Monday, July 11, 2022
This was todays early take for Ted Potter's upcoming week: It no longer stands.
(Ted Potter's chances to return to the PGA Tour next season through success on the Korn Ferry Tour, as he did in 2011, have narrowed down to four more regular-season events and the three $1 million playoff tournaments.
The first of these events is this week's Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS in Springfield, Illinois. It's being played at the Panther Creek Country Club and there's the usual $750,000 in purse money. Ted has played seven Korn Ferry events and collected only $8,498 in checks, which is tied for 180th. When he moved up to the big time after the 2011 season, he had won twice and earned just over $400,000 when it was known as Buy.com, good for the second spot on the money list.)
There are many familiar faces playing in the Memorial this week, players who have previously enjoyed success on the PGA Tour and are struggling to get back, such as Daniel Chopra, Sam Saunders, Tag Ridings, Erik Compton and Boo Weekley.
Gator Tyson Alexander, who lives in Jacksonville but still plays out of Gainesville, is a virtual cinch to make his first PGA foray: he's seventh on the money list with $235,217 in the bank.
Back to Ted. He was also entered in the $3.7 million Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California and is now listed in the field; he's been removed from the Memorial. But his success on the PGA Tour has been nil.
Ted has also played in seven PGA events and missed all seven cuts. He has three rounds in the 80s and only a pair of 68s, one at the Bermuda Championship and one at the Barbasol. He's 46 over par, and his only sub-par 36-hole score - minus 1 - came at the Barbasol where he shot 75-68.
There are two Gators in the Barracuda - Matt Every and CamiloVillegas - and one Seminole, Hank Lebioda.
KELLY RALLIES TO WIN SENIOR BRIDGESTONE OPEN - Jerry Kelly's 11 under par proved to be best in the scramble in the Senior Bridgestone Open - two strokes better than Steve Stricker and three better than Steven Alker and Ernie Els.
The no-cut format for most senior-type events is a gift for many, whose games just aren't good enough to give the elite group (listed above) a run for their money. Case in point: Gator Chris DiMarco is like the 'old gray mare who ain't what she used to be' judging by his 17over total for this one, 28 strokes behind Kelly.
Alex Cejka, in contention from the start, shot 73 yesterday to drop into a tie for fifth. Gator Brian Gay tied for 31st at 2 over, and Scott Dunlap tied for 44th at 5 over. Marco Dawson, former touring pro at Ocala's Adena Springs, finished 10th at 4 under. Justin Leonard's senior debut was a bust - he tied for 61st at 11 over - and former Ocalan Roger Rowland opened with 76, then withdrew.
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