This time, Ricky picked up his win but Ricky is no stranger to being on the other side of these battles. All of it building up to another close finish on the iconic 18th hole with Barsby coming up short on an attempted eagle that we would need to force a playoff. In 2015, Barsby chases down Ricky Wysocki in the final round and even briefly steals the lead. Rolling back the clock – you have the bonus golf playoffs in which Bradley Williams bests Michael Johansen for the 2016 title (maybe with some help from a local chipmunk). If you thought the course was stressful already, imagine what it would feel like to know you’ll be up against some of the top players of all time. In the history of the Vibram Open MPO division it seems no one is ever allowed to win by much (except maybe Paul McBeth but we’ll get to that). Read all about what to expect in the FPO division of the Vibram Open here. With this many former champions around we are bound to see some epic battles this year. I’ve spotted Paige Pierce, Catrina Allen, Valarie Jenkins and Sarah Hokom (2011 FPO Winner) out on the course practicing this week. And how can we forget 2012, when Catrina Allen won after battling out the final round with Valarie Jenkins and Sarah Hokom through tense ties and all three players holding the lead at some point. In 2013, Val Jenkins snagged the win from Sarah Hokom who was playing hot only a few strokes behind. In the FPO division Paige Pierce is currently on a three win streak looking for a fourth, and in 20 she was trailed closely by Catrina Allen through the fourth and final round of both years. If the last five years are any indication, drama lies ahead. That’s what the course lays out, we’re here to watch what the players will do with it. Maple Hill is a dramatic course at which no lead is totally safe. Every hole has its nuance, and there are few to zero moments where the pressure to keep it in bounds, out of the woods, and flying clean lets up. It is demanding and fair, and although par won’t get you close to the leaders, it can certainly feel like an accomplishment for many to finish at 60. I’ve been lucky enough to walk the adventure that is Maple Hill over the last few years and I’ve been out on the course all week. Part of the design of the Golds course was to line up par with a 1000 rated round. 19th time the top pros in the world have been invited to tackle this ever challenging beast of a 8,530 foot, par 60 course.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |