Calcavecchia toughs it out in Vancouver
IN: News | US PGA | Bell Canadian Open (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 12 Sep 2005
Mark Calcavecchia, without a win on the USPGA Tour since 2001, has outlasted both the Bell Canadian Open field and Vancouver's demanding Shaughnessey Golf Club layout to win the time honoured event.
Calcavecchia has had just one win to his name since 2001, which came at the Asian Tour's Maekyung Open in Korea last year but this would be his first victory on the PGA Tour since winning perhaps his favourite event, the Phoenix Open. There have been many top tens and four runner-up placings in the interim but for the now twelve-time title holder on the USPGA Tour, winning is what it is all about. Not only would this be win number twelve, but it would also represent his largest cheque in the game, earning US$900,000 for his week's work.
Calcavecchia headed into day four with a one shot lead. He missed an early opportunity at the 2nd hole but made good par saves at the third and fourth. When he birdied the par four 5th hole, after all but knocking the flag out with his approach, he had opened up a three shot lead. His first mistake came at the 10th when he pulled his second left and missed a par saving out from 10 feet and then took another bogey at the 13th after catching the rough with his tee shot and being forced to lay up at the par four. Calcavecchia was then back to five under and with Ben Crane having made a big move on day four to get to four under with his final round of 66, he had a narrow one shot lead with the tough finishing stretch ahead.
The brilliant Ryan Moore, who has been in the professional ranks for only two months also rallied late in the day with birdies at the 14th and at the 18th where his second came to rest two feet from the hole. That birdie provided the faint hope that he might be in a playoff with Crane and Calcavecchia but when Calcavecchia, who was playing in the group behind, drove it perfectly at the last his chances narrowed.
For Moore though, who was playing in just his 5th USPGA Tour event as a professional, it further confirmed the reputation he developed as an amateur and the opinion of most good judges that this is a young man who has the golfing world at his feet. The US$440,000 prizemoney will not hurt either.
Crane continues what has been a brilliant season in 2005, this is his second runner up placing to go with his win in Milwaukee.
Jesper Parnevik continues his return to his best form in some time with his fourth placing. He will be disappointed with his slow start on day four but pleased that he is once again starting to contend on a regular basis.
The best of the Australasians was James McLean, the University of Minnesota graduate who finished 40th. Aaron Baddeley was 53rd, Steve Collins and Michael Long 56th, Rod Pampling and Steve Allan 60th, Scott Hend 65th,and Paul Gow 69th.
The USPGA Tour now heads back to the East Coast to the 84 Lumber Classic in Pennsylvania.
Photo - Anthony Powter
