Team Florida takes the early lead at U.S. Senior Challenge
Team Florida takes the early lead at U.S. Senior Challenge
With a local in the lead at the U.S. Senior Challenge, it's no wonder a Florida squad is also setting the pace in the team competition. Thanks in part to Hobe Sound, Florida, resident Rich Buckner's four birdies on the opening day of the senior team event at Hobe Sound Golf Club, his Florida four-man team has a two-shot lead after the first round.
The U.S. Senior Challenge is a unique – and rare – team event in senior amateur golf. Players compete as part of four-man teams representing their home state or region. While one team champion is crowned, individual champions will be named in each of the four age divisions: senior, super senior, legends and super legends. World Amateur Golf Ranking points are also awarded.
Buckner, winner of last year's Florida Azalea Senior and also a past champion of Golfweek's Senior Tournament of Champions, fared well enough with his 2-under 70 to lead the Senior division individually while also playing the lead role for his team.
To help matters, teammate William Boockford of Tequesta, Florida, the team captain, contributed a 1-over 73 and leads the Legends division. Boockford won the Legends division at the Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions in December.
Scores: U.S. Senior Challenge
The U.S. Senior Challenge features a play-four-count-three format, and Doug Clapp contributed the third score – a 3-over 75 – for the leading Florida team that left them with a combined score of 2 over. That was two better than the Michael Arasin-captained team from Alabama and Georgia. Arasin's even-par 72 left him part of a tie for fifth in the Senior division.
A team from Louisiana, captained by Grady Brame, is third at 6 over. Teams from Kansas and Michigan are tied for fourth another shot back.
Hobe Sound, a private golf club in South Florida, rarely opens its doors to outside events, so the venue certainly upped the intrigue for the U.S. Senior Challenge – both in terms of exclusivity and challenge. Hobe Sound underwent a 2019 redesign by Tom Fazio II and as part of that renovation, several native, sandy areas were restored. Those areas, plus undulating greens, can present a challenge for players.'We're on a sand ridge that runs through this area – through several prominent golf courses up here,' general manager Jason Hayes said before the tournament. 'So we have a lot of areas of those exposed native areas, of native sand, which can be very challenging if (players) don't find the fairway because they're in soft, sugar sand.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Women's Open 2025 updates: Six-way tie for the lead at Erin Hills
The best women in the world are tackling Erin Hills Golf Course this week at the 80th U.S. Women's Open. The event is the fifth USGA championship held at the Wisconsin course since it first opened for public play in 2006. There were 1,904 entries accepted for the national championship. There were 156 golfers on the tee sheet when the tournament started Thursday. U.S. Women's Open 2025 live leaderboard Keep tabs on the USWO Thursday and all week with our official hub and leaderboard. Advertisement Here's what the top of the leaderboard looks like as of 9:10 p.m. ET (8:10 p.m. local time), where there is a six-way tie for the lead: Pos. Name Score Hole T1 Rio Takeda -4 F* T1 Yealimi Noh -4 F T1 Jinhee Im -4 F T1 A Lim Kim -4 F* T1 Angel Yin -4 F T1 Julia Lopez Ramirez -4 F* T7 Chisato Iwai -3 F T7 Nasa Hataoka -3 F T7 Chiara Tamburlini -3 F* T7 Youmin Hwang -3 F* T7 Yui Kawamoto -3 F* Six-way tie for lead after 18 holes at U.S. Women's Open After one round at Erin Hills, there's a six-way tie for the lead at 4 under, including 2020 USWO champ A Lim Kim. There are five golfers a shot back. There are seven golfers two shots back. Add them all up and that's 18 golfers within two shots of the lead. There are 33 golfers in red figures after one day. There are 25 golfers sitting at even par, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Some of the big names who are over par after one round: Advertisement Lydia Ko, 1 over Lexi Thompson, 1 over Minjee Lee, 1 over Jin Young Ko, 1 over Yuka Saso, 2 over Jeeo Thitikul, 3 over Rose Zhang, 4 over Lilia Vu, 8 over NBC unveils a U.S. Women's Open first: Drone tracing Yealimi Noh and her broomstick putter off to hot start It's been about two years since Yealimi Noh switched to a broomstick putter. Both her father and coach suggested that she give it a try after several months of struggling with the yips. 