Recap;Children's Miracle Network Classic 2010
A scintillating final round from American Robert Garrigus saw him lift the PGA’s season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Florida on Sunday.
The annual tournament, which is held at the Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses at Walt Disney Resorts near Lake Buena Vista, Florida, provides 130 players the chance to earn a PGA Tour card for next year.
The first round of the tournament started in pleasant weather conditions and most of the field managed to score well. Chris Stroud shot the lowest score of the opening round with 62. Stroud displayed excellent putting skills and picked up ten birdies to take the early lead. Conditions got tougher though when the fog charge, making it difficult for players to drive onto the greens.
Despite the weather, Ronald Thatcher managed a score of seven-under-par with the help of six birdies, one eagle and a bogey. Thatcher dropped a shot at the 14th hole, where the ball rolled beyond the pin as he was aiming for a birdie.
He was chased by a group of five players, all at 6-under-66. The group included Rickie Fowler, Brenden Pappas, Jerry Kelly, Cameron Percy, and Tim Herron.
On day two of the event, Roland Thatcher fired a round of 63 and surpassed Stroud to take the lead. The 33-year-old American fought the terrible weather and picked up nine birdies to shoot a score of 16-under-par.
Four players were tied for second place, two strokes behind Thatcher. Johnson Wagner made a last minute entry into the group with five birdies and an eagle. Fifty- four players missed the cut, while the rest proceeded towards the finale over the weekend.
The tournament really came to life on the third day. Steve Marino carved eight birdies, but dropped a shot at the closing hole to surge up. The veteran from Oklahoma shot the lowest score of the day. Meanwhile, Robert Garrigus and Roland Thatcher settled for a score of 70 after a tough day. Despite the blow, Thatcher stood firm on the field and smacked three birdies to take the lead.
He stepped into the final session with Rickie Fowler and Robert Garrigus on the chase. Garrigus held his nerve and played a fabulous round to surge to victory. The American picked up five birdies in a score of five-under, to ensure he had a share in the tournament’s total $4,700,000 purse.
Garrigus, the runner-up from St Jude Classic said after his victory, “It feels so good to finish this off. I said I wasn't going to finish it off the same way as last time. It’s unbelievable."
Thatcher meanwhile was happy to be on the PGA Tour next year despite the loss, “I've got nothing but happiness for not having to go through 'q-school' and being fully exempt on tour for next year.”
Tags: