Ken Green, who had his right leg amputated after an horrific RV accident a year ago, will return to competition this week at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah. Green will partner with Mike Reid in the Champions Tour event held at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort.
Green sustained life-threatening injuries from the accident last June that took the life of his brother, girlfriend and dog. Doctors had planned to save Green’s leg, but said he’d never be able to play golf again. Green then demanded his lower right leg removed so he could learn to play with a prosthetic limb.
"We are humbled and honored that he will compete here in Savannah and look forward to cheering him on as he reaches this significant milestone in his healing process," said Joe Rotellini, the tournament's executive director.
The 54-hole Legends of Golf is a better-ball tournament with competition in three age divisions. The 63 teams entered this week own 880 PGA Tour wins and 82 major championships. The Legends began in 1978 and is credited with helping launch the 50-and-older tour. The tournament moved to Savannah in 2003 and recently extended its contract through 2012.
Tom Lehman and Bernhard Langer are the defending champions. They beat Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler on the second playoff hole a year ago.
PGA Tour
Duluth's Stewart Cink changed to a new set of irons and a golf ball with a softer cover last week at the Verizon Heritage and was pleased with the results. Cink tied for 14th at Harbour Town, his best showing since reaching the quarterfinals at the Accenture Match Play Championship in February. "My distance control was good all week," Cink said. "I double-bogeyed the last hole, but I played well all week. Overall it was definitely a good change. I'll take a lot of positives away from this." ...
Matt Kuchar and Bryce Molder, teammates for three years at Georgia Tech, were paired together for the first time since the 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship. Kuchar shot a 68, Molder a 69. Kuchar finished tied for 14th and Molder tied for 22nd. Molder was the best putter at the Heritage, averaging 24.75 putts per round.
“It’s interesting how you can go a long time without seeing each other,” Kuchar said. “It’s just kind of lucky to get paired with each other. It was nice today, even it was a little earlier than we would have liked.” ...
Nationwide Tour
This week's South Georgia Classic is the first of back-to-back stops in Georgia for the Nationwide Tour. Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, a Davis Love III design in Valdosta, hosts the event, which was won last year by Garth Mulroy, now a member of the PGA Tour. ...
Former University of Georgia All-American Chris Kirk tied for fifth at the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, Calif., a performance that included a second-round 63. Georgia Tech grad Roberto Castro flew to California and got in the field as a Monday qualifier; he tied for 48th.
Georgia PGA
David Potts, a PGA teaching professional from the Country Club of the South, defeated reigning section champion Tim Weinhart of St. Marlo Golf Club 3 and 1 to win the Yamaha Match Play Championship at the University of Georgia Golf Course. No. 52 seed David Webb, an assistant at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla, upset Sonny Skinner of River Pointe on the 21st hole for third place.
Weinhart, Skinner and Jeff Hull of the University of Georgia Course qualified for the South Georgia Classic. Greg Lee of Chicopee Woods and Matt Peterson of the University of Georgia Golf Course qualified for the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA.
Etc.
Richard Scott beat former UGA teammate Brian Harman by a shot at the eGolf Tour's Championship at St. James Place in Southport, N.C. Scott, a three-time Canadian Amateur champion, won for the second time on the mini-tour.
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