Rocco Mediate wins Frys.com Open after a 269
For those who have been following Rocco Mediate since the start of the fall season, golf fans might be aware of his remarkable 3rd hole eagle, his 12 out of 14 fairways, his 16 greens and now his victory at the Frys.com Open 2010 on Sunday.
The 46-year-old played a remarkable game in all four rounds at the CordeValle Golf Club. Mediate’s game was the subject of wonder and marvel which continued till the last round of the 71st hole of the competition.
The last round of the tournament experienced fairly better weather as compared to the previous rounds. The first and second round of the Open was subjected to intense heat, making the competition even tougher. The blazing sun constantly dehydrated the fields,
making them drier, faster and harder to play.
The last round was much cooler but Mediate couldn’t make the most of it. The 46-year-old held a three shot lead which he wasted after carding a 5 over par. Mediate played the first 15 holes, squandered his lead and later returned for a tie at the leading
position, carding a 73.
The scenario changed at the 16th hole when the 46-year-old played the par 3 to collect a birdie. The birdie thus carded along the 17th hole was regarded as the most remarkable series of events to have ever occurred on a par 4 hole ever.
The race for the cup had the Mediate choosing an iron for the fairway hit. The first round of the Frys.com Open had Ryuji Imada, Bo Van Pelt and Paul Goydos carding a 6 under par. The final hole of the competition had Bo Van Pelt sending his ball 15 feet
to the left whereas Alex Prugh had 2 feet between the ball, the hole and a probable win after bouncing past the flagstick.
But here’s the unusual part. Mediate allowed Prugh to mark his ball first before he carried on with his second shot. He played his shot, sending his ball past the flagstick which rotated, travelled back and dropped straight into the hole, making it his 4th
eagle.
Bo Van Pelt then came in and played for a par to keep his position at 13 under. Prugh played an eagle putt for 13 under as well whereas Mediate gathered a 15 under and a 2 stroke front heading towards the final hole.
His 18th hole play allowed him the first cut. His shot travelled 30 feet up and over the ridge and his first putt slid 5 feet past the hole. Later, Mediate knocked it in and grabbed the win after a long wait of 8 years. The Frys.com Open is Mediate's
6th career win and is his first since 2002.
The final round ended with Rocco Mediate at the top of the leader board, carding a 269 in total with a minus 15. The man from USA carded 64, 65, 67 and then a 73 at the tournament whereas fellow compatriots Bo Van Pelt and Alex Prugh tied at second place
with a 270 minus 14. Van Pelt carded a 65, 69, 65 and a 71 whereas Prugh collected 69, two successive 66 and then a 69 at the last round.
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