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Stricker falls short in Traditions playoff

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Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker fell just short of winning the third PGA Tour Champions major of his career.

Stricker, who won the Regions Tradition the last time it was held in 2019, a month after winning the U.S. Senior Open, had a three stroke lead in the final round Sunday.  But Alex Cejka rallied to take the lead before Stricker came to 18 needing to make a putt to force a playoff, which he did.

But Stricker went on to miss an 8-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole and Cejka won the Regions Tradition after making the field as first alternate when Jay Haas withdrew on Monday.

Robert Karlsson was third while Ernie Els and Madison’s Jerry Kelly tied for fourth.

By winning Sunday, Cejka earns an exemption for the next two seasons.

SentryWorld to host 2023 U.S. Senior Open Championship

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The United States Golf Association (USGA) on Wednesday announced SentryWorld, in Stevens Point, Wis., will host the 43rd U.S. Senior Open Championship from June 29-July 2, 2023.

The Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course played host to its first USGA championship in 1986, playing host to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links final.

The USGA returned to SentryWorld in 2019 with the playing of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

“In hosting the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in 2019, we set out to earn the right to land other major golf championships and we’re thrilled that we could do just that,” said Mike James, general manager of SentryWorld and vice president of Sentry Services.  “The U.S. Senior Open is undoubtedly among the most prestigious golf events in the world.  With the help of state and local leaders and business and community partners, SentryWorld will provide a world-class experience and environment for players, officials and fans alike.”

The 2023 U.S. Senior Open will be the 17th USGA championship held in Wisconsin.  In 2022, Erin Hills, in Erin, and Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, will host the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship from Sept. 10-15. [Read more…]

Kelly captures Champions tour major

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Jerry Kelly – Photo Courtesy of PGATour.com

Madison’s Jerry Kelly collected a hole-in-one on the 12th hole on Sunday, propelling himself to a 2-shot victory at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio.

It’s Kelly’s first major victory on the PGA Tour Champions.  Scott Parel finished second, but moved to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup standings.  The two were the only players to finish under par for the week.

Kelly pockets $450,000 for the win.  It earned him a spot in The Players Championship next March and gets him a five-year exemption into the PGA Tour Champions’ season opener on the Big Island in Hawaii.

The win was the first of the year for Kelly and his seventh since turning 50 to become eligible for the PGA Tour Champions back in 2017.

Madison’s Steve Stricker shot a final round 5-over par 75 to finish 12 shots back.  After a two-under 68 in Thursday’s opening round, Stricker failed to break par the rest of the way, shooting a pair of 73’s on Friday and Saturday before closing with the 75.

 

Stricker, Kelly tied for the lead at Senior Players Championship

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Madison’s Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly are tied with three others for the lead after the first round of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio.

Stricker birdied the final hole for a 2-under 68, joining Kelly, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Wes Short Jr. and Rod Pampling atop the leaderboard.

All five leaders, along with Paul Broadhurst (1-under 69), are the only golfers to break par.

 

Another record year for American Family Insurance Championship

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Jack Salzwedel – Steve Stricker – Nicki Stricker

The 2019 American Family Insurance Championship raised a record $2.4 million for charity.  In its fourth year, the 2019 event raised a record $2,404,000, an increase of $337,000 (21 percent) over 2018.

It brings the total amount raised for charity since the inaugural event in 2016 to $7,185,000.

Half of the 2019 proceeds will be distributed to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  Nearly 100 other primarily local charities will share the remaining $1.2 million in varying amounts.

The grand total raised and charitable organization recipients were revealed at an event on Wednesday at the American Family Insurance corporate headquarters.  The event featured championship host/player Steve Stricker, his wife, Nicki, American Family Insurance Chair and CEO Jack Salzwedel, numerous tournament sponsors, and volunteers.

The fourth annual American Family Insurance Championship was held in June at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison.  More than 70,000 spectators from 32 states attended during the three days of tournament play.

