Sunday, May 21, 2006
Timmer wins record-setting, 3-way playoff
It was a match highlighted by record-setting performances and Jeff Levinson's return from the Injured-Reserve List. Timmer had never before won a sudden-death match, losing four times to Gunnarsson and once to Ross. On 18, leading Gunnarsson and Ross by a single stroke, Timmer missed a short birdie putt. Gunnarsson converted a short birdie and Ross nailed an 18-footer to send the match to OT.
Most pundits figured Timmer would crumble like a stale cookie as he had so many times before. But, this time, they would be proven wrong. Timmer birdied 19 and Ross's par put him out of the running; but Gunnarsson converted an immense 20-foot birdie putt to send the match to another hole.
This time, it was Timmer's turn to shine. When both players were faced with mid-range birdie putts, Timmer converted his and Gunnarsson's rimmed out. At long last, Timmer could claim a sudden-death victory. He leaped into the air with arms extended, slapped a caddy on the butt, and began singing Irish war ballads from Braveheart.
Timmer's check was $126,000; Gunnarsson collected $57,000; Ross $29,800 and Levinson received $19,500.
Levinson, playing gingerly and conservatively, closed on a high note with a birdie on 18. Spectator Henrietta Winston of Rolling Hills, Kentucky cheered long and hard for Levinson, following him throughout the day. "He's set such an example for all of us and my hope is he will continue to work off the rust and get back to his form of last year."
-9 -1 -1 Timmer
-9 -1 +0 Gunnarsson
-9 +0 -- Ross
+5 -- -- Levinson
Most pundits figured Timmer would crumble like a stale cookie as he had so many times before. But, this time, they would be proven wrong. Timmer birdied 19 and Ross's par put him out of the running; but Gunnarsson converted an immense 20-foot birdie putt to send the match to another hole.
This time, it was Timmer's turn to shine. When both players were faced with mid-range birdie putts, Timmer converted his and Gunnarsson's rimmed out. At long last, Timmer could claim a sudden-death victory. He leaped into the air with arms extended, slapped a caddy on the butt, and began singing Irish war ballads from Braveheart.
Timmer's check was $126,000; Gunnarsson collected $57,000; Ross $29,800 and Levinson received $19,500.
Levinson, playing gingerly and conservatively, closed on a high note with a birdie on 18. Spectator Henrietta Winston of Rolling Hills, Kentucky cheered long and hard for Levinson, following him throughout the day. "He's set such an example for all of us and my hope is he will continue to work off the rust and get back to his form of last year."
-9 -1 -1 Timmer
-9 -1 +0 Gunnarsson
-9 +0 -- Ross
+5 -- -- Levinson
# @ 5:29 AM 
