Couples Just Misses Out in Hawaii, Prugh Still Leads in California

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Fred Couples finished second in his first official Champions Tour event today, shooting a third-round eight-under-par 64 to complete 54 holes at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii on 195, -21. The winner, on 194, was 60-year-old Tom Watson who closed with a 65 that included a homeward nine of six-under 30.
Couples, who began the day two behind Watson, started steadily parring the first three holes before birdieing the 4th. He then birdied the 7th and 8th, turning in 33. He took the lead after eagling the 10th and made three more birdies to come back in 31. It was his second bogey-free round in a row, but it wasn't quite enough to stop Watson who made birdies at both the 17th and 18th to win the $315,000 first place check. Watson, ten years Couples's senior, became the 13th oldest winner on the Champions Tour. It was his first victory in 34 starts in Hawaii.
Couples, who won $196,000 to go with his $95,000 from last week's Skins Game, was trying to become the 16th player to win on his Champions Tour debut. 'I had a wonderful time,' he said. 'I think I was 21-under par and didn't win the tournament. That hasn't happened too many times.'

Prugh; co-leader after 72 holes

Alex Prugh goes into tomorrow's final round at the Bob Hope Classic tied for the lead with Bubba Watson. The 25-year-old from Spokane shot a two-under 70 at SilverRock to finish 72 holes on 265, -23. Watson had a three-under 69 at Nicklaus Private. Prugh had bogeys at the 1st and 9th but made birdies at the 2nd, 3rd and 5th to reach the turn in 35. On the back he posted eight pars and a lone birdie at the Par 5 12th.
Ryan Moore is also set for another good finish after shooting his fourth consecutive round in the 60s. His five-under 67 at Nicklaus Private puts the Tacoma native on 269, four back of Prugh and Watson. Sadly, Jeff Gove missed the cut, his second in a row, after shooting a 17-par/one-birdie 71 at La Quinta Country Club. His 286 total was seven too many.
Tomorrow, Prugh joins Watson and Bill Haas in the final group at 10am. Moore plays with Steve Elkington and DJ Tahan at 9.30. The final round will be played on the Palmer Course at PGA West.