University of Georgia graduate Chris Kirk has put together a solid run of performances since a rocky start to 2016 and this week will defend his title at the Colonial. Kirk won in Fort Worth last year by making a knee-knocking seven-footer on the last hole to nail down his fourth career victory.
“It’s been my favorite tournament on the Tour for a long time, since before I was on the Tour,” Kirk said.
The Woodstock native first experienced Hogan’s Alley in 2008 when he received an exemption for winning the Ben Hogan Award as the college player of the year. He’s competed there five times since joining the Tour in 2011 and has four top-16 finishes, two top-fives and a win.
Kirk began his 2016 resurgence with a tie for 12th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He’s since tied for fifth at the WGC Match Play and in New Orleans and stands 63rd on the FedEx Cup list.
Seven qualify for U.S. Open sectional: Bryan Fox, a professional from Roswell., shot 2-under 70 and won the second U.S. Open local qualifier at Jennings Mill. Three other Georgians shot 73 and qualified for the sectional on June 6 were: former Georgia Tech star James White, University of Georgia junior Jamie Lopez Rivarola and Alpharetta resident and Illinois signee Ryota Furuya.
Other Georgians who have qualified at other local sites around the country are: Matt Nagy of Buena Vista, Barend Greyling of Evans, Tim O’Neal of Savannah, and amateurs Shea Sylvester of Roswell, Emerson Newsome of Dacula and Kyle Mueller of Athens.
Georgia represented at Senior PGA: Four club pros from Georgia will compete in the Senior PGA Championship this week in Benton Harber, Mich. The group includes: James Mason of Dillard, Sonny Skinner of Tifton, Clark Spratlin of Toccoa and Richard Rebne of Ringgold. The field also includes Larry Mize, Gene Sauers and Scott Parel, who play the Champions Tour.
Perno wins Rivermont championship: Donn Perno, the PGA professional at Peachtree Golf Club, prevailed in a four-man playoff to win the Rivermont PGA Championship. Perno shot rounds of 73-68 and defeated Georgia Golf Hall of Famer James Mason of Dillard, Dunwoody Country Club professional Kyle Owen and Jennings Mill professional Seth McCain on the first extra hole.
FedEx Cup update: Jason Day's win at The Players Championship propelled him past Adam Scott and into first place on the FedEx Cup points list. The big mover from last week was Kevin Chappell, who jumped from 15th to fifth place.
