Haas/Pressel Capture 2012 CVS/Caremark Charity Classic
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Make that 14 consecutive years without a local champion.
Heading into Tuesday’s fourth and final round of the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic, it appeared as if one of the four local golfers might have a chance to win the event for the first time in tournament history.
Tournament co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade were tied for the lead at 9-under par as was Dana Quigley and his partner Juli Inkster. Even Brett Quigley and partner Brittany Lincicome were within striking distance just 3-shots back heading into the final round.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBut Tuesday was a day for Champions Tour star Jay Haas and his LPGA Tour playing partner Morgan Pressel. The two entered the final round tied for the lead at 9-under and quickly distanced themselves from the field with some solid, if not spectacular play.
Playing a scramble format in the final round for the first time ever at the CVS, Haas and Pressel proceeded to birdie 10 of the first 11 holes at Rhode Island Country Club with their only par coming at the par-4 2nd.
And as if that weren’t enough, Haas holed out a shot from the fairway on the par-4 12th for an eagle. They would par the final 6 holes but were still able to win by 2 shots at 21-under par for the tournament.
“This is my favorite tournament to play in each year and it’s such an honor to win it,” said Pressel.
Their playing partners Faxon and Andrade struggled a bit out of the gate with pars on the first three holes before they birdied the par-4 fourth. They would finish the day at 16-under.
As for Dana Quigley and Juli Inkster, they started off strong with birdies on 2,3 and 4. But their hopes of winning the title may have been dashed on the par-4 6th where they had to settle for a rare bogey. They finished in 9th place at 14-under par.
Haas and Pressel will split a first place paycheck of $300,000.
NOTES:
-It was quite a treat for New England golf fans to see many of the greatest women’s golfers of all-time at this year’s event. World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorrenstam was among those on hand and, despite finishing last, she enjoyed her experience. “I’m real happy to be here and be a part of this great event,” she said. “Brad and Billy do such a tremendous job and to be a part of something that raises so much money for local charities is great.” Sorrenstam won an incredible 72 events during her illustrious career on the LPGA Tour.
-Lorena Ochoa also enjoyed her time at RICC. “What a fun course,” she said. “It was both fun and challenging for us. I am so thankful for the invitation to be a part of this event. I enjoy getting to play with some of my old friends from the (LPGA) Tour and with some of the PGA guys too.”
-The world’s top-ranked women’s golfer – Yani Tseng – also shared similar feelings about her first CVS/Caremark Charity Classic. “I really enjoyed it,” she said. “It was so much fun. Getting to see someone like Annika here is special because she is a role model of mine. I had so much fun. The people were nice, the course was beautiful and hopefully I can do better my next time back.”
-Lexi Thompson is one of the bright, up and coming stars on the LPGA Tour and part of a great golfing family which was spread out throughout New England this week. While Lexi played in the CVS, her brother Curtis was preparing to play in the Northeast Amateur this week at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island. Her other brother Nicholas will be playing this week at the Traveler’s Championship at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut on the PGA Tour.
-Brett Quigley played well this week but the former PGA Tour star has been struggling with health issues that have prevented him from staying on Tour and getting back on top of his game. Quigley is suffering from a leg injury which has yet to be fully diagnosed. “It’s between me knee and my ankle,” he said. “It’s kind of like a shin splint gone bad. I’ve been to the Mayo Clinic five times and they haven’t been able to give me a diagnosis. Tomorrow I’ll be heading to the HSS (Hospital for Special Services) in New York where they treat a lot of Jets and Giants players. Hopefully they’ll be able to figure it out there.”
-CVS CEO Larry Merlo confirmed what GoLocalProv.com reported yesterday that there will be a 2013 CVS/caremark Charity Classic by saying to the gallery after the event, “we’ll definitely see you back here next year.”
-Tournament co-host Brad Faxon was very pleased with the response from the fans to this year’s field. So much, in fact, that he said after it ended, “we’re going to bring a lot of these same players back here next year.”
-There were 2 skins on Tuesday each worth $12,500. Yani Tseng holed out from a greenside bunker on the par-4 6th for eagle to capture one skin for her team while Jay Haas holed out from the fairway for eagle on the par-4 12th for the other skin.
Here are the final results:
1. Pressel/Haas -21
2. Thompson/Pavin -19
2. Petterson/Funk -19
4. Lincicome/B.Quigley -17
5. Faxon/Andrade -16
5. Ochoa/Calcavecchia -16
5. Tseng/Sluman -16
8. Kerr/Cook -15
9. Inkster/D.Quigley -14
10.Sorrenstam/Jacobsen -5
