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November 15, 2007

Horgan returns to course

Patrick Horgan has returned to competitive golf. And the Newport native and former PGA Tour player has picked one of the most demanding events of all to do so.

Horgan is competing this week in the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Fla. He fired a 2-over 73 in yesterday’s opening round to tie for 53rd. Horgan played on the tour for nearly a decade, but has missed most of the last five years with various health issues, most recently eye surgery. He was exempt through the first stage because of his previous performances.

Also at Hombre, Crestwood’s Greg Sampson birdied his last three holes to shoot 68 and tie for 11th. Geoff Sisk of Marshfield, Mass., had 70 and Potowomut’s Rodney Butcher a 71. Point Judith’s Jeff Martin shot himself out of it with an 85 that included a nine on a par-4 hole.

Hombre is one of six sites for second-stage qualifying this week. Among other results:

At Lake Jovita in Dade City, Fla., Worcester’s Fran Quinn opened with a sparkling 65 and is tied for fifth; fellow Bay Stater Kevin Johnson had 67 to tie for 10th, URI grad Michael Sims a 69 to tie for 19th, Cape Cod’s Jason Caron a 72 to tie for 52nd and Attleboro’s Jim Renner a 74 to tie for 67th.

At TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Tex., Connecticut’s Jeff Curl, who won the New England Pro Tour event at Cranston Country Club three years ago, had 73 to tie for 45th.

At The Woodlands in Kingwood, Tex., New Bedford’s Kevin Silva had 73 and is tied for 35th.

The Champions Tour is holding its finals this week at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., and the leader there is former Major League pitcher Rick Rhoden. He is at 6-under 138 through two rounds. Worcester’s Rick Karbowski is in excellent shape at 141, in a tie for fourth, and former Rhode Island Open champion Kirk Hanefeld of Bolton, Mass., tied for 19th at 144.

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 10:40 AM to Paul Kenyon on Golf | Permalink

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