Roswell native and Georgia graduate Justin Bolli just had his best week on the PGA Tour and took a big step toward retaining his Tour card for another year.
Bolli closed with a final-round 63 at the Byron Nelson Championship and finished fourth last Sunday. It matched his best showing of the year (he tied for fourth at the Puerto Rico Open) and moved him up from 151 to 102 on the FedEx Cup points list. He’s No. 81 on the money list.
The key was Bolli’s short game, which was particularly strong the last day. He closed the round by holing a 35-yard bunker shot, which he later admitted is not the strongest part of his game.
“My game kept getting better and better each day,” Bolli said. “Some weeks you come in on Tuesday and you are feeling great and the game kinds deteriorates. This week I wasn’t feeling that great on Tuesday and every day, my game felt better and better.”
The showing was unexpected. Bolli had missed the cut in three previous starts at the Nelson. He had also missed the cut in seven of 12 starts this season.
This is the fourth time Bolli has played his way onto the PGA Tour. On each previous occasion, he was unable to remain exempt, returned to the Buy.com Tour and played his way back onto the big circuit. Bolli has now earned $528,207, already his most productive season in professional golf.
On the tours: Former Georgia Tech star Chesson Hadley tied a Web.com Tour record last week when he shot an 8-under 27 on the front nine at the BMW Charity Classic in Greer, S.C. He had six birdies and an eagle. Hadley finished with a 63 and wound up tied for third, his best finish this year. Hadley moved up 52 spots on the money list to No. 36. …
Sonny Skinner, the PGA teaching professional at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, and Tommy Brannen, the director of golf at Augusta Country Club, are in the field at this week’s Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. Champions Tour regulars Larry Mize and Gene Sauers will also compete. Roger Chapman is the defending champion. …
Augusta’s Scott Brown was one of eight players who earned a spot at the British Open at Monday’s qualifier in Texas. It will be the first major championship appearance for Brown, who picked up his first PGA Tour win earlier this season at the Puerto Rico Open. Brown said, “I’m usually not good at qualifiers, to be honest. I am really excited to earn a spot in my first major.” … European captain Paul McGinley will get a third pick for the 2014 Ryder Cup team, one more than previous years. … Four-time PGA Tour event winner Billy Andrade was proud to see his son Cam help Woodward Academy win a state golf championship on Monday. The last time the school won a title was 1974, when Tim Simpson (another four-time PGA Tour winner) played there.
Etc.: Cameron Hooper of Atlanta avoided a playoff by making a 30-foot birdie on the final hole to win the Georgia State Golf Association's Mid-Amateur Championship at the Savannah Golf Club. Hooper shot 5-under 208, which was good enough to beat Danny Nelson, the host club's champion, by one shot. Two-time past champion Jeff Knox of Augusta was third at 212. …
Longtime Darton College coach Dale Dover, whose teams have won three junior college national championships, has been elected to the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. …
Mike Perpich, the PGA instructor at River Pines Golf Course in Johns Creek, has helped co-author “The Big Book of Basics,” the latest installment of Golf Magazine’s best-selling lesson manuals. The book features detailed photography and step-by-step illustrations designed to answer questions about improving your swing. It’s designed to be easy to use and understand for golfers of all ages and skill levels. …
The GSGA is looking for volunteers to help with the scoring at the June 3 U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Hawks Ridge. Contact Jeff Fages at jfages@gsga.org for information.
