Course Source: Pine Needles Lodge, Pinehurst Resort

Course Source: Pine Needles Lodge, Pinehurst Resort










Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange April 29, 2013 2:30 AMThe SportsXchange


IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

THE LAYOUT: Only a 10-minute drive from the famed Pinehurst Resort, Pine Needles -- which hosted the 2007 U.S. Women's Open won by Cristie Kerr -- is a Donald Ross masterpiece in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

Although it is located at a resort, the course is open to the public.

The course was renovated in 2005 under the direction of Arizona-based designer John Fought to make it more closely resemble the course that opened in 1928. Tee boxes were lengthened, greens and bunkers were restored to their original sizes and positions, and native turf grasses were re-established.

Pine Needles, which plays to a par of 71, has been lengthened by about 300 yards to a total of 7,015 yards.

You can take a lesson from famed instructor Peggy Kirk Bell, whose family has been a presence at the resort for three generations. Bell now owns the resort. Also on the teaching staff is Donna Andrews, winner of six events on the LPGA Tour, including the 1994 Nabisco Dinah Shore, and Pat McGowan, who was Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour in 1968.

GENERAL MANAGER, DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Graham Gilmore.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: Michael Campbell of New Zealand set up camp at the Pine Needles Lodge the week before the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst with his Florida-based instructor Jonathan Yarwood, who refined Campbell's chipping and putting strokes for the inverted saucer greens at Pinehurst.

After Campbell's remarkable victory at Pinehurst on the No. 2 course, perhaps' Ross' most famous layout, the winner returned to celebrate on Sunday night at the "In the Rough" Lounge at Pine Needles.

Pine Needles boasts an exceptional set of par 3s, three of them from elevated tees, so choosing the correct club is a must. The 145-yard third, the signature hole and shortest on the course, is the most picturesque, requiring a tee shot over a lake and wetlands area to a green that slopes dramatically from back to front.

The sixth hole, a 459-yard par 4, might be the best on the course. You hit your tee shot up to the fairway, and long hitters can catch the downslope atop the knoll to get an extra 30 yards of roll. The approach plays downhill to the green.

As part of the 2005 renovation, the 14th and 15th holes, perhaps the best on the back nine, have reverted to their original shot values. No. 14 is a daunting 454-yard par 4, followed by the 530-yard par-5 15th.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: Pine Needles' sister property next door, the Mid Pines Inn, boasts another Ross classic, Mid Pines Golf Club. Of course, a few miles down the road is Pinehurst Resort and Club, with eight courses, including the prized No. 2 course.

Also in the neighborhood are the Mid South Club in Pinehurst, designed by Arnold Palmer; Legacy Golf Club in Aberdeen, designed by Jack Nicklaus II and host of the 2000 Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship; National Golf Club in Pinehurst, designed by Jack Nicklaus; and Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford, an innovative course designed by Mike Strantz.

Others worth a look are the Pit Golf Links, Talamore Golf Club, Little River Farm and Pinewild Country Club.

WHERE TO STAY: The Carolina Hotel is a National Historical Landmark in the center of Pinehurst that has been offering exquisite service to go with Southern charm since 1901.

Four U.S. presidents have stayed at the Holly Inn in Pinehurst, which opened its doors in 1895.

The Manor Inn has been one of Arnold Palmer's favorite hangouts since he visited Pinehurst with his father as a boy.

In addition to Pine Needles Lodge and the Mid Pines Inn, other quality accommodations may be found at Amble Inn Acres Bed and Breakfast in Vass, the Blacksmith Inn in Carthage, Hyland Hills Resort in Southern Pines and the Old Buggy Inn in Carthage.

ON THE WEB: www.pineneedles-midpines.com




THE LAST RESORT: Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C.

THE LAYOUT: There are eight championship courses at Pinehurst, one of the finest golf resorts in the world, four designed by architectural giant Donald Ross.

The others were designed by George and Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Dan and Ellis Maples.

