OUR 1637 HT ISSUE Vol. 32, No. 25 R O C H E S T E R Monday, July 27, 2020 How It Works: Modified Thompson Snaps Seven-Year US Stableford Explained PGA Win Drought at 3M Open The Barracuda Championship Playing Strategy Washington (AFP) — American is the only PGA TOUR event The strategy in Modified Sta- Michael Thompson snapped a that uses the Modified Stableford bleford formats can, in most in- seven-year US PGA title drought scoring format, which encourages stances, be summed up in three on Sunday, making birdies on aggressive play. Combine the for- words: “Go for it.” This scoring two of the last three holes to win mat with Reno’s altitude — which format will reward risk-taking on the 3M Open by two strokes. allows the ball to travel farther the golf course. Thompson, the 2012 US — and fans can expect to see For instance, if the profession- Open runner-up, rolled an im- plenty of birdies. al is facing a carry over water pressive bunker shot within three Unlike traditional scoring meth- that he normally wouldn’t try, feet of the cup at the par-4 16th ods, where the aim is to have the the Modified Stableford format and holed a 15-foot birdie putt lowest score, the objective in a presents an incentive to go for at the par-5 18th to secure his Modified Stableford tournament it. A birdie is worth twice as first tour triumph since the 2013 is to have the highest score. many positive points (2) as a Honda Classic. bogey is worth punitive points “I don’t know what to say. Points Structure (-1). Eagles offer huge payoffs This is so exciting,” Thomp- Modified Stableford awards (5 points) and the worst a play- son said, his voice cracking with American Michael Thompson holds aloft the trophy after winning the PGA points based on the number of er could possibly do would be emotion as he fought back tears. Tour’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota. (AFP Photo/Matthew Stockman) strokes taken at each hole. Scor- a double bogey (-3 points) at “I played such good golf today. ing at the 2020 Barracuda which point he could pick up I stayed within myself. I played compatriot Adam Long by two to the coronavirus pandemic, Championship will look like this: his ball and carry on to the next within myself. This means so shots after 72 holes at TPC Twin last won 166 starts ago. • Double Eagle: 8 points hole. much to me.” Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. His breakthrough booked the • Eagle: 5 points Those golfers who make a few Thompson fired a four-under World number 218 Thomp- 35-year-old into next week’s • Birdie: 2 points bogeys but also make a lot of par 67 in the final round to fin- son, who said his family could WGC Memphis event, next • Par: 0 points birdies or eagles are more likely ish on 19-under 265 to defeat not be with him to celebrate due Thompson — PAGE 5 • Bogey: -1 point to be atop the leaderboards. x • Double Bogey and up: -3 points © PGATour.com Top South Koreans Taking Cautious 3M Open Payout: Michael Approach to LPGA’s Return Thompson Collects BY RANDALL MELL The South Koreans are taking a cautious approach to returning Almost $1.2 Million to the LPGA. Here is the FedExCup points son and the rest of the players It looks as if the year’s first and purse breakdowns for 3M who made the cut at TPC Twin major championship will be Open winner Michael Thomp- Cities: staged without the highest ranked Koreans, with none of Finish Player FedEx Earnings ($) the four among the top 10 in the 1 Michael Thompson 500 1,188,000 Rolex World Rankings scheduled 2 Adam Long 300 719,400 to play the AIG Women’s Open 3 Tony Finau 104 250,800 Aug. 20-23. 3 Emiliano Grillo 104 250,800 World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, 3 Max Homa 104 250,800 Cautious Approach — PAGE 6 3 Charles Howell III 104 250,800 3 Alex Noren 104 250,800 3 Charl Schwartzel 104 250,800 3 Robby Shelton 104 250,800 Michelle Wie West on Motherhood, 3 Cameron Tringale 104 250,800 3 Richy Werenski 104 250,800 Pain and a Possible Return to Golf 12 Cameron Davis 57 127,050 12 Bo Hoag 57 127,050 BY KAREN CROUSE 12 Ryan Moore 57 127,050 Michelle Wie West’s eyes were 12 Nick Watney 57 127,050 not hollowed by exhaustion, as 12 Matthew Wolff 57 127,050 one might have expected of a 12 Xinjun Zhang 57 127,050 first-time mother of a 1-month- 18 Harris English 45 87,450 old. Her face was not streaked 18 Dylan Frittelli 45 87,450 with tears, as it was 13 months 18 Doug Ghim 45 87,450 ago after her injury-plagued body 18 Talor Gooch 45 87,450 failed her yet again, lending a 18 Sepp Straka 45 87,450 hint of finality to a golf career 23 Aaron Baddeley 37 63,690 that had once seemed limitless. 