LSU alum Lindblad wins at Ol' Colony
Montgomery native and Auburn University alum Patton Kizzire picked up the third win of his career Sunday with a victory at the Procore Championship in Napa, California.
Kizzire, who led by four shots going into the final round, saw his lead shrink to two shots over David Lipsky before he pulled away for a five-stroke victory. He finished at 20-under 268, closing with a 70 on Sunday.
It was the third career win for the 38-year-old Kizzire, who turned pro in 2008. He now lives in Sea Island, Georgia. It was his first win since 2018.
The victory capped an up-and-down year for Kizzire, who at one point missed six consecutive cuts and in the final two events in which he played before the FedEx Cup playoffs.
What this win means to Patton Kizzire
Kizzire got emotional when talking about the year and what it means to be a winner again on Tour.
“I was very emotional there at the end of the year because I had put a lot in and didn’t get a lot out,” he said. “But I’ve been so passionate about this game for so long, it’s just a journey. There’s obstacles just one after another in golf and in life. You’ve just got to keep going. It feels really, really sweet for the hard work to pay off. I’m going to enjoy this win.
“I didn’t feel like I played that well, but I putted great. It’s just so sweet to go through the ups and downs, that’s life. There’s ups and downs, you’ve just got to stay positive and that’s what led me here to right now.”
Kizzire admitted that he wondered if he would return to the winner’s circle. Instead of dwelling on that doubt, he chose to look at the upside.
“There’s always doubt in anything,” he said. “If you listen to the doubt in life in general, it’s never beneficial. You look at the positives in all things. There’s going to be obstacles and that’s just how it’s going to be. You’ve got to plan to attack those obstacles. I did a fantastic job of that the entire week.”
Lindblad wins Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic
Former LSU standout Ingrid Lindblad returned to the heart of SEC country for the second straight week and walked away with her first professional victory at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic.
Lindblad began the day two shots off the lead held by Ana Belac but fired a 5-under 67 to overtake the second-round leader. Lindblad finished with a 54-hole total of 16-under 200 at the Ol’ Colony course. Belac shot 71 in the final round to finish at 202.
Lindblad used five straight birdies on the back nine. It was a redemption of sorts for Lindblad, who made a bogey on the final hole last week in Prattville to miss a playoff by one shot.
“The first nine was kind of, I would say, very boring. The first ten holes, actually,” Lindblad said. “Then I started rolling in birdies, and I rolled in about 25-footer, then another 25-footer, and then, like, a 35 or 40-footer. I was like, I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Everything happened pretty quickly. It feels really good. I mean, it was close last week, but I was able to get it done this week.”
Reeves claims 36th Alabama State Mid-Amateur title
Birmingham’s Ben Reeves polished off his first Alabama Golf Association title in style, shooting 70 in the final round to post a four-shot victory in the Alabama State Mid-Amateur.
Reeves, the only player to break par in all three rounds at Indian Hills Country Club in Tuscaloosa, led by two shots over Haymes Snedeker after rounds of 68-67. His winning total was 8-under 205. Hunter Hawkins of Fort Payne took second place in a scorecard playoff with Snedeker, whose brother is Brandt Snedeker of PGA Tour fame. Both players finished at 209.
“It has been a dream of mine to win a high level amateur tournament like this,” said Reeves. “I couldn’t have asked for better playing partners today and I’m excited to keep playing in these tournaments and see what else I can do.”
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Featured image: Courtesy of the PGA Tour