Pinehurst No. 2, of course, is Ross' masterpiece -- which has been recognized since its opening in 1907 as one of the most challenging layouts in the world. It plays to 7,252 yards from the tips, with a par of 72, and has a 75.9 USGA rating with a slope of 138.

No. 2 has been the site of more big-time championships than any other course in the United States, and it was the host the 2005 U.S. Open, in which Michael Campbell of New Zealand held off Tiger Woods to win by two strokes.

The United States Golf Association will stage the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst No. 2 on consecutive weeks in June 2014, the first time a course will host national championships on consecutive weeks.

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Chad Campbell (not the one who plays on the PGA Tour).

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: The beauty of the No. 2 course belies the difficulty, with the subtlety of Ross' design coming into view only after the golfer lands in a strategically placed bunker or has his ball trickle off one of the crowned greens.

However, the course is playable for even the weekend golfer because the fairways are wide and forgiving.

Make your birdie or par on the easier third and fourth holes, because the diabolical fifth, a 483-yard par 4, and sixth, a 225-yard par 3, await with as punishing a one-two punch as golf can provide.

No. 14, at 471 yards to a green with trouble everywhere, is considered to be among the best two-shot holes in America.

Many a duffer has stood on the 18th green and tried to see if he could sink the same 15-foot putt the late Payne Stewart drained to beat Phil Mickelson and win the 1999 U.S. Open.

A statue of Stewart in his fist-pumping pose after sinking the putt overlooks the 18th green.

Ben Hogan won for the first time as a pro on No. 2, beating Sam Snead by three strokes in the 1940 North and South Championship.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: If you don't get enough golf at Pinehurst, there is plenty nearby in the Sandhills of North Carolina to keep even the golf-aholic busy all day, seven days a week.

Ross also designed gems at Pine Needles Lodge and Mid Pines Inn, both in neighboring Southern Pines.

Others in the neighborhood are the Mid South Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, in Pinehurst; Legacy Golf Club in Aberdeen, designed by Jack Nicklaus II and host of the 2000 Women's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship; National Golf Club in Pinehurst, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford, an innovative course designed by Mike Strantz.

Others worth a look are the Pit Golf Links, Talamore Golf Club, Little River Farm and Pinewild Country Club.

WHERE TO STAY: The Carolina Hotel is a National Historical Landmark in the center of Pinehurst that has been offering exquisite service to go with Southern charm since 1901.

Four U.S. presidents have stayed at the Holly Inn in Pinehurst, which opened its doors in 1895.

The Manor Inn has been one of Arnold Palmer's favorite hangouts since he visited Pinehurst with his father as a boy.

Other quality accommodations may be found at Pine Needles Lodge in Southern Hills, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club in Southern Pines, Amble Inn Acres Bed and Breakfast in Vass, the Blacksmith Inn in Carthage, Hyland Hills Resort in Southern Pines and the Old Buggy Inn in Carthage.

ON THE WEB: www.pinehurst.com

2013 Senior PGA Championship parking, road closure and spectator information

2013 Senior PGA Championship parking, road closure and spectator information











PGA.COM May 17, 2013 3:53 PM

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ST. LOUIS -- The PGA of America today announced new and important information for spectators planning to attend the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which will be contested starting next week, May 21-26, at Bellerive Country Club. The most important information is listed below, and additional information can be found at spga2013.com and in the Senior PGA Championship spectator guide. PARKING General public parking for spectators attending the Championship will be located at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the Main Entrance is also included. You do not need to have a ticket to utilize this parking lot.

ROAD CLOSURESRoads surrounding Bellerive will be closed daily during the Championship and will only be accessible with the appropriate access credential. From Tuesday, May 21st -- Sunday, May 26th, from 6 AM -- 8 PM each day, the following will be in effect: -- MoDOT will close Ladue Road to through traffic from Mason Road to Highway 141. Westbound Ladue Rd traffic will be routed south on Mason Rd. -- St. Louis County Department of Highways and Traffic will close Mason Road from Ladue Road to West Walling Drive. -- Note: Only vehicles with proper hang-tags, school buses, Metro buses, US Postal Service vehicles, and emergency vehicles will be allowed to travel within this area. Local service and delivery vehicles will be allowed.