'I didn't know what to do, and I just needed something completely different,' said Noh, who holds a share of the first-round lead at the 80th U.S. Women's Open after an opening 4-under 68. Noh is one of four players who finished a mostly calm morning wave knotted at the top of the board. She's joined by 2020 U.S. Women's Open champ A Lim Kim, hotshot rookie Rio Takeda and the promising young South Korean, Jinhee Im. Advertisement — Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek There are currently 38 golfers in red numbers at U.S. Women's Open Approaching 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time), the leaderboard shows 38 golfers at 1 under or better. Nelly Korda is not among them, however, as she is 1 over through seven holes but it's still early for her. Also 1 over is Lydia Ko and Charley Hull. The third member of the Korda and Hull trio is Lexi Thompson and she's 2 over. Linn Grant opens birdie-birdie-birdie at U.S. Women's Open A Lim Kim takes solo lead at U.S. Women's Open From way downtown. Bang! A Lim Kim, who started on No. 10, kept the flagstick in on her third hole, her 12th of the day, and the strategy worked, as her long putt hit the stick before dropping in for a birdie. First eagle of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open has landed The honor goes to Spain's Carlota Ciganda. Check it out: When is the 2025 U.S. Women's Open? The second women's major of the season starts Thursday, May 29, with the first round. The four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition will conclude with the final round on Sunday, June 1. When did the U.S. Women's Open start? The first tee times were 8:45 a.m. ET (7:45 a.m. local time) on Thursday with threesomes starting on both the 1st tee and 10th tee. The final groups of the first round tee off at the 1st and 10th tee at 1:42 p.m. ET (12:42 p.m. local time). Hole locations for the 2025 U.S. Women's Open What is the cut for the 2025 U.S. Women's Open? The cut will come after the second round to the low 60 scorers and ties. Where is Erin Hills Golf Course? Erin Hills is in Erin, Wisconsin, about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The course opened in 2006. Where to watch the 2025 U.S. Women's Open Thursday, May 29 First round, 12 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, USA Network Advertisement First round, 6 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, Peacock Friday, May 30 Second round, 12 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, USA Network Second round, 6 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, Peacock Saturday, May 31 Third round, 1 p.m. ET to 3 p.m., Peacock Third round, 3 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, NBC Sunday, June 1 Final round, 2 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, NBC The monster board as seen during a practice round ahead of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally at Erin Hills Golf Course. Featured groups, tee times for the 2025 U.S. Women's Open The complete list of tee times can be found here. The most interesting groups in the first round are: 1st tee 2:03 p.m. ET: Amy Yang, Republic, Lottie Woad, Ayaka Furue 2:25 p.m. ET: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson 2:36 p.m. ET: Minjee Lee, Mao Saigo, Jin Young Ko Advertisement 10th tee 8:40 a.m. ET: Yuka Saso, Rianne Malixi, Lydia Ko 8:51 a.m. ET: Jeeno Thitikul, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang This article originally appeared on Golfweek: U.S. Women's Open 2025 updates: Six-way tie for the lead after 1 round
USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
Florida State's Mirabel Ting, North Carolina's David Ford win Golfweek's 2025 Player of the Year honors
Florida State's Mirabel Ting, North Carolina's David Ford win Golfweek's 2025 Player of the Year honors The 2024-25 college golf season is complete, which means it's time to continue handing out postseason awards. There was a monumental upset on the women's side while one of college golf's best programs of all time took home the trophy at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California, where the championships were contested for a second time with three more years to come. However, when it comes to the Player of the Year conversation, there are two who played their way to the top, and they've been selected as the Golfweek 2025 Players of the Year. Golfweek selects men's and women's All-America teams and honorable mention selections, as well as Players of the Year and Coaches of the Year. All-America selections were released Wednesday, and Coaches of the Year honorees were announced Thursday. More: Ole Miss AD plays prank on Chris Malloy before revealing he won Golfweek Coach of the Year Here are Golfweek's 2025 Players of the Year, along with a look at past winners: Golfweek Women's College Golf 2025 Player of the Year: Mirabel Ting, Florida State Ting becomes Florida State's second Player of the Year honoree, joining Frida Kinhult