February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Padraig Harrington racked up a ninth-place tie in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. After playing the first 15 holes of the final round at TPC of Louisiana with only one birdie to offset three bogeys, he birdied each of the final three holes to finish eight strokes under par for the tournament at 280 (68-71-70-71). That number was five strokes off the 275 hung up by Tim Petrovic and James Driscoll (Petrovic won the playoff). Harrington’s earnings have amounted to $193,187.
NGA/HOOTERS TOUR
Gareth Maybin enjoyed the largest payday of his budding career when he finished fourth in the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic in McCormick, S.C. The first-year pro out of Portrush picked up a check for $9,331 by virtue of his 13-under-par 275 (69-71-67-68). That was eight strokes off Camillo Villegas’ winning 267. Maybin played bogey-free golf on Sunday to ascend from 11th place at the beginning of the round.
CHALLENGE TOUR
David Higgins remained in fine form with a joint seventh-place finish in the Peugeot Challenge at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona, Spain. He was three strokes over par for the tournament at 291 (72-74-75-70) and four behind the medalist, Tomas Jesus Munoz. Michael Hoey was in with a shot until a disastrous final round left him in a tie for 20th place at 295 (70-73-74-78). Colm Moriarty shared 33rd position at 298 (72-78-74-74).
EUROPEAN TOUR
Peter Lawrie wasn’t going to catch Ernie Els in the BMW Asian Open at Tomson Shanghai Pudong in China, but he seemed destined for better things than a share of 31st place before his final round began. Lawrie started off with bogeys on three of the first four holes Sunday, then regained control through the 13th hole.
A bogey at 14 started another string of miscues that resulted in a bogey at 15, a double bogey at 16 and another bogey at 18. He finished with 78 for the round and two under par for the tournament at 286 (67-70-71-78). Els shot 262 to win by 13 strokes. Paul McGinley, 145 (75-70), and Damien McGrane, 146 (74-72), missed the cut, which was established at 144.