TICKETS Tickets are still available by clicking here or by calling 800-PGA-GOLF (742-4653). Tickets will also be available daily at the Will Call/admissions trailer -- located at the main entrance to the Championship across the street from the Kirk of the Hills Church. As a reminder, attendees do not need a ticket to board the shuttle buses from Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (Week of May 20) Gate HoursMonday: Closed to Public Tuesday & Wednesday: 7:00 AM -- 7:00 PM Thursday & Friday: 6:45 AM -- 8:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: 6:30 AM -- 6:00 PM Public Shuttle Hours Monday: Closed to Public Tuesday & Wednesday: 6:45 AM -- 8:00 PM Thursday & Friday: 6:30 AM -- 9:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: 6:00 AM -- 7:00PM Tuesday, May 21: Pro-Am/Practice Rounds Pro-Am playing times: 9:00 AM -- 2:00 PM Contestant Practice Round playing times: 2:00 PM -- 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 22: Practice Rounds Playing times: 7:00 AM -- 7:00 PM Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24: First and Second Round Starting on both Hole #1 and Hole #10 (groups of three) Morning starting times: 7:15 AM -- 9:20 AM* Afternoon starting times: 12:30 PM -- 2:30 PM* Completion of rounds: 7:30 PM* * Subject to change. Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26: Third and Final Round All players starting on Hole #1 (groups of two) Starting times: 7:00 AM -- 12:51 PM Completion of rounds: 5:00 PM* * Subject to change

MOBILE DEVICE POLICY Those wishing to use their mobile devices will be asked to adjust the volume setting to "silent" or "vibrate" while at the Championship. -- Guests may accept or make phone calls in designated areas throughout the golf course, primarily near concession stands. -- Digital messaging and checking data is allowed on the golf course. -- Mobile device camera use is NOT permitted during the Championship Rounds. -- No video recording will be permitted at any time during Championship Week. Spectators attempting to use their mobile device in unauthorized areas or in ways not sanctioned will be asked to surrender the device and pick it up at a designated location after they depart the golf course.

ITEMS TO LEAVE AT HOMETo ensure that all attendees enjoy a safe, enjoyable experience at the Championship, the items listed below are strictly prohibited on the grounds of Bellerive Country Club. All bags will be searched upon entering the Championship. -- Personal electronics such as hand-held games, radios, televisions, iPods, iPads, etc. -- All oversized chairs with wide arm rests (small, portable/folding chairs are permitted). -- Bags larger than 10" x 10" x 10" in their natural state. -- Backpacks of any size. -- Prohibited bags will not be accepted/stored at Bellerive Country Club. -- Weapons of any kind (regardless of permit). -- Coolers, ladders, milk crates, signs, posters, banners, dogs and other pets. -- Food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages). -- Other items deemed unlawful or dangerous by Championship Security personnel, at their sole discretion. Please leave all prohibited items in your vehicle as they will not be permitted at the Championship.

