Finally Bart Bryant knows what next year will bring
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Valero Texas Open | Wrap | 20 Sep 2004
What a story. Bart Bryant who had played more 185 USPGA Tour events over a fifteen year period and recorded a best placed finish of 7th in all of those starts, played the last round of the Valero Texas Open as if he had been in a position to win on many occasions, holding on to win the event by three over Patrick Sheehan.
Bryant played his first USPGA Tour event back in 1987 when he missed the cut at the US Open at the Olympic Golf Club. In 1990 he gained his USPGA Tour card via Tour School for the first of six times and has played between the PGA and Secondary Tours since. His best finish on tour came in his very first season, in just his seventh event, when 7th at the Honda Classic but it would take another 177 starts and thirteen years before he would better that promising start.
In 2004 he is playing on a medical extension, the result of elbow surgery in 2003. He was granted 23 events this year and having played seventeen and earned just US$260,000, it appeared that it would be back to the Tour School yet again in November.
The 41-year-old saw it differently apparently, his third round of 60 which included an outward nine of 29 saw him move from five off the pace to three ahead and take that lead over rookie and 22-year-old, Hunter Mahan, into the final round. The Weiskopf and Morrish designed course was under attack from all angles especially on Saturday with a 60, 61, 62 and two 63’s being recorded and again today it suffered from the onslaught.
While Bryant had a comfortable lead, his lack of experience in this situation gave cause for several who were just off the pace to feel they still had a chance in round four. First to challenge on day four were Patrick Sheehan, Dean Wilson and John Senden who all made moves over the front nine.
As the leader made the turn he was just one ahead of Sheehan with several players including Senden and Wilson in hot pursuit. Rather than back off as could be expected in this situation, Bryant continued to apply the blow torch to the chasing pack and when his only real threat, Sheehan, bogeyed the 16th the way was clear for Bryant who was playing four groups behind to cruise to the line.
His three shot win earns him $US630,000 and for the first time since joining the tour he has full security for the following year on the USPGA Tour before his current year is complete.
Patrick Sheehan, a graduate from the Buy.Com Tour in 2002, has now established himself on the PGA Tour, this runner up placing taking him beyond US$1 million for the 2004 season.
In third place were ex-Japan Golf Tour star, Dean Wilson and Todd Fischer, who birdied the last three holes today.
Fifth were Ted Purdy who led after a first round 61, Jerry Kelly, J.J. Henry, South African Tim Clark and Hunter Mahan.
Leading Australian was John Senden who faded over the back nine to finish 21st after being in a position to challenge for the title through nine holes. Rod Pampling and Steve Elkington were 51st, Andre Stolz 61st and Aaron Baddeley 72nd.
The PGA Tour heads to the 84 Lumber Classic in Farmington Pennsylvania.
