Scott Verplank, a Dallas native and longtime competitor at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, withdrew from the 2012 event this morning because of a wrist injury. He will be replaced in the field by Kyle Reifers, the first alternate on the Colonial list. Verplank also was a late scratch last week at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Verplank has played in 21 Colonial tournaments, with a career-best finish of fifth in 2010.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 10:15 AM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
It took two trips to Fort Worth before UCLA golfer Patrick Cantlay departed in possession of the Ben Hogan Award, given to the nation’s top college golfer.
But the wait seemed worth it tonight to Cantlay, a sophomore who received the 2012 Hogan Award in a live ceremony as part of tournament week activities at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Cantlay, the low amateur at the 2012 Masters and runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Amateur, edged two freshmen _ Texas’ Joradan Spieth and Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers _ in voting by members of the Hogan Award selection committee.
A Hogan Award finalist last year, Cantlay became the first sophomore to win the award. He is the youngest winner since 2008, when Rickie Fowler claimed the honor as a freshman at Oklahoma State.
“This is great, especially after coming up short last year,” said Cantlay, who helped lead the Bruins to the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships next week at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. “There’s three really good amateurs here and I feel fortunate that I’m the one they picked. It’s an honor to be here with them.”
Cantlay, who finished 19th at last week’s NCAA regional tournament, is the top-ranked golfer in both the World Amateur Golf Rankings and the Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings. He earned low amateur honors at the 2011 U.S. Open, were he finished 21st.
Members of the Hogan Award selection committee consider candidates’ performances over the past 12 months in both college and amateur events. Cantlay, an All-Pac-12 player, has shined at high-profile amateur events and major championships in addition to his two runner-up finishes in college tournaments this season.
“I feel comfortable on tough golf course with fast greens,” Cantlay said. “That’s a premium at the majors. So when I get out on hard golf courses, I think it suits my game. I feel good when par is a good score on every hole.”
Cantlay also felt good about joining a list of past honorees that includes 11 players in this year’s Colonial field: Fowler (2008), Hunter Mahan (2003 co-recipient), Ricky Barnes (2003 co-recipient), D.J. Trahan (2002), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Matt Every (2006), Chris Kirk (2007), Kyle Stanley (2009), Mark Wilson (1996) and Peter Uihlein (2011).
“It’s very special, with all the history and all the great names that have won the award,” Cantlay said. “And it’s nice to be linked to all the great accomplishments that Mr. Hogan had in his time. That’s a real honor for me.”
Cantlay said he plans to compete as an amateur at both the 2012 U.S. Open and 2012 British Open later this summer.
Spieth, a Dallas native, earned 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year honors and won three college tournaments in his freshman season at Texas. Rodgers, the 2012 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, earned all-conference honors while winning two college events at Stanford.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 09:50 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
The commitment deadline has passed for golfers to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Here is the final list, updated after today's commitment deadline:
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial commitments
A list of golfers who have committed to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 21-27 in Fort Worth. Commitments became official today:
Blake Adams, Fulton Allem, Robert Allenby, Mark Anderson, Aaron Baddeley, Sang-Moon Bae, Ricky Barnes, Kris Blanks, Jonas Blixt, Jason Bohn, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Byrd, Chad Campbell, Miguel Angel Carballo, Roberto Castro, Bud Cauley, Greg Chalmers, Kevin Chappell, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Will Claxton, Keith Clearwater, Erik Compton, Ben Crane, John Daly, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Graham DeLaet, Chris DiMarco, James Driscoll, Jason Dufner, Ken Duke, Harris English, Bob Estes, Matt Every, Steve Flesch, Martin Flores, Rickie Fowler, Harrison Frazar, Jim Furyk, Tommy Gainey, Sergio Garcia, Bobby Gates, Brian Gay, Tom Gillis, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas, Hunter Haas, Brian Harman, David Hearn, J.J. Henry, Tim Herron, Charley Hoffman, John Huh, Billy Hurley III, Trevor Immelman, Ryo Ishikawa, Brandt Jobe, Zach Johnson, Jerry Kelly, J.J. Killeen, Chris Kirk, Colt Knost, Kelly Kraft, Matt Kuchar, Marc Leishman, Justin Leonard, Spencer Levin, Edward Loar, Davis Love III, Jeff Maggert, Hunter Mahan, John Mallinger, David Mathis, Billy Mayfair, William McGirt, George McNeill, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, Seung-Yul Noh, Sean O’Hair, Geoff Ogilvy, Louis Oosthuizen, Jeff Overton, Greg Owen, Ryan Palmer, Rod Pampling, Corey Pavin, Pat Perez, Carl Pettersson, Dicky Pride, Chez Reavie, John Rollins, Andres Romero, Rory Sabbatini, John Senden, Vijay Singh, Heath Slocum, Kevin Stadler, Scott Stallings, Kyle Stanley, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Streelman, Chris Stroud, Daniel Summerhays, Vaughn Taylor, Josh Teater, Michael Thompson, Brendon Todd, David Toms, D.J. Trahan, Cameron Tringale, Peter Uihlein, Bo Van Pelt, Scott Verplank, Johnson Wagner, Nick Watney, Boo Weekley, Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson, Gary Woodland, Y.E. Yang.