DIRECTIONS TO PGA PARKING (VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATER) From the North (Chicago) -- Take I-55 South to Exit 20B -- Merge onto I-270 West toward Kansas City -- Continue on I-270 South -- Take Exit 20A-20B to merge onto I-70 W toward Kansas City -- Take Exit 231A for Maryland Heights Expressway -- Merge onto MO-141/141/Maryland Heights Expressway -- Turn right onto Riverport Drive -- Follow PGA Public Parking signage to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater From the East (Metro East -- Illinois) -- Take I-64/40 West -- Continue on I-64/40 West -- Take exit 25A-25B for I-270 S/I-270 N toward Memphis/Chicago -- Take exit 20A-20B to merge onto I-70 W toward Kansas City -- Take exit 231A for Maryland Heights Expressway -- Merge onto MO-141/141/Maryland Heights Expressway -- Turn right onto Riverport Drive -- Follow PGA Public Parking signage to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater From the West (Kansas City) -- Take I-70 East -- Follow I-70 over Missouri River -- Take exit 231A for Earth City Expressway S -- Turn right onto Riverport Drive -- Follow PGA Public Parking signage to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater From the South (Memphis) -- Take I-55 North to Exit 196 -- Merge onto I-270 North -- Take exit 20A-20B to merge onto I-70 W toward Kansas City -- Take exit 231A for Maryland Heights Expressway -- Merge onto MO-141/141/Maryland Heights Expressway -- Turn right onto Riverport Drive -- Follow PGA Public Parking signage to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater About the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid Begun in 1937 on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid is the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf. The Championship brings together both the legends of the game and the newest members of senior professional golf to new audiences throughout the United States. Follow the 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid on Twitter (@2013SeniorPGA) and Facebook. The 2014 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid will take place at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. About The PGA of America Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf. About KitchenAid Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Over 90 years later, the KitchenAid brand now offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand visit www.KitchenAid.com. About PGA REACH PGA REACH was created to utilize the upcoming PGA of America Championships at Bellerive Country Club as a catalyst to "Improve Lives Through Golf" and will focus on the areas of Recreation, Education, Awareness, Community, and Health. PGA REACH will work with existing organizations that are already positively affecting the lives of young men and women in our community by extending their capabilities and impact, making additional time, talent and financial resources available to them. The collaborative and focused activities of these groups will have a significant influence on youth in the St. Louis area.

About Bellerive Country ClubOpened in 1897, Bellerive Country Club has a 100-year history of hosting spectator and championship golf. With the 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, Bellerive will become only the third club in the United States to host all four traveling men's professional major championships: PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and U.S. Senior Open. Bellerive will also host the 100th PGA Championship in August 2018.

How to Qualify for the U.S. Open in 5 Easy Steps

How to Qualify for the U.S. Open in 5 Easy Steps











Ryan Ballengee May 17, 2013 6:19 PM


COMMENTARY | Your chances of qualifying for the U.S. Open are pretty slim.



The USGA reported 9,860 players ponied up to go through the process that can include local and sectional qualifying -- in total, a gauntlet of up to 54 holes offering less than 1 percent
of entrants a berth in the national championship.





A year ago, I tried to qualify for the Open. It began as a quest to learn how to play muscleback irons, but eventually developed into a journey to see just how far my much improved game could take me.



I failed miserably in my local qualifier. I shot 87. After a par at my first hole, almost every tee shot after that was a disaster. However, I learned a lot that day, playing alongside a contestant that nearly earned a spot in sectionals, as well as covering Golf's Longest Day for Golf Channel in Columbus, Ohio, after the Memorial Tournament.



With local qualifying having ended May 16 and sectionals on June 3, I wanted to share my top five lessons from the experience for the trimmed field of hopefuls.



1. Play a practice round or two



I know it sounds obvious, but scheduling and actually playing a practice round or two at your qualifying site is a great idea. Developing a comfort level with the course takes some pressure out of the experience and saves you the embarrassment of flailing your arms around every time a putt doesn't move like you expect. The expletives -- both the silent and very audible varieties -- dissipate when you know what's coming.



Playing a practice round also means that you might actually be committed enough to do well in qualifying. Don't be like and try to qualify after flying back from covering The Players Championship. Learning by osmosis didn't work sleeping on my textbooks in college and they definitely didn't work watching Matt Kuchar and Tiger Woods for four days. Take a day off of work to give yourself a chance.



2. Don't get intimidated by who's in the field



At the sectional level, the odds are that there will be a number of PGA Tour and Web.com Tour pros in the field. Many may blend in the background at their day job -- after all, they're not good enough to be exempt from qualifying -- but they sure stand out in this setting. The staff bag. The clearly put-together attire. A caddie. Those traits are easy to spot when the only people in the gallery are parents and friends of other competitors, namely the ones without a job.



