By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net (Benton Harbor, Mich.)
With storms heading in, the field started a few hours early and it suited a few players that struggled on Saturday move up the leaderboard. Golfers went low until rain finally fell just after 1:30pm. Play was suspended less than an hour later at 2:20pm. The rain finally let up and play resumed. The birdies stop flying and a finish to a run at Harbor Shores left a surprise winner when Thursday began.
Tournament Winner
Richard Brand needed to right his ship as his shaky putter in round three gave him a score of 74 after he got to 14 under after four holes on Saturday. He put together six birdies and a bogey on the front nine for a five under par 31 to regain the final round lead. His eight birdies and eagle on 15 gave him a lead and a victory. Scorecard below.
Eagle
Richard Green of New Zealand really took going low to heart. He fired a x on the final day and was the capstone of a holed fairway shot on 12 that trickled in for an eagle. Green added a second eagle on the par five 15th. A great turnaround for a player that had three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. Green was unable to birdie anymore after his pair of eagles. He finishes 2nd.
Birdies
Greg Chalmers. fired all three of his first rounds in the 60’s at 69-68-66 to start the tournament. A win at the Kitchen Aid would give him an exemption onto the Champions Tour. Chalmers kept his score low in round four with a front nine 33. His birdie on 12 squared him with Bland at 15 under put him at five under on the day. By hole 15, Chalmers takes the tournament lead at -16. That would be Chalmers highlight. He bogeys the last three holes and finishes third. A great walk was spoiled after a terrific first 15 holes of golf. Even after the bogeys, he still shot a 68.
Jason Caron was not supposed to be on the leaderboard at the PGA Championship. He is one of 60+ PGA club pros that started the tournament, and only one of 13 that made the cut. Caron put together a 69-70-67 13 under par. Like Bland, Caron went a sizzling five under 31 and within two strokes of the lead with nine to go. Caron played very well but his two bogeys on the back nine stymied his progress. Caron shot a six under 66.
Pars
Chris DeMarco is not heard from much on the PGA Champions Tour top of the leaderboard. Fans enjoy watching him play. His TV run this weekend 68-65-72 put him at 12 under after three rounds. DeMarco hung around on the front side with four birdies and a bogey and front nine of 32. It looked like DeMarco would be a factor down the stretch but the birdies dried up. He doubled the 18th and finished in a T-6 with Ernie Els.
Steve Stricker came into the Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship as the defending Champion. Stricker played well with a 69-66-71, which is good with a score at ten under. The problem is you have to go low at this Jack Nicklaus designed Harbor Shores course.
Ernie Els– Overshadowed by several other players on the Champions Tour, Els had a strong tournament starting off with a 70-64-69 -13. Els said after Saturday’s round three he had work to do. “I’m fortunate enough to be up there,” Els said. “You know, 10 under is leading at the moment; 12 under was leading yesterday. I played solid. I didn’t play spectacular, but played solid enough to get myself up there.” Els could not find his rythem after the rain and finished with a pair of bogeys and a score of 70. He finishes T-6.
Bogeys
The 84th PGA Senior Championship wrapped up its time at Harbor Shores. Kitchen Aid was a terrific sponsor but the feel of the final edition of the tournament is that this edition had in 2024, ran its course. The tournament moves to Congressional Country Club in May of 2025. Good luck to Congressional. It has played the host to many big moments in golf over the years.
Roy J. Akers