in 2019. She won five times as a junior, also taking home the Annika Award. She was the best player on her college team which included world No. 1 amateur Lottie Woad. In nine stroke play events, she lost to only 10 players all season, culminating in runner-up finishes at the NCAA Lexington Regional and the NCAA Women's Golf Championship. Golfweek Men's College Golf 2025 Player of the Year: David Ford, North Carolina Ford is the first winner from North Carolina, and he took home the Fred Haskins Award and Nicklaus Award after his stellar senior season. He picked up five victories this year, including three straight this spring at the Valspar Intercollegiate, Augusta Haskins Award Invitational and Tar Heel Collegiate. Ford set UNC records for most wins in a single season and finished first in the PGA Tour University Class of 2025 rankings, earning a PGA Tour card. Past women's winners 2024 – Ingrid Lindblad, LSU 2023 – Rose Zhang, Stanford 2022 – Rose Zhang, Stanford 2021 – Rachel Heck, Stanford 2020 – None 2019 – Frida Kinhult, Florida State 2018 – Lauren Stephenson, Alabama 2017 – Leona Maguire, Duke 2016 – Bronte Law, UCLA 2015 – Leona Maguire, Duke 2014 – Alison Lee, UCLA 2013 – Annie Park, USC 2012 – Lindy Duncan, Duke 2011 – Marta Silva Zamora, Georgia 2010 – Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State 2009 – Jennifer Song, USC 2008 – Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 2007 – Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 2006 – Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 2005 – Louise Stahl, Arizona State 2004 – Liz Janangelo, Duke 2003 – Erica Blasberg, Arizona 2002 – Lorena Ochoa, Arizona 2001 – Lorena Ochoa, Arizona 2000 – Jenna Daniels, Arizona 1999 – Grace Park, Arizona State Past men's winners 2024 – Jackson Koivun, Auburn 2023 – Gordon Sargent, Vanderbilt 2022 – Chris Gotterup, Oklahoma 2021 – John Pak, Florida State 2020 – None 2019 – Viktor Hovland, Oklahoma State 2018 – Collin Morikawa, California 2017 – Wyndham Clark, Oregon 2016 – Jon Rahm, Arizona State 2015 – Maverick McNealy, Stanford 2014 – Patrick Rodgers, Stanford 2013 – Michael Kim, California 2012 – Justin Thomas, Alabama 2011 – Patrick Cantlay, UCLA 2010 – Russell Henley, Georgia 2009 – Matt Hill, N.C. State 2008 – Rickie Fowler, Oklahoma State 2007 – Jamie Lovemark, USC 2006 – Pablo Martin, Oklahoma State 2005 – Ryan Moore, UNLV 2004 – Bill Haas, Wake Forest 2003 – Hunter Mahan, Oklahoma State 2002 – Graeme McDowell, UAB 2001 – Bryce Molder, Georgia Tech 2000 – Charles Howell III, Oklahoma State 1999 – Luke Donald, Northwestern How were winners chosen? Golfweek selected its Player of the Year honorees based off college accomplishments only during the 2024-25 season.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- USA Today
At two-year anniversary of PGA Tour, LIV Golf 'framework,' two sides are further than ever
At two-year anniversary of PGA Tour, LIV Golf 'framework,' two sides are further than ever So much has happened since the PGA Tour and LIV Golf entered a historic "framework agreement" two years ago, June 6. One thing that has not happened: A deal uniting the two leagues. Not only have the sides failed to end the sport's longest-running civil war, they now appear further apart than ever. The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which owns LIV Golf, have had no reported meetings since late February. The sides met twice in February at the White House with Donald Trump, the man who, after being elected president in November, boasted it would take him "the better part of 15 minutes" to bring the two sides together once he's in office. Five months since the inauguration and the wedge appears deeper. "If you want to figure out what's going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys," world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said in May about LIV. "I'm still here playing the PGA Tour. We had a tour where we all played together and the guys that left, it's their responsibility, I think, to bring the tours back together. Go see where they're playing this week and ask them." Scheffler's shot at LIV was clear. While the league certainly made an impact on the Tour early by poaching some of its top players along with forcing the Tour to make more money available to its players through signature events and the Player Impact Program, that has diminished. Lynch: Prepare for posturing on anniversary of Framework Agreement that already achieved its goal LIV's momentum stalled since signing Jon Rahm LIV had all the momentum after signing Jon Rahm 18 months ago. That is gone. Tyrrell Hatton followed Rahm, but, since then, the league has not attracted any marquee names. The latest addition, former Arizona State standout Josele Ballester, is No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Meanwhile, the