Jason Bohn was encouraged by the progress his game showed last week at the Wells Fargo Championship and hopes it will carry over for this week’s Players Championship.
Bohn, who lives in Acworth, finished fourth last week at Quail Hollow. It was his best showing of 2014 and reinforced the idea that his swing changes are starting to take root. Bohn, who has had back and neck issues, decided to change his swing to alleviate the pounding his body was taking. Bohn made the difficult decision to change instructors, leaving longtime friend and coach Scott Hamilton in favor of Mike Perpich, the PGA teaching professional at River Pines in Alpharetta.
Bohn said, “It’s difficult when you’re doing something that’s different than what you’ve done for 12-13 years, especially when you’re under the gun. You see it when you’re practicing, but to test that in the heat of battle is different. I’m starting to understand and have confidence in what we’re doing.”
Last week Bohn opened with a 73, but followed with a pair of 67s and jumped into contention. He closed with a 70 and finished three shots behind winner J.B. Holmes.
Bohn played well at the end of 2013 and tied for second at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, but since January had finished no better than 33rd. The fourth-place finish at Wells Fargo gave him enough points to move into 33rd place in the FedEx Cup standings and keeps alive his goal of qualifying for the Tour Championship at East Lake. Bohn is a two-time winner whose last victory came in 2010. He’s had one runner-up finish the last three seasons.
Skinner named Senior PGA Player of Year again: Sonny Skinner, a PGA teaching professional at River Point Golf Club in Albany, has been named the Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year for a record fourth consecutive time. Skinner also was the 2008 PGA Professional Player of the Year.
“I just play in tournaments. They compile the points and somehow I keep coming out on top,” Skinner said. “It’s just an honor to play in these tournaments and be a member of the PGA of America.”
Skinner won the latest award despite being in a car accident in Naples, Fla., that left him with a nagging backache and a sore left knee.
Skinner tied for ninth at the PGA Professional National Championship in Oregon and tied for 35th at the Senior PGA Championship in St. Louis. He had 925.57 points, outdistancing runner-up Kirk Hanefeld of Massachusetts with 871.71.
Etc.: Craig Stevens, the PGA teaching professional at Brookstone Golf and Country Club in Acworth, successfully defended his title at the Georgia Senior Open at the University of Georgia Golf Course. Stevens shot a 2-under 130. James Mason, Bob Royak and Rusty Strawn tied for second at 1over. … Savannah's Doug Hanzel, the reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion, had the deciding win in the inaugural Concession Cup in Bradenton, Fla. The Ryder Cup-style match featured a U.S. team against a team from Great Britain and Ireland that consisted of eight mid-amateurs, four senior amateurs and four super seniors. Hanzel defeated Ian Brotherston 5 and 4 in singles to give the U.S. a 21.5-14.5 victory. … Georgia Tech grad Chesson Hadley will make his Players debut this week. Last week Hadley bent the shaft on his putter and didn't fare well with the replacement.
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