Pros are people just like you and me, however. They're outstanding players, but they get nervous, too. They want to be shoved into qualifying as much as an NFL team wants Tim Tebow. If you've made it to sectionals, the pros have no special powers that you don't.



3. Get a good night's sleep beforehand



A qualifying day is a long one. Though the local qualifying is just 18 holes, the round can easily drag on past five hours. Tack on an extra 18 for the sectionals, and the day feels like you're attached to a polygraph machine for 15 hours, asked constantly if you're sure you are who you say you are.



Getting seven or eight hours of sleep will give you enough pep in your step to make it through the day. Whether you qualify or not, seven or eight beers will help you get through the night after it's all over.



4. Bring an extra pair of socks and shoes



To get the whole field through 36 holes of sectional qualifying at each site, the action begins early. In a lot of places, that means dew on the grass that will almost assuredly find its way through your supposedly waterproof shoes and absorbed by your socks.



By the end of your morning round, your feet will be shriveled, if not your confidence from how you played. Either way, change your socks and shoes for the second round. It'll keep your dogs from barking. Besides, there's no need for a massive blister to be your parting gift in the event you don't make it.



5. Wear sunscreen



Who am I, an utter loser, to tell you to succeed at what I couldn't do? When I thought about that, I immediately thought of the Baz Luhrmann song, inspired by a 1997 piece written by reporter Mary Schmich.



"The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience," Schmich wrote.



On a long, hot June day, it's good advice.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

Rory McIlroy’s Management Shift Is Best for the Long Term

Rory McIlroy’s Management Shift Is Best for the Long Term
Reports Confirm That World No. 2 Is Dumping Horizon for His Own Start-up











Chris Chaney May 17, 2013 6:43 PM




COMMENTARY | Rory McIlroy just wants something that fits.

From his new Nike clubs and threads to his public relations roller coaster, 2013 has been a bit rough on the 24-year-old Northern Irishman, both o
n the course and off.



A dubious start to the year began with a missed cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and was compounded by McIlroy's walk-off at the Honda Classic two months later. McIlroy's schoolboy charm and flawless motion through the ball endeared him to golf nuts, media and everyone in-between.

Finally, it seemed, there was a world-class talent with a down-to-earth, likable personality; somebody kids could look up to as a true role model in all aspects of his life.

But everything wasn't as simple as McIlroy was making it look.

Golf is hard, and not even McIlroy was immune to its difficulty as we found out at the 2011 Masters when McIlroy imploded on the back nine at Augusta National. Still under the wing of International Sports Management's Andrew "Chubby" Chandler, the man by whom he was represented since he turned pro in 2007, McIlroy gave one of the best mea culpas in recent memory. McIlroy stood up to the fire admirably as he answered every question with poise and candor following his final-round 80, presumably at the urging of his agent and ISM's PR staff.

Two short months later amid a flurry of doubt and predictions of scar tissue build up, McIlroy scorched Congressional Country Club as well as the field to win the 2011 U.S. Open by eight shots. His folly at Augusta now chalked up to growing pains, McIlroy was back on track to becoming the next big thing in professional golf.

And yet, McIlroy wasn't happy with his representation.

A burgeoning star, those close to McIlroy were not surprised when he chose to leave ISM to join Horizon Sports Management in 2011. Horizon was a Dublin-based agency nowhere near the size or stature of ISM, boasting a modest stable of capable athletes that included McIlroy's close friend Graeme McDowell.

While assumptions were made of McDowell wooing his younger compatriot for the agency, more promising theories were asserted that McIlroy was not receiving the attention he required from the larger, more encompassing ISM group.

Chandler, a former professional golfer himself, was much closer with older clients and friends Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, giving them more time and attention than his up-and-coming star, McIlroy.

Horizon presented a more tight-knit company that had McIlroy and his growing brand atop its priority list. Connor Ridge and Colin Morrissey, the co-founders of the then six-year-old management group took the reigns to McIlroy's affairs.