Alternates: Kyle Reifers, Gary Christian, Bill Lunde, Jason Kokrak, Matt Jones, Matt Bettencourt, John Merrick, Rocco Mediate, Sung Kang, Nathan Green.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 05:53 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Officials at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial will have two of the world’s top 10 golfers in next week’s field, as well as 10 of the top 30. That became final this afternoon, when the commitment deadline passed for Fort Worth’s annual PGA Tour stop.
The headliners in the Colonial field will be Colleyville resident Hunter Mahan, the only two-event winner on the 2012 PGA Tour, and Matt Kuchar, the No. 5 player in the world golf rankings who could win his second tour event in as many weeks at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Kuchar, last week’s winner at The Players Championship, is one of six golfers currently sharing the Nelson lead in the latter stages of Friday’s second round. Mahan, the No. 6 player in the world rankings, is not competing at the Nelson but ranks second on the PGA Tour’s season money list ($3,109,088).
Other players ranked among the top 30 in the world rankings who have given Colonial commitments include Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Nick Watney, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Jason Dufner and Bo Van Pelt.
Colonial competitors Fowler ($2,461,254) and Carl Petterson ($2,411,753) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, on the PGA Tour money list. The Colonial field will include four of this season’s top seven money winners, as well as 10 of the top 16.
Practice rounds begin Monday in Fort Worth, with the tournament to run from May 21-27.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 05:08 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Kevin Chappell has joined Anthony Kim as a co-host of Monday’s youth clinic at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Kim, a Dallas resident, withdrew from the tournament because of a wrist injury but will join Chappell at the clinic. Chappell is in the Colonial field.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 12:18 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
The commitment deadline looms Friday for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and Phil Mickelson, a two-time champion in Fort Worth, made it clear that he will not compete next week and is unclear about future stops at the tournament.
After a Wednesday pro-am round at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, Mickelson said the Colonial layout “doesn’t really suit my game any more” in the wake of recent course tweaks made after his most recent victory in 2008. Most of the concerns involve the placement of fairway bunkers that, in Mickelson’s estimation, minimize his advantage as a long hitter.
In terms of when he might return to the tournament, Mickelson said: “I’m not sure.”
Mickelson, who won Colonial titles in 2008 and 2000, said he has fond memories of his victories in Fort Worth as well as a 2009 “pink out” promotion arranged by tournament officials to draw attention to breast cancer awareness after Mickelson’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with the disease. Mickelson withdrew from the 2009 tournament after Amy’s diagnosis. But he returned to Colonial in 2010, after the most recent round of course alterations were in place, and missed the cut.
“I will always be appreciative for what they did for me and Amy in ’09. It was like the most timely and generous gesture and something that I’ll always cherish,” Mickelson said. “And having won there, I really have a lot of fond memories and special feelings for Colonial. But the course doesn’t really suit my game any more, and I’m not sure what that means (about future appearances).”
Michael Tothe, Colonial tournament director, said the four-time major champion would be welcomed “with open arms” any time he chooses to return to Fort Worth.
“The (Forth Worth) community really supported the family during a tough time,” Tothe said. “We will always be there for Phil.”