23 Henrik Norlander 37 63,690 This week, Wie West, 30, 23 Pat Perez 37 63,690 looked and sounded refreshed 26 Brice Garnett 30 48,180 during a virtual news confer- 26 Michael Gligic 30 48,180 ence to announce her appoint- 26 Chase Koepka 0 48,180 ment as an assistant captain Michelle Wie West in 2019. A new mother, she is reconsidering whether Payout — PAGE 3 Wie West — PAGE 7 her playing career is over. (Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press) Local Holes-In-One on Page 2 See Past Holes-In-One at golfweekrochester.com Page 02 • Rochester GOLF WEEK • Friday,Monday, Date, July Year27, 2020 Mulligans News, Notes, Quotes & Anecdotes from the Local Golfing Community WRDGA Hosts Medal Remaining RDGA Tournaments – Register Now! MID AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Play Event at Durand Clifton Springs Country Club • August 14-15 The WRDGA conducted its another Durand Eastman member WILSON FITCH SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP third event of the 2020 season took top honors on her home Stafford Country Club • August 20-21 on Monday, July 20 when Du- course — Susan Hoffman, who WOMEN'S OPEN rand Eastman Golf Course host- had an even-par 72 net score. Brook-Lea Country Club • August 31 ed a one day medal play event. Colliflower was also second in PLAY DAY – IRONDEQUOIT The event featured 18 holes this division with a net 73, fol- Irondequoit Country Club • Mon Sept 28 of stroke play for a field of 46 lowed by three golfers tied at 74 golfers — with winners decided for third place, including Maggie For more information or to register, visit RDGA.org in overall Low Gross score and Kril of Durand, Wood and Geor- 292-5950 • [email protected] Low Net score divisions, as well gia Spatorico of Cobblestone as gross and net score flight Creek. winners. In the event flights competi- Local Holes-In-One In the overall Low Gross score tions, Florczak, Hoffman and See More On-line at www.golfweekrochester.com competition, Joy Florczak — play- Jennifer Wilkie of Brook-Lea ing on her home course — was took first place in Flights 1, 2 At Penfield Country Club,Steve Bayer used John Hogle used a 7-iron to ace the 125- the champion, posting a score of and 3, respectively, in the gross a 5-iron to score a hole-in-one on the 147-yard yard second hole at Canandaigua Country Club. 81. Florczak tied with two other score competition. In the net fifth hole. On the 170-yard ninth hole at Locust Hill players who also shot 81 — Kitty score flights, Colliflower, Lorra Cosmo Cirocco used a 4-hybrid club to Country Club, Jonathon Spurr used an 8-iron Colliflower of Oak Hill and Deb Boher of Brook-Lea and Judy ace the 190-yard fourth hole at Clifton Springs to score a hole-in-one. Wood of Hickory Ridge — but Shuth of Salmon Creek won first Country Club. At Webster Golf Club, George Haskins used won the title on a match-of-cards place in Flights 1, 2 and 3. On the 155-yard 13th hole at Mendon Golf a driver to score a hole-in-one on the 153-yard tiebreaker, with Florczak having The WRDGA holds its annu- Club, CCR member used a 11th hole. the lowest back 9 score of the al Mixed Event at Ridgemont Chris Crowley 7-iron to score a hole-in-one. On the 130-yard seventh hole at Wayne Hills three competitors. Based on the Country Club on Tuesday, July Country Club, used an 8-iron to Jason Del Pozzo aced the 15th hole on Oak Tim Peters same tiebreaking method, Colli- 28, followed by the annual score a hole-in-one. flower was the second low gross WRDGA District Championship Hill Country Club’s East Course. Using a 7-wood, Ron Posato Sr. aced the At Brook-Lea Country Club, and Wood was third. at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club Patty DiGenna- 175-yard 13th hole at the Links at Greystone. In the Net Score competition, on August 3 through 7. x ro used a 5-wood to score a hole-in-one on the 110-yard third hole. At Deerfield Golf & Country Club, Steve Schulz used a 6-iron to score a hole-in-one on Bill Driscoll used a 5-iron to ace the 157- the 137-yard 20th hole.