From a business perspective, what Horizon has done for McIlroy in the past 18 months has been nothing short of impressive. McIlroy, under Horizon, has inked deals most notably with Nike, Omega and Bose, while still keeping logos off of his golf bag. His mostly logo-less bag (with the exception of Santander Bank, a deal rolled over from his time with ISM) has allowed McIlroy to capitalize locally and publicly with his "6 Bags Project," an endeavor that benefits a different local charity at each tournament he plays in.

Once again, despite the prestige, good will and dollar amounts his latest management group has brought upon McIlroy, the Ulsterman has chosen to part ways for greener pastures.

This time, instead of jumping on with a young group in its infancy, Rory is conceiving the group himself. The Associated Press reported that McIlroy will start his own management group that includes his father, Gerry, and other close friends and associates.

Following the model of other successful family-oriented superstars such as Lionel Messi, Roger Federer and Adam Scott, McIlroy will surround himself with those who have his best interests and brand goals as not only among their top priorities, but also as their only priority.

The makeup of the inner circle that McIlroy surrounds himself with will be interesting to note. The business experience and acumen necessary to manage a top-tier talent requires the ability to walk a fine line between brand growth and over-extension of the client. His new group will have to find the balance between marketability and performance that allows McIlroy to continue to perform as one of the best players in the world.

While there is no doubt that Horizon, and ISM before it, had McIlroy's best interest at heart, there is no better luxury than having the people that you know the best and trust the most in charge of your career, brand and, eventually, legacy.

McIlroy will have that luxury going forward and for the affable kid from Norn Iron, it can only mean good things for his brand and his golf game.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Three PGA Professionals within five of lead

Three PGA Professionals within five of lead











PGA.COM May 24, 2013 10:43 PM


By Bob Denney, The PGA of America

TOWN & COUNTRY, Mo. - PGA club professionals Jeff Coston, Mark Mielke and Sonny Skinner took varying routes over feisty Bellerive Country Club Friday to keep their rounds intact and find themselves within five strokes of the lead following the second round of the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid.

The trio was part of a 10-player logjam in eighth place, at 2-under-par 140, on a mild day that appeared ripe for scoring in the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf. Overall, five PGA club professionals from a 42-player delegation made the 36-hole cut of 4-over-par 146.

Coston, a 57-year-old PGA teaching professional at Semiahmoo Golf Resort in Blaine, Wash., made his sixth appearance in the Championship and turned in a 2-under-par 69. He flashed some of the form he displayed in 2007, when he tied for 19th at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C. But this time, he said, things were different.

"It's different, totally different. I'm in better shape, "said Coston, who made his third cut in the Championship. "It is not the same. Golf is not the same; you know what I mean? I am just enjoying the experience and playing golf; nothing bigger than that." Coston collected five birdies to offset three bogeys.

"I have played in this Championship regularly, and it's really nice of The PGA of America that they give us a chance, for club professionals to play in this tournament," Coston said. "I played the tour and I have had my golf academy up at Semiahmoo for 19 years now. So, I haven't played full-time in 19 years, but it's fun to get the opportunity to test yourself."

Sonny Skinner of Sylvester, Ga., the reigning Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year, who opened the Championship Thursday with a sterling 67, struggled to hold his round together. He came in with a 73, a scrambling round that featured three of his four bogeys on the back nine to go with birdies on the fifth and 17th holes.


"I'm just scrambling too much," said a visibly frustrated Skinner, 52, the PGA head professional at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Ga. "I'm not hitting the ball as well as I would like, and didn't putt as well. I'm a little disappointed today. I felt like I could possibly get it going a little better. I just ran out of steam on the back nine."

Mielke, the 50-year-old PGA head professional at Mill River Club in Oyster Bay, N.Y., turned in a five-birdie/five-bogey 71 in his debut appearance.