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 03:02 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Fort Worth native Hunter Haas, Trevor Immelman and Southlake resident Y.E. Yang are among today's latest additions to the field for next week's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Here is the full list, updated today:
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial commitments
A list of golfers who have committed to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 21-27 in Fort Worth. Commitments are not official until Friday, May 18:
Fulton Allem, Robert Allenby, Sang-Moon Bae, Ricky Barnes, Kris Blanks, Jason Bohn, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Byrd, Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell, Bud Cauley, Greg Chalmers, Kevin Chappell, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Keith Clearwater, Erik Compton, Ben Crane, Ben Curtis, John Daly, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, James Driscoll, Jason Dufner, Ken Duke, Harris English, Bob Estes, Matt Every, Steve Flesch, Rickie Fowler, Harrison Frazar, Jim Furyk, Tommy Gainey, Sergio Garcia, Robert Garrigus, Bobby Gates, Brian Gay, Tom Gillis, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas, Hunter Haas, J.J. Henry, Tim Herron, Charley Hoffman, John Huh, Billy Hurley III, Trevor Immelman, Ryo Ishikawa, Fredrik Jacobson, Brandt Jobe, Zach Johnson, Robert Karlsson, Jerry Kelly, J.J. Killeen, Chris Kirk, Colt Knost, Kelly Kraft, Matt Kuchar, Justin Leonard, Spencer Levin, Davis Love III, Jeff Maggert, Hunter Mahan, John Mallinger, George McNeill, Bryce Molder, Kevin Na, Seung-Yul Noh, Geoff Ogilvy, Sean O’Hair, Louis Oosthuizen, Jeff Overton, Ryan Palmer, Rod Pampling, Corey Pavin, Pat Perez, Carl Pettersson, D.A. Points, Chez Reavie, John Rollins, Andres Romero, Rory Sabbatini, John Senden, Vijay Singh, Kevin Stadler, Scott Stallings, Kyle Stanley, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Streelman, Chris Stroud, Michael Thompson, David Toms, Cameron Tringale, Peter Uihlein, Bo Van Pelt, Scott Verplank, Johnson Wagner, Jimmy Walker, Nick Watney, Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson, Gary Woodland, Y.E. Yang.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 05:35 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Fort Worth native Hunter Haas and two past major champions, Trevor Immelman and Y.E. Yang, are among the latest wave of golfers who have joined the field for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 21-27 in Fort Worth. Other recent additions announced today include Bob Estes, Harrison Frazar, Gary Woodland and Jeff Maggert.
Haas, a Southlake resident who played college golf at Oklahoma, tied for eighth at last month’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio and ranks 116th on the PGA Tour’s season money list ($301,211).
Immelman won the 2008 Masters title and Yang, a Southlake resident, prevailed at the 2009 PGA. Anthony Kim withdrew from the tournament because of a wrist injury.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 05:26 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Angela Stanford, a Saginaw resident and LPGA Tour competitor, will be one of the competitors in the May 23 pro-am at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, tournament officials announced today. Also competing in the pro-am that day will be Manuel de los Santos, a former baseball star in the Dominican Republic whose dreams of playing Major League Baseball ended when he lost his left leg in a 2003 motorcycle accident. But he took up golf after losing his leg and now plays to a 3-handicap.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 12:21 PM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Texas freshman Jordan Spieth joins UCLA sophomore Patrick Cantlay and Stanford freshman Patrick Rodgers among a precedent-setting group of finalists for the 2012 Ben Hogan Award, given to the nation’s top player in college golf.
The three finalists, announced today, mark the youngest collection of finalists in award history. Only one freshman, 2008 recipient Rickie Fowler, has ever won the Hogan Award and no sophomore has been chosen by members of the selection committee.
But youth will be served May 21 in Fort Worth, with the winner announced at a live awards ceremony that is part of tournament week activities at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Cantlay, the low amateur at the 2012 Masters and runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Amateur, was a Hogan Award finalist last year. The top-ranked golfer in both the World Amateur Golf Rankings and the Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings, Cantlay also earned low amateur honors at the 2011 U.S. Open, were he finished 21st.
Members of the Hogan Award selection committee vote on candidates based on their performances over the past 12 months in both college and amateur events. During the 2012 college season, Cantlay earned All-Pac-12 honors with two runner-up efforts among his four top-10 finishes.
Both Spieth and Rodgers, who played high school golf last year, have won college tournaments this season. Spieth, a Dallas native, earned 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year honors as a freshman and is the nation’s top-ranked golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings and the Golfstat rankings.
Spieth, who made the cut while competing as a high school player at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2010 and 2011, has won three tournaments and cracked the top six on five other occasions during his initial season at Texas. In April, he finished 41st at the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Rodgers, the 2012 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, earned all-conference honors while winning two college events and posting eight top-10 finishes at Stanford. A native of Avon, Ind., he represented the U.S. at the 2011 Walker Cup, reached the round of 16 at the 2011 U.S. Amateur and will play on the 2012 U.S. Palmer Cup team.
Among the 10 semifinalists for the Hogan Award who did not advance as finalists were TCU’s Julien Brun and Texas’ Dylan Frittelli.
_ Jimmy Burch
Posted at 11:12 AM in Colonial, Crowne Plaza | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
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