Round 4: Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
October 23 2011
7:45 pm
Kang, others ‘dreaming right now’
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Sunghoon Kang made an 8-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole Sunday to keep his PGA TOUR card. Tom Pernice Jr. was done and signing autographs when Nick O’Hern made a closing bogey that enabled the 52-year-old to move into the top 125.
While Luke Donald was reeling off six straight birdies on his way to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic title, players like Kang and Pernice were grinding to keep their playing privileges for the 2012 season. And they felt like winners, too.
"I’m just dreaming right now," Kang said. "That’s what I feel."
Kang was pretty sure he needed to finish tied for third or alone in fourth to keep his card. The 24-year-old South Korean, who was tied for seventh at the time, watched intently as his playing partners struck their putts which were on a similar line.
"But the guys’ balls didn’t really break that much, so I hit a little left and just barely, like, lipped in," Kang said. The tie for third was the best finish of Kang’s PGA TOUR career and moved him 19 spots to No. 120 on the money list.
"I was really nervous," Kang said. "… (But) one day can’t change my life. That’s what I thought. So I really tried to do my best today and it worked."
Pernice, who will be playing in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the season-ending event on the Champions Tour in two weeks, was fifth alternate for the CMN Hospitals Classic at the start of the week. But he got in and took full advantage, firing four rounds in the 60s to tie for third.
Pernice has won twice on the PGA TOUR and once on the Champions Tour, where he has six top-10s this season. The veteran, who tied for second at the Viking Classic earlier this year, moved from 143rd to No. 121 on the money list Sunday.
"I’m not trying to show anybody anything," Pernice said. "I’m just out there trying to play the game. The ball doesn’t know how old you are. I’m just trying to stay out here and compete. I just love the challenge. Certain courses out here I enjoy playing still. I play well, I still got a chance."
Billy Mayfair was the final player to secure his card when he tied for sixth and climbed from No. 127 to 109th. A year ago in December, the 45-year-old had gone back to q-school for the first time since 1988 to get his card — and he came through then like he did on Sunday, earning medalist honors.
The only other player who moved into the top 125 was runner-up Justin Leonard, who made a prodigious move of 53 spots to No. 91 with his first top-10 of the season. But the Texan was already exempt for 2012.
With the success stories, though, there is disappointment, probably none so keenly felt as that of Bobby Gates, who missed a 6-foot par putt on his final hole and dropped two spots to No. 126.
"It’s been a good year," Gates had said after he finished. "I learned a lot. I made a lot of mistakes this year, so I hope someone’s shining down on me and I can just get through this and regroup for next year."
Unfortunately, Gates ended up coming up $1,431 shy of keeping his card. At the other end of the spectrum D.J. Trahan made a 22-footer for birdie on the same hole to finish at No. 125.
"(The days) are always interesting when you’re playing to keep your job," Trahan said. "I made a great putt there on the last hole. … It was a crazy day but it looks like I played just well enough to hang in there."
Gates handled the disappointment with grace. After the final putts had dropped on a clear, sunny afternoon, he tweeted: Tough day. Congrats to everyone who played great today. Sometimes thing just don’t work out but that’s why we keep believing and trusting!
About two hours later, Gates tweeted again. “As disappointed as I am, I’m happy for Sung Hoon Kang. He is a great guy and I look forward to playing with him next year. @PGATOUR is fun!
Gates and Roland Thatcher were the only two players who dropped out of the top 125 who did not have their cards for the 2012 season. The other two who fell south were Tiger Woods and Stuart Appleby.
6:50 pm
Lunde played tourist as others toiled
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Bill Lunde spent the last two days like a tourist, hanging out at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
But even with the theme parks beckoning, Lunde, who had missed the cut at the Children’s Miracle Networks Hospitals Classic on Friday, couldn’t leave the the game completely behind. He had to sneak a peak at Shot Tracker a couple of times a day.
