Stolz, Chalmers looking to capitalise at Michelin
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas | Round Three | 10 Oct 2004
Andre Stolz, in his rookie year on the USPGA Tour, has finally found some of the form he promised when he joined the 2004 Tour via last year’s Nationwide Tour.
His third round of 65 at the Michelin Championship has him just one shot out of Tom Lehman’s lead with one round to play. After gaining his card to the USPGA Tour via the Nationwide Tour money list last year, it has been a rugged introduction to the PGA Tour in 2004, this being his 20th start and just his 7th cut made. With just US$88,000 to his name and staring Tour School in the face, he has a great chance if not to win the event, then to do himself some serious good in terms of his money list position. As it stands right now Stolz would have to go to stage two of the USPGA Tour qualifying in two weeks time, if he so chooses, but a good finish here might just get him to the final stage. A win would remove any further immediate worries.
Soltz’s biggest cheque this season was at the American Express Championship, which he gained entry to via his status on the 2003 Australasian Tour money list where he finished runner up to Peter Lonard. His best finish on the USPGA Tour in 2004 to date has been 34th in New Orleans.
On last year’s Nationwide Tour, Stolz was runner up at the Clearwater Classic and then won the La Salle Bank Open, eventually finishing in 13th place. That coming after his biggest cheque in the game when runner up at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth early in the year. One of the longer hitters on the USPGA Tour (24th), Stolz has been let down by his accuracy and short game stats in 2004.
He was considering heading home next week, but a good finish tomorrow may well change all that.
Greg Chalmers is another looking to take advantage of his third round position. He is currently in 4th place two behind Lehman and, needing another US$250,000 to make it inside the top 125 at season’s end, he know what he needs to do tomorrow. He has found some form in recent weeks, his 10th place last week only his second top ten in twenty USPGA Tour starts in 2004.
