Kodak Challenge results at the Buick Open

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Aug. 2, 2009

The Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players, who must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to be eligible to win. A player's lowest score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. The player with the lowest cumulative score relative to par wins $1 million and the Kodak Challenge trophy.

THIS WEEK'S HOLE: The par-3, 197-yard 17th at Warwick Hills

DESCRIPTION: The 17th is perhaps the most picturesque hole on the course and traditionally plays as one of the most difficult par 3s in the Buick Open. It is also where the most enthusiastic crowds can be found at Warwick. The front bunker has been lengthened for 2001, capturing shots that come up short of the green. From the tee, the player must hit a middle iron to a green that subtly slopes toward the water hazard. Missing the green left is particularly bad, as the ball will tend to kick into the woods if it misses both of the bunkers. (Click here for tour)

Final round

Enthusiastic crowds greeted the pros this week on the Kodak Challenge hole, No. 17 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. Nathan Green's opening-round birdie on the Kodak Challenge hole at the Buick Open moved him into a first-place tie with Kevin Streelman, who was idle this week. Green and Streelman lead the Kodak Challenge by one stroke over Nicholas Thompson and Michael Letzig, who led the early rounds of the Buick Open and later finished sixth. Buick Open champion Tiger Woods thrilled fans with a 33-foot birdie putt on the Kodak Challenge hole on Saturday, while Woody Austin drilled at 27-foot putt during the final round to move to within five strokes of the Kodak Challenge lead. Despite missing the cut, Jeff Klauk made good use of his limited opportunities on the Kodak Challenge hole, carding birdies twice to move into a third-place tie at 9-under par. Both Scott Verplank and Tim Herron overcame early-round bogies to stay in third at 9-under par. Thompson, who played No. 17 at par to remain tied for second at 10-under par, became the first golfer on the PGA TOUR to officially complete 18 Kodak Challenge holes this season. Players must complete a minimum of 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to compete for the $1 million prize. At the end of the season players are allowed to select their best 18 Kodak Challenge scores. The Kodak Challenge continues on Aug. 6 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio and at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open in Reno, Nev.

Third round

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 gave the PGA TOUR pros few breaks at the Buick Open, as the difficult 197-yard par-3 yielded few birdies. Thanks to Tiger Woods and Brett Quigley, the enthusiastic fans around the difficult par-3 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club didn't go home empty on the Kodak Challenge hole. Quigley delivered one of the best tee shots of the week on 17, sticking his drive to within 8 feet of the cup. His short birdie putt moved him into a third-place tie in the Kodak Challenge at 9-under par. The Buick Open leader, Woods made a dramatic 33-foot putt on the hole for one of his eight birdies on the day. Michael Letzig, currently tied for second in the Kodak Challenge at 10-under-par, is currently one shot behind Woods for the Buick Open lead. Jeff Klauk, currently third in the Kodak Challenge standings, has birdied 17 two of the three days so far. He remains within striking distance of Woods and Letzig for the Buick Open title. Nathan Green played 17 at even-par and remains tied for first at 11-under par in the chase for the Kodak Challenge $1 million prize.

Second round

For the second day in a row, this week's Kodak Challenge, No. 17, kept the PGA TOUR pros on their heels at the Buick Open. Like many in the field, Kodak Challenge front-runner Nathan Green played the difficult