with a two stroke victory over Jason Gore. The winner, who has now lost his exempt status on the
PGA Tour, made four birdies on his last six holes. The player made a 25 foot birdie putt on the eighteenth hole finished with a 15-under-273 overall. This win got Mallinger the $60,000 and left him happy in the end. The total purse of the Pebble Beach Invitational
was $300,000.
John was leading the second and third round and played decent in the final round. He posted eight birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey. Even the rainy and wet weather on Sunday couldn’t bring John down. Mallinger joined the PGA Tour in 2006 but hasn’t
won on the tour yet. He does have eight top-three finishes however.
"I putted well today and putted well all week," said Mallinger."I love Pebble Beach. It's tough to beat Pebble Beach."
Even though it’s not a professional tour event, winning is quite a big deal in itself. The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach started in 1972. It features players from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. Tee placements are different from
each tour and are based on average driving distance. This year the invitational had 76 male and 76 female golfers competing.
The runner up, Gore, will accompany the winner in the PGA Tour’s final qualifying tournament which will take place in Florida from December 1st till December 6th. Gore posted a bogey free round of 65 in the final round of the invitational.
"I tried, but I just got outplayed," said Gore, who also birdied the final round.
"But I played well and I'll take the momentum to Q-School."
Champions Tour player Russ Cochran and Pat Perez tied for third place at eleven under. Russ came into the final round just one stroke behind the lead. On Sunday, at one point and time, he also has a one stroke lead after birdying the 11m. The bogey on the
thirteenth and the winner’s birdie spree unfortunately ended Cochran’s short-lived glory.
Annika Sorenstam who retired from LPGA Tour in 2008 also made an appearance in the event. Completing her first 72 hole tournament, she shot a 73 to finish at three under. She said it’s strange that when one doesn’t play for a while and goes back to the course,
all the mindset comes back. Even if someone has played the sport as a professional career, once they have left it, it’s not the same. Sorenstam said that you can’t make the same shots anymore.
Morgan Pressel shot a 72 to finish at 7 under and was the best among the 13 players of the LPGA. The 2007 and 2008 winner of the event, Tommy Armour III withdrew from the final round due to personal reasons. The defending champion of the event, Mark Brooks
couldn’t make the cut after posting an 11 0ver 78. Brooks has won seven times on the PGA tour and has won the Pebble Beach Invitational three times. Including last year, he was victorious in 1993 and 2002. In 1990, he finished second place to Juli Inkster,
who was the only woman to win this tournament. Brooks will be eligible for the Champions Tour in March 2011.
Overall, the Pebble Beach Invitational was a friendly golf competition with all the big players playing. Not bound by gender, tour or qualification, the Pebble Beach Invitational provided a good platform for the players to test their skills. The two stars
of the show, Mallinger and Gore are now pumped for the Tour Qualifying tournament next month.
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