"It is awesome to be in contention on a weekend," said Mielke. "It's great! It's something that you don't come here saying, 'Hey, I would like to make the cut.' And then you get up the board, and you say, 'Hey, I want to play better than making the cut. So, it's real exciting. But it's a thrill for a club professional to be hanging with these guys."

Rounding out the five PGA club professionals making the weekend's 36-hole finale were Championship rookies Don Berry of Rogers, Minn., who had a 69 to land at 141; and St. Louis native Bob Gaus, who came in with a 74 for 145.

Berry, the PGA head professional at Edinburgh USA Golf Club in Brooklyn Park, Minn., overcame a slow start. Beginning play on the back nine, Berry bogeyed the 10th and 12th holes before hitting his approach to the 18th green within a foot of the hole. That sparked him to finish 3 under par the rest of the way.

"I love the course, it fits my eye," said Berry. "Yesterday, I played well but didn't get a whole lot out of the round. Today, I worked hard but ended up with a better finish. It's really cool to be here and see the great players in the locker room. I got to play a practice round with U.S. Open champions Tom Kite and Andy North. That was a lot of fun."

Gaus, 52, the PGA teaching professional at Tower Tee Golf Center in St. Louis, had the most experience at Bellerive among those making the cut. He used that course knowledge to his advantage.

"I played really well the whole way, both days, didn't do anything stupid, no double bogeys," said Gaus. "I felt pretty comfortable for once in one of these things. So we'll see what happens."

By the numbers: Second round

By the numbers: Second round











PGA.COM May 24, 2013 11:31 PM

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Jay Haas is one of only two past champions in the top 10 after 36 holes. (Montana Pritchard/The PGA …


By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

80: The number of players that made the cut in the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which fell at 4-over-par 146.

5: The number of PGA Club Professionals -- out of the 40 who started on Thursday -- to make the 36-hole cut. Those players are: Jeff Coston (2 under), Mark Mielke (2 under), Sonny Skinner (2 under), Don Berry (1 under) and Bob Gaus (3 over).

2: The number of past Senior PGA Champions (Jay Haas,Tom Watson) who are in the top 10 through 36 holes. Haas is currently tied for fourth at 4 under and Watson is tied for eighth at 2 under.

3.561: The scoring average on the 213-yard, par-3 sixth hole Friday, which played as the most difficult in Round 2.


3.574: The scoring average on the 248-yard, par-4 11th hole Friday, which played as the easiest in Round 2.

66: Or, 5 under par, the lowest score recorded in Friday's second round by both Kenny Perry and fellow Kentuckian Russ Cochran.

87: The number of spots Scott Hoch and Bob Tway moved up the leaderboard in Round 2, the biggest moves of the day. Hoch fired a 4-under 67 and went from a tie for 124th after Thursday's first round to a tie for 37th. Tway had the identical impressive turnaround.

104: Number of spots Larry Mize dropped on the leaderboard Friday after his second-round 82.

12: The difference in number of strokes between Bernhard Langer's opening round of 8-over-par 79 and second round of 4-under 67. The bounceback was remarkable for the man who has been the best player on the Champions Tour in 2013, and was just enough to make the cut on the number at 4 over.

0: The number of Champions Tour events and major championships that PGA Club Professional Bud Lintelman had played in before getting into the field this week as an alternate. Lintelman got his spot when Steve Elkington withdrew due to a migraine. Though he missed the cut, Lintelman will never forget this week -- with Elkington's withdrawal, Lintelman was paired with Tom Watson and Peter Jacobsen for the first two rounds.

Perry and Cochran thrive on Kentucky comfort

Perry and Cochran thrive on Kentucky comfort











PGA.COM May 25, 2013 3:38 PM

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"It's incredible," said Kenny Perry when asked what it was like for two guys who played junior golf …


By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

ST. LOUIS - Kenny Perry and Russ Cochran have known each other and played golf together since they were kids growing up in Kentucky.

Decades later, the pair who count one another as great friends, share the halfway lead at 7-under 135 in the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented KitchenAid after playing the first two rounds in the same group along with Dan Forsman.