That’s because Cameron Tringale and Fabian Gomez both had a chance to tie Lunde and force a playoff for the Kodak Challenge title and its $1 million prize. Had either holed a shot from the 17th fairway for eagle, Lunde would have had more work to do.
Turns out, Lunde didn’t need to worry. Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, when Gomez’s approach on the par 4 settled about 8 feet from the pin, the Californian was suddenly a millionaire.
The previous day, Lunde had been riding the monorail that snakes through the Disney property. He was looking down at his phone and realized he was right above the 17th green on the Magnolia Course — just as Tringale was playing the hole.
"So I’m looking at my phone, we’re at 17, I’m like, this is kind of meant to be," Lunde said.
The Kodak Challenge is a season-long competition that consists of a player’s best scores on 18 of the 30 holes selected at various tournaments. Lunde made 17 birdies and one eagle to finish at 19 under. He said he was well aware of which hole was the Kodak Challenge one each week.
"More than anything, I think it was kind of cool to be able to make the birdies and makes eagles when I needed it the most," Lunde said. "With this whole deal on the line I knew how important those holes were. I’m also very relieved that it’s over and I don’t have a hole to worry about anymore. Be nice to play golf. I think I’m going to bogey the first three holes on ‘em next year just so I don’t have to ever think about it again."
Lunde was kidding, of course. That bonus will go a long way toward paying for that new house Lunde and his wife are contemplating. Sunday night there was going to be a nice dinner, and a party for family and friends is on tap for later when he gets home to Las Vegas.
"It’ll be free for everybody except for Charley Hoffman who will be paying," Lunde chuckled, referring to his former UNLV teammate and good friend.
Lunde did say he had spoken to Bill Haas, who won the FedExCup and its $10 million bonus last month.
"He’s like, ‘You know, you win this thing, it’s something you got to go out and buy something you wouldn’t buy,’" Lunde recalled. "You got to buy a car or something because it’s like winning the lottery.
“I’m like, Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should buy a car, but I don’t really know what to get. I was thinking about Porsche, but I have a hard time justifying $150,000 for a car. It’s not me."
5:38 pm
Congratulate Donald on his victory
Luke Donald claimed his first stroke-play victory on TOUR in 2011 (and second win overall) Sunday at Disney. After starting the day five shots off the pace, Donald posted an 8-under 64 that featured six consecutive birdies to open his back nine, en route to winning the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic and the 2011 PGA TOUR money title. Leave your note of congratulations for Luke in the comments below.
5:01 pm
Donald wins, captures money title, too
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Luke Donald did what he set out to do.
The Englishman came to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic to win the PGA TOUR’s money title and the Arnold Palmer Trophy that goes with it. He committed last Friday, announcing his decision with a tweet that ended #bringiton
Donald did, too – firing a phenomenal final-round 64 that gave him his second title of the season and his eye-popping 14th top-10. But he had to wait on the range, leading by two, for about 45 minutes to see if there would be a playoff.
Justin Leonard, the overnight co-leader, was the last player with a chance to tie Donald – and he would have needed an improbable eagle on the 72nd hole. When his ball landed in a greenside bunker, Donald smiled broadly and began to accept congratulatory handshakes.
But there were other winners on Sunday, too.
Sunghoon Kang, Billy Mayfair and the 52-year-old Tom Pernice Jr. all played their way into the all-exempt 125 on the money list to save their playing privileges for 2012. Leonard also played his way into the top 125 but he was exempt through 2012.
Leonard, who finished second at Disney for the second time in two years, made the biggest jump, rising 53 spots to No. 91. Mayfair gained 18 spots and finished at No. 109 while Kang went from No. 141 to 120 and Pernice jumped 22 spots to No. 121.
James Driscoll, who came into the week as the bubble boy at No. 125, ended up in a tie for 12th and gained 11 spots in the money list.
