Sink Holes

It was two years ago that a sink hole opened up on a course in Illinois, swallowing a golfer in the process. Fortunately for all involved, he survived. Now, a mere month after the Bass Pro Legends of Golf toured the links, the earth yawned four times at the Top of the Rock golf course in Branson, Missouri. Luckily, no injuries were reported.

Kirk at Home along Hogan’s Alley

Chris Kirk appears bent on reminding folks that he should have been selected for the U.S. Ryder Cup side last fall. The University of Georgia alumnus had enough birdies on Day 4 to resist charges from Jason Bohn (7-under) and Jordan Spieth (5-under), both of whom tied for second — one stroke in arrears. Overnight leader Kevin Na, always at home in Texas, began the final round with consecutive birdies. His equilibrium wavered on the third with a bogey, then went completely unbalanced with a double on the ninth. Na never recovered, making two more bogies on the inward nine before a final-hole birdie brought him back to T10. Kirk’s weekend amounted to 65-66, matched by Bohn alone, who tallied 68-63.

Monty Retains the Senior PGA Championship Title

Colin Montgomerie lost the 1995 PGA Championship in a playoff with Steve Elkington. That close call at Riviera was one of many major-championship heartbreaks for Monty, who would never claim a major title. Last year, the Scot finally claimed a senior major victory, at the PGA Championship. The monkey clearly left his back, as his second senior major followed two months hence, at the U.S. Open. Monty now owns a trifecta, as he repeated as Senior PGA champion this weekend at French Lick, Indiana. Esteban Toledo gave chase, but his minus-four effort was five shots shy of the nine-under winning total of Montgomerie. In an uncharacteristic performance, perennial contender Bernhard Langer went the opposite direction. In second place at the start of the day, Langer double-bogeyed his second hole and never recovered. In contrast, Monty rebounded from an opening bogey to birdie five holes in an eight-hole stretch, effectively ending the drama.

The Ladies, Across The World

Melissa Reid jumped to the front on Sunday (that’s right, the tournament began on Sunday) with an 8-under 65, then followed it with a solid 69 to take a halfway lead she would not relinquish. By Wednesday evening, the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open title was hers. Gwladys Nocera gave proper chase, but came up four blows shy of the Englishwoman. For Reid, the victory was her first in three years, perhaps a cue to a return to form for the one-time rising star.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Championship has reached a midway point of sorts. The final 15 teams who will battle for eight match-play spots in Monday’s final medal round were determined at dawn’s early light. The shocker of the first three days was No. 2 South Carolina, who fell from the bubble to the bye-bye in the a.m. Surprises so far are No. 18 Baylor (tied for 4th with No. 12 Tennessee) and No. 31 Purdue (presently in 6th.) Atop the standings is No. 4 Duke, followed by No. 1 Southern Cal. By Wednesday, the winning team will have survived regional qualifying, four rounds of medal play and three match play victories.

Byeong-hun Puts The “B” In BMW PGA Championship

Byeong-hun An made his maiden European Tour victory a special one, capturing one of the most important titles on that tour at the BMW PGA Championship. Last August, An won the Rolex Trophy on the European Challenge Tour, elevating him to regular-tour status. Sunday saw a tale of two cities, as An went low while his final-pairing partner, the gilded Francesco Molinari, went the wrong way with a plus-two 74. An’s Sunday 65 was low for the day and was a flawless card of five birdies, one eagle, the rest pars. The ageless Miguel-Ángel Jiménez and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee finished a distant six shots back of the champion. Before Sunday, An was known as the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur championship, courtesy of his triumph at 17 years of age in 2009.