Next year’s event will be held earlier than previous years with the three day tournament running from June 5-7.  Madison’s Jerry Kelly will return as defending champion and Stricker will play in the tournament for the fourth time.

 

Kelly wins on PGA Tour Champions

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Jerry Kelly – File Photo

Jerry Kelly played bogey-free golf on Sunday, closing with a 4-under-par 68, posting a 2-shot victory in the Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan.  It’s the second victory of the year for the Madison native, drawing him closer to Schwab Cup leader Scott McCarron.

Kelly had a pair of birdies on the front nine, and he took control on the back nine, making his final birdie on the par-3 17th.  Woody Austin shot a final round 69 to finish along in second place.

Kelly also won two months ago, capturing the American Family Insurance Championship at University Ridge in Madison.  He becomes the fourth multiple winner this year on the PGA Tour Champions, joining McCarron (three wins), and Steve Stricker and Bernhard Langer (two each).

Kelly earned $300,000 for the win after finishing the tournament at 16-under par.

Fox Point’s Skip Kendall finished tied for 48th.

 

Stricker has first day lead at Senior Championship

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Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker has the first round lead at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship.  Stricker was at 5-under-par through 17 holes when play was suspended by rain and lightning for the day.

Stricker’s opening round included a hole-in-one on the 184-yard, par-3 seventh at Firestone Country Club.  He was in the middle of the 18th fairway when play was stopped.  He’ll resume play at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

Stricker is seeking his third straight major victory on the PGA Tour Champions after winning the Regions Tradition and then the U.S. Senior Open.

Paul Goydos was second at 2-under after five holes.  Madison’s Jerry Kelly was one over after six holes.

PGA Tour

Roberto Diaz fired a 9-under 62 to take the first-round lead in the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.  Adam Long and Russell Henley are two strokes back.

 

Stricker dominates for U.S. Senior Open win

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Steve Stricker (File Photo) – Copyright USGA – John Gress

Madison’s Steve Stricker shot a final round 1-under 69 to post a six-shot win over Jerry Kelly and David Thomas to win the U.S. Senior Open Championship in South Bend, Indiana on Sunday.

Stricker finished at 19-under 261, breaking Kenny Perry’s U.S. Senior Open record by three strokes.

It’s the second PGA Champions Tour major victory of the season for Stricker.  He earlier won the Regions Tradition in May by six strokes.

Just a week ago, Stricker lost the American Family Insurance Championship in a playoff to Kelly.  Sunday, he got a little bit of revenge against his long time friend.

Stricker shared the first round lead with Toms after a record-tying 62.  He pulled away on day two and nobody could stay with him.

Stricker earned $720,000 for the win, but even more importantly, he earned a spot in next year’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he tied for sixth back in 2006.

 

Stricker tops the leader board at U.S. Senior Open

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Steve Stricker

One week after falling short at the American Family Insurance Championship, Madison’s Steve Stricker finds himself tied for the lead with defending champion David Toms at the U.S. Senior Open in South Bend, Indiana.

Stricker fired an opening round 8-under par 62, tallying seven birdies and an eagle in his opening round.

Toms had 10 birdies, which set a U.S. Senior Open record.

Stricker and Toms are two shots better than Madison’s Jerry Kelly and Kirk Triplett.

 

Kelly wins AmFam title in a playoff

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Madison’s Jerry Kelly held off tournament host Steve Stricker and World Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen in a playoff to win the American Family Insurance Championship  on Sunday at University Ridge.

Stricker missed a birdie putt from 8-feet away on the final regulation hole that would have given him the title.  Stricker then dropped out of the three way playoff on the first extra hole.

Kelly needed to more holes to knock off Goosen, winning with a birdie on the par 4 15th hole.

Kelly actually had the chance to win it in regulation as well, but he bogied the final hole of regulation to let Goosen and Stricker back into the mix.

Stricker missed some chances with the putter in the final round and still had an opportunity to win late. [Read more…]