The players falling out of the top 125 were Bobby Gates, who dropped two spots to No. 126; Roland Thatcher, who fell seven to No. 127: Tiger Woods, who went from No. 121 to 128 and Stuart Appleby, who fell seven to No. 122. Appleby and Woods are still exempt for 2012, tough.
Bill Lunde also came away a winner, too, even though he missed the cut at the CMN Hospitals Classic. He walked away $1 million richer after winning the season-long Kodak Challenge.
4:23 pm
Donald fires 64, leads by 2
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Luke Donald has finished off a phenomenal 64 that gave him a total of 17 under and a two-stroke lead in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.
Nick O’Hern, Kevin Chappell and Justin Leonard are on the course at 15 under with three holes remaining. Tom Pernice Jr. and Billy Mayfair are 14 under with two holes left.
Donald is in the driver’s seat as far as his mission to win the money title is concerned. The man who came into the week ranked No. 1, Webb Simpson, finished 13 under and is tied for seventh.
Should Simpson get in a playoff and lose, though, Simpson could still win the title.
4:10 pm
Lunde wins Kodak Challenge
Watch: Lunde wins the Kodak Challenge
Fabian Gomez is unsuccessful in his last swing at catching Bill Lunde, making Lunde the Kodak Challenge winner.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Bill Lunde is now $1 million richer.
Fabian Gomez has just hit his second shot from the 17th fairway. He needed to hole the shot for eagle to tie Lunde and force a playoff for the Kodak Challenge and its hefty bonus.
Gomez gave it a good try – landing 8 feet right of the pin. Earlier in the day, Cameron Tringale also had the opportunity but he ended up 17 feet away.
3:47 pm
Simpson faces tall task
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Webb Simpson needs a big finish, not to mention, a little help, if he is to win the PGA TOUR money title.
Simpson three-putted the 15th hole to fall back to 13 under and into a tie for seventh. He was tied for second with Luke Donald at 14 under as recently as 12th hole.
The Englishman’s birdie barrage stretched to six, though, and Donald now leads the tournament by two strokes at 17 under. If Donald goes on to win, Simpson must finish solo second to retain the lead he took when he lost in a playoff Sunday at The McGladrey Classic.
Simpson and Donald have two stout par 4s remaining. There are five players between Simpson and Donald right now.
3:31 pm
Donald birdies sixth straight
Watch: Donald rolls in sixth straight
Luke Donald holes this 45-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th to open up a two-shot lead.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Luke Donald is putting on a putting exhibition Sunday at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.
His sixth straight birdie came from 45 feet and elicited two fist pumps from the normally reserved Englishman. The world No. 1 now owns a two-stroke lead over Nick O’Hern and Justin Leonard.
Donald, who is 17 under, has made putts from 2, 5, 5, 8, 14 and 14 feet. He has 10 birdies in 15 holes on Sunday as he stalks the PGA TOUR money title and his second win of the season.
People were quick to react on Twitter, including Donald’s wife Diane, who said “I don’t think this much jumping up and down is good for the baby.” She is pregnant with their second child.
@ZachJohnsonPGA Ok. I think Luke Donald is the best putter I’ve ever seen. Sorry Fax. Love ya, but Luke is a #machine.
3:19 pm
Donald claims lead by himself
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – He made a bogey there Friday and a double bogey Saturday. So what?
Luke Donald made a birdie when he needed it at the pesky 14th hole to seize sole possession of the lead at the Children’s Miracle Networks Hospitals Classic on Sunday afternoon.
If the tournament ended right now, Donald would win the money title now that Simpson is in a three-way tie for third. Simpson needs solo second to retain his lead if the world No. 1 wins the CMN Hospitals Classic.
The birdie was Donald’s fifth straight and his ninth in 14 holes on Sunday.
3:10 pm
Video: Simpson’s charge begins
Watch: Simpson's birdies
Webb Simpson began his run with a birdie on the long par-4 ninth.
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 