top-ranked amateur, Luke Clanton from Florida State, is making his professional debut at the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. "I want to play the PGA Tour, pretty simple," Clanton said when asked whether he considered joining LIV. "I want to play against the best, I want to compete in majors, and that's it. Simple." The PGA Tour is now in a position of strength as LIV stands firm on its demands to remain under its current format, despite a flawed business model. While the PIF's investment in LIV Golf is in the billions, the return on investment is far less. LIV lost $394 million in 2023, excluding its U.S. events, according to Money In Sport, which published LIV's financials from LIV Golf's UK arm. Although PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in March he can see a future where the leagues are aligned with room to "integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform," he added that "hurdles" remain. "We will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and our partners," said Monahan, who has headed the negotiations with the PIF's Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Monahan's comment came a few weeks after negotiations appeared to have broken down during the late February meeting. The biggest hint came from Rory McIlroy, who said following the meeting it takes "two to tango," before adding, "I don't think the PGA Tour needs a deal." Then Scott O'Neil, who replaced Greg Norman in January as LIV's CEO, told a group of media members in April at Trump National Doral, where LIV held its first U.S.-based event of the season, LIV, too, does not need a deal. "Have to do a deal? No," O'Neil said. "Nice to do a deal? So long as we're all focused on the same thing, which is growing the game of golf. I think we're all kind of up for that." The most recent known offer was in March when the British daily Guardian was the first to report that the PIF was willing to make a $1.5 billion investment into the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises in exchange for LIV Golf continuing its current format and schedule, and Al-Rumayyan becoming a co-chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises. That was quickly turned down by the Tour. LIV Golf still being crushed by PGA Tour in TV ratings The ratings boost LIV was counting on to help its cause after signing a multi-year deal with Fox Sports has not happened. According to the seven Sundays this year in which both tours have held an event, the PGA Tour is averaging 3.1 million viewers on CBS and NBC, while LIV is averaging 175,000 on FOX, FS1 and FS2. About 18 times more. LIV, though, held its first four events in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore; and has since played in South Korea. Those tournaments are being aired at all hours of the day in the U.S. The best comparison came in early April when LIV had one of its highest-profile events of the year, if not the highest, at Doral; and the PGA Tour stop was the Valero Open in San Antonio, a lower-tier event that lacked several stars. Valero drew 1.746 million viewers for its final round compared with 484,000 for LIV. LIV's best ratings were below the average for TGL, the indoor, tech-infused golf league created by Tiger Woods and McIlroy. TGL, in its inaugural season, averaged 500,000 viewers; 650,000 for the 10 prime-time matches on ESPN (nine were carried by ESPN2). LIV's initial attempt to lure PGA Tour players was impressive with Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson among those who made the jump. They were later joined by Cam Smith and Rahm. While Rahm and DeChambeau continue to play at a high level – as do others such as Joaquin Niemann and Patrick Reed – several have regressed since joining LIV. Koepka, Johnson and Smith, who have combined to win eight major championships and were signed to contracts worth at least $100 million to defect from the PGA Tour, according to reports, missed the cut at the year's first two majors – Masters and PGA Championship. LIV Golf not going away … deal or no deal Still, LIV Golf continues to operate as if it will be around … deal or no deal. While the league has not added a golfer of note in the past 18 months, it continues to secure sponsorship deals and attract high-level officials. And O'Neil has restarted discussions with the Official World Golf Ranking for LIV golfers to earn points. The PGA Tour clearly does not need LIV. And with PIF, valued at more than $900 billion, willing and able to support LIV despite it losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually, LIV doesn't need the PGA Tour. That leaves many to wonder whether a deal ever will be made that unites golf's rival leagues. Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@
