As we approach the turn and the top players on the leaderboard begin to play the back nine lets take a look at how the players are performing.
Lonnie Nielson, who's looking for his first victory on tour, is 1-under through nine and 13-under for the tournament to take a three-shot lead over Loren Roberts. Roberts has birdies on four, seven and eight to pull into second place after shooting a 71 on Saturday.
Bob Gilder, R.W. Eaks and Tom McKnight are all tied for third at 9-under par. With the greens staying firm and many players missing birdie attempts, it will take a strong finish by Lonnie Nielson to capture his first Champions Tour victory.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Interview With Tom McKnight From The Final Round Of The Commerce Bank Championship
In 57 career tournaments played on the Champions Tour Tom McKnight has six top ten finishes, twenty top twenty-five finishes and has earned $1,058,424. With a victory Sunday at the Commerce Bank Championship, McKnight would record his first win and take home a purse of $225,000.
During Saturday's second-round he shot a 5-under 66 to pull within three shots of leader Lonnie Nielson.
David: With a 5-under 66 yesterday what was the key to your success?
McKnight: I just kept the ball. I just didn't make many mistakes. I kept the ball in play, made a few putts. Just really didn't put myself in position to make boggies. The one chance I had to make bogey I got it up and saved par. I really played pretty steady.
David: This would be your first win on the Champions Tour. What sort of accomplishment would that be?
McKnight: I always have to see what happens. But uh, you know, just one round at a time.
David: How impressed have you been with how well the greens have played this week?
McKnight: The greens have been good. The course is good. You know, it's in very good shape and the greens are great.
David: After enjoying a successful amateur career, what were you able to bring over to the Champions Tour?
McKnight: Oh, just the love of competition really. I just love to play tournament golf and this was sort of the next level. It has been good for me. God has been good to me. I just wanted to go out and do something differently and this has been an offering for me.
David: Talk about after your first attempt to come to the PGA and why you decided to come back.
McKnight: Well, I just had a good opportunity after I came out of the program and then got into the family business. I had a family and then just went a different route. And the kids got big in age and sold the business. Just a good opportunity for me to try to get out there.
During Saturday's second-round he shot a 5-under 66 to pull within three shots of leader Lonnie Nielson.
David: With a 5-under 66 yesterday what was the key to your success?
McKnight: I just kept the ball. I just didn't make many mistakes. I kept the ball in play, made a few putts. Just really didn't put myself in position to make boggies. The one chance I had to make bogey I got it up and saved par. I really played pretty steady.
David: This would be your first win on the Champions Tour. What sort of accomplishment would that be?
McKnight: I always have to see what happens. But uh, you know, just one round at a time.
David: How impressed have you been with how well the greens have played this week?
McKnight: The greens have been good. The course is good. You know, it's in very good shape and the greens are great.
David: After enjoying a successful amateur career, what were you able to bring over to the Champions Tour?
McKnight: Oh, just the love of competition really. I just love to play tournament golf and this was sort of the next level. It has been good for me. God has been good to me. I just wanted to go out and do something differently and this has been an offering for me.
David: Talk about after your first attempt to come to the PGA and why you decided to come back.
McKnight: Well, I just had a good opportunity after I came out of the program and then got into the family business. I had a family and then just went a different route. And the kids got big in age and sold the business. Just a good opportunity for me to try to get out there.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Lonnie Nielson 12-Under Heading Into Tomorrow's Final
''A slow start'' on the front nine in round-two of the Commerce Bank Championship by Lonnie Nielson turned into a 7-under 64 to take the lead heading into Sunday's final round.
After a bogey on the second hole which he called ''sloppy'', Nielson birdied the next three out of seven holes to take a record-tying three-shot lead over Tom McKnight who finished with a 5-under 66. In 91-Champions Tour events Nielson has not won a tournament and with a win tomorrow he would become the sixth player to record their first tour victory on Long Island. The last two winners of this tournament, Ron Streck and John Harris, recorded their first victories on the 50 and over tour at Eisenhower Park.
On the back nine Nielson birdied five out of the nine holes, saving par on the 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th. Today he shot an impressive 31 on the back nine compared to a 33 in round-one. Conversely, Bruce Summerhays who shot a 6-under 65 played his best game on the front nine. He birdied three, four, five, eight and nine to catapult from 43rd place to tenth place.
Bob Gilder, David Edwards and John Harris shot 4-under 67's and R.W Eaks and Jay Sigel shot 5-under 66's to pull into the top five. If Sigel is able to win tomorrow he would become the tour's oldest player to win a tournament at sixty-three years old.
Friday's leader Loren Roberts stayed at 7-under par after shooting a 71. He is tied for fifth heading into tomorrow's final and told me after today's round that ''I just didn't play good. Hit a couple of loose shots and I made no puts. Couple of spots where you know I couldn't hit my shots.
If he's going to stay in contention he will have to be effective with his putter and make the majority of his shots.
After a bogey on the second hole which he called ''sloppy'', Nielson birdied the next three out of seven holes to take a record-tying three-shot lead over Tom McKnight who finished with a 5-under 66. In 91-Champions Tour events Nielson has not won a tournament and with a win tomorrow he would become the sixth player to record their first tour victory on Long Island. The last two winners of this tournament, Ron Streck and John Harris, recorded their first victories on the 50 and over tour at Eisenhower Park.
On the back nine Nielson birdied five out of the nine holes, saving par on the 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th. Today he shot an impressive 31 on the back nine compared to a 33 in round-one. Conversely, Bruce Summerhays who shot a 6-under 65 played his best game on the front nine. He birdied three, four, five, eight and nine to catapult from 43rd place to tenth place.
Bob Gilder, David Edwards and John Harris shot 4-under 67's and R.W Eaks and Jay Sigel shot 5-under 66's to pull into the top five. If Sigel is able to win tomorrow he would become the tour's oldest player to win a tournament at sixty-three years old.
Friday's leader Loren Roberts stayed at 7-under par after shooting a 71. He is tied for fifth heading into tomorrow's final and told me after today's round that ''I just didn't play good. Hit a couple of loose shots and I made no puts. Couple of spots where you know I couldn't hit my shots.
If he's going to stay in contention he will have to be effective with his putter and make the majority of his shots.
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