The duo is two shots clear of Kiyoshi Murota and three ahead of Duffy Waldorf, Jay Haas and Loren Roberts.

The outstanding play shouldn't come as much of a surprise when you consider the comfort-level between Perry and Cochran, which might be second only to the Bryant brothers - Bart and Brad - of the players in the field at Bellerive.

Perry, 52, and Cochran, 54, matched each other pretty much shot-for-shot over the first two rounds with identical scores of 69-66 each day.

"It's incredible," said Perry when asked what it was like for two guys who played junior golf together to be tied for the lead in the Senior PGA Championship. "It really is. We got a huge gallery out there. Paducah, Kentucky, is not too far from here, it's probably a three-hour drive at the most. I've actually got friends here from Franklin where I'm from, I only spent four years at Paducah, so I went to high school there only. But I know a lot of people there. And it is neat. It's neat when you got a childhood. We've shared a lot of laughs and a lot of good times."

Perry said that since Cochran is a few years older, he was always the player that Perry worked hard to emulate.

"Russ is kind of the guy I always looked up to," Perry said. "I was a freshman at Lone Oak High School when he was a junior there at St. Mary's there in Paducah, Kentucky. Russell was the man. He was the guy that ... he was the big guy on campus as you would say. And he was one of the big reasons why I got as good as I did. I got better, because I tried to aspire to be a lot like Russ."

Cochran, on the other hand, said it was incredible to watch Perry grow. Like so many in their teenage years, Perry had quite a growth spurt from when Cochran went away for college to just a few years later when he saw Perry again at a college event.


"I got to see all that progression and he kind of turned my head a little bit, to be honest, because when I left him, he was a sophomore to be I guess in high school and then the next time I saw him I think was at a college event in West Virginia maybe or somewhere, Virginia yeah, and he walked across the green and he looks like he does now," Cochran said. "Six-two and a man."

To say Perry blossomed would be an understatement. Over the course of his PGA Tour career, where he still plays part-time, Perry racked up 14 total victories. He was a member of the last U.S.-winning Ryder Cup team at Valhalla in his home state of Kentucky, which is also the place where he lost a playoff in the 1996 PGA Championship. And since joining the Champions Tour in 2010, Perry has two wins.

As the weather gets warmer, it also seems to be the time of year that Perry plays better. On the PGA Tour, the Colonial or the Memorial have always been held right around Memorial Day weekend. Perry won the Colonial twice and the Memorial three times.

"I always played better in the summer in the heat and humidity, which we didn't really have today," said Perry. "I wore my sweater all day today. We had a north wind yesterday, so it's been a funny spring. But in the pro-am, it was very warm and humid and hot. So hopefully it will work its way back in that direction. I always played better in the heat. Colonial I played great, yeah, I've always enjoyed the heat. I like to sweat a little bit out there."

Cochran, meanwhile, had one win on the PGA Tour in a career that was interrupted by a wrist injury. He's made up for some lost time on the Champions Tour with three victories thus far.

As if their roots and friendship weren't enough to make Perry and Cochran as comfortable as can be on the course together, the way they hit shots is very similar.

Perry, a right-hander, loves to hit a draw. Cochran, a left-hander, likes to hit a fade. Since they stand on opposite sides of the ball, the shot shapes are nearly identical.

"It's funny, I hit a hook and he hits a fade, so our balls are curving the same direction all day too," Perry said. "So we're looking at the same golf shot. And we hit it about the same distance. Our irons are about the same. It's just a matter of who gets the putter hot."

The way things are looking at Bellerive, it seems as though the Kentucky State Championship is breaking out in St. Louis, Mo.

And if that continues over the weekend, you can bet Cochran will be trying like heck to win... but he'll also be pulling hard for his buddy.

"I'm the kind of guy that I'm going to pull for Kenny," Cochran said. "I know Kenny wants to play as hard as he can. And I like to play as hard as I can. But I truthfully do pull for Kenny. And I always have."