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Stricker captures his third major title

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Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker won the Bridgestone Seniors Players Championship at Firestone in Akron, Ohio on Sunday.  Stricker captured his third major title and earned his second victory of the season.

Stricker closed with an even-par 70, finishing six-shots in front of defending champion and fellow Madison native Jerry Kelly.

Fred Couples shot a 3-under-par 67 to finish in third place, followed by David Toms, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk.

The win for Stricker earned him a spot in the Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass next March.  He earned $450,000 for the victory.

 

Stricker falters on final day of Senior PGA

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Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker started the final day with a 1-shot lead over Alex Cejka, but Stricker imploded with a 7-over-par 77.  Cejka went on to a four-shot win over Tim Petrovic in capturing the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

It’s the second major title of the 2021 season for Cejka after beating Stricker to win the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama.

Cejka became the first Champions rookie to win two majors since Jack Nicklaus did it in 1990.  He’s the first Champions player ever to win his first two majors on the circuit.

Retief Goosen and K.J. Choi tied for third at 3-under.

Madison’s Jerry Kelly finished 8-shots back, just ahead of Stricker.

Furyk to make AmFam Championship debut

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Nine-time Ryder Cup player and 2018 Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk will make his AmFam Championship debut next month.  The AmFam Championship announced Wednesday that Furyk, along with 2019 second-place finisher Retief Goosen and fan favorite Miguel Angel Jimenez are all committed to play in this summers event, June 11-13 at University Ridge golf course.

Furyk is a 17-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 2003 U.S. Open and two-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions.  His best year came in 2010, winning three times, the season-long FedEx Cup competition and both the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year honors.

Goosen, of South Africa, finished second in the 2019 AmFam Championship, falling to Madison’s Jerry Kelly.  He won the 2019 Bridgestone Senior Players Championship for his sole win on PGA Tour Champions.  Goosen has seven wins on the PGA Tour, including triumphs at the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2007.

Miguel Angel Jiminez earned 10 PGA Tour Champions titles, including two in 2020.  Jimenez holds 21 titles on the European Tour nd has played for the European Ryder Cup team four times.

 

AmFam Field grows with International champions

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Alex Cejka, Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik, winners of PGA TOUR Champions titles and tournaments across the globe, are coming to Madison for the 2021 American Family Insurance Championship in June.

The championship is also adding a fourth hometown player, as Mario Tiziani will make his debut on PGA TOUR Champions under an invitational sponsor’s exemption.  Tiziani, two-time winner on the Canadian Tour, joins his brother-in-law and tournament player-host Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly and Andy North.

Alex Cejka has already claimed a major title, winning the Regions Tradition in a playoff with Stricker after getting into the field as an alternate. [Read more…]

North to tee it up at American Family Insurance Championship (AUDIO)

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After cancelling last year’s event because of the pandemic, the popular American Family Insurance Championship is returning to University Ridge Golf Course June 11-13.

This year, the AMFAM Championship has been upgraded to an invitational format, and the 81-player field for the PGA Tour Champions event will include Wisconsin native and 2-time U.S. Open champion Andy North, who’s served as a  tournament ambassador since the AMFAM’s inception in 2016.

The 71-year-old North has played only 19 PGA Tour Champions tournaments the last 10 years.  His last event was the 2019 Bass Pro Legends of Golf.

This year’s purse will total $2.4 million, the largest among non-major events on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. [Read more…]

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.