After three years of iffy weather, culminating in a complete washout of this year’s final round, officials of the Greater Gwinnett Championship are contemplating a request to move the Champions Tour event to a different date on the schedule.
“There are two sides to the coin,” said Stan Hall, executive director of the Gwinnett Sports Commission. “I’ve always fought (a date change) because there’s so much to be said for having the place on the schedule right after the Masters. But after three years of rain, I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth the risk.”
Hall and his team have had discussions with the PGA Tour, but have not yet decided whether they want to move.
Although the tournament dealt with rain almost every day last month, it was able to complete the pro-ams that are vitally important to fund the tournament and finish 36 holes of competition.
“But that’s what people remember and that’s unfortunate,” Hall said.
One bright spot for the week was the condition of TPC Sugarloaf. Superintendent Mike Crawford and his team were able to keep the course playable until the rain made it impossible.
Oglethorpe top seed in D-III: Oglethorpe, the No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division III, has earned an at-large spot in the national championship May 12-15 in Greensboro, N.C. It will be the 16th straight year that Oglethorpe has earned a spot in the nationals, which the Stormy Petrels won in 2009 and 2012 and were second in 2014.
“That’s a goal for every freshman class when they come in and now here we are 16 years in,” coach Jim Owen said. Oglethorpe is led by senior Anthony Maccaglia, one of the most accomplished players in Division III.
Other Georgia teams in the field include Berry, which upset Oglethorpe in the Southern Athletic Association tournament, and LaGrange, winner of the USA South Athletic Conference.
McIlroy favored at TPC: World No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy will be the favorite at this week's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. McIlroy is fresh off a win at the WGC Match Play Championship and was fourth at the Masters.
McIlroy is in The Players field for the sixth time. He missed the cut in the first two appearances, but is 16 under in his last eight rounds with back-to-back top 10 finishes.
Mason wins Ga. Senior Open: James Mason, who last week was named to the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, won the Georgia Senior Open at the University of Georgia Golf Course. Mason, of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dillard, defeated Stephen Keppler of Marietta Country Club and Mark Anderson of Brunswick Country Club in a playoff. Defending champion Craig Stevens of Brookstone Country Club in Acworth finished fourth. It was the second time Mason has won the event.
Etc.: UGA junior Lee McCoy will represent the U.S. in the Pan Am Games. … The two local qualifiers for the U.S. Open will be held next week. The first qualifier will be played Monday at the Legends at Chateau Elan in Braselton. The second will be Tuesday at Golf Club of Georgia's Lakeside course.
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