FBR Open Wrapup
At this year’s Bob Hope Classic and Buick Invitational, PGA Tour rookie Jeff Quinney entered the back nine of the final day holding at least a share of the lead. Quinney lost both of those leads.
Again Quinney found himself in a familiar place at the FBR Open last week -- holding the lead on the back nine of the final day.
Leading Aaron Baddeley by two strokes, the two hit their approach shots to the par-5 15th green. Baddeley nailed his approach to twelve feet. Quinney looked to have exercised his back nine demons by landing his approach inside of Baddeley’s. He did not make his bid for birdie and continued his back nine struggles. Baddeley made his putt on the 15th and proceeded to birdie the 16th and 17th holes to go 21 under par and win his second PGA Tour title.
Baddeley relied on a consistent putter the whole tournament, ranking him 2nd for the week. Hitting 15, 16 and 17 in regulation, he dropped each putt for birdie and took the lead away from Quinney for the first since the second round.
Along with Baddeley, there probably should have been another player at 21 under par.
John Rollins birdied three of the final six holes to finish one stroke behind Baddeley. One of the holes he did not birdie was the 18th. Rollins entered the 18th hole at 20 under par and hit an approach shot that was all over the pin...literally. The shot hit the pin and ran 30 feet away from the cup. He could not convert the putt from the fringe and came up one shot, one flagstick, short of a playoff.
Both Baddeley and Quinney live in Northern Arizona and had large contingencies backing them. The FBR Open is always known for its sizeable crowds and this week was no different, tallying over 500,000 fans for the four day tournament.
Next week the PGA Tour comes to the friendly confines of the Monterey Peninsula for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Hookedongolf.com will be at the event all week with extended coverage, photos and updates.
