Global Golf Post - February 21, 2011

Ohioans Brudzinski, Kelley Win International Four-Ball

Friends T.J. Brudzinski and Mike Kelley of Columbus, Ohio, shot 17-under-par 199 to win the prestigious International Four-Ball Championship at the Fox Club in Palm City, Fla. The winners, three off the pace as the day began, posted a final-round, 7-under-par 65 to earn the title at a tournament that dates to 1957.

Mark Knecht and Steve White finished alone in second at 16 under, one behind the winning duo. First- and second-round leaders Robert Gregorski and Todd Mitchell closed with a disastrous triple-bogey eight on the final hole to finish 12-under par, alone in seventh place.

Chip Lutz and Chris Lange came from behind with a final-round 65 to defend their Senior Division title. They clipped second-round leaders Pat Tallent and Rick Woulfe by a shot.

Jim Applegate and Dick
Smith teamed to win the
inaugural Legends division for players 65 and
older. They shot 72-66 –138 to edge Robby
Stanford and Steve Sloan.

Chip Lutz

NEW WAGR WEBSITE LAUNCHED

The new website of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) was launched Feb. 17. Jointly administered by The R&A and the USGA, the website incorporates both the men’s ranking and the new Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WWAGR).

The website ranks more than 8,000 play-
ers, awarding points based on more than 3,000

worldwide counting events.

The new site offers an enhanced search function, which allows the user to list players and events by name, region and country. It features an expanded biography section, showing the selected player’s full ranking history. And for the first time, detailed event information, including round-by-round scores and a breakdown of points awarded, will also be available.

The updated ranking, accompanied by news stories reporting the previous week’s action, will appear on the website at noon (GMT) every Wednesday. Information about the WAGR system is clearly displayed on the website.

The introduction of the WWAGR was announced earlier in the month. The launch follows an extensive period of testing by The R&A. here for the website.

KATAHIRA TOPS FIRST WWAGR

Japan’s Mitsuki Katahira debuted at No. 1 in the first Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. Katahira, a senior at Daytona State in Florida, is 30 points ahead of Korean-born Cecilia Cho, who now resides in New Zealand.

SOCIETY OF SENIORS ADDS TWO EVENTS

Two additional events have been added to the 2011 SOS schedule. The West Coast Fall Classic will be played Nov. 17-20 at Sandpiper GC in Santa Barbara, Calif. And the Ralph Bogart event, originally slated to open the 2012 season, now will be played Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at John’s Island West in Vero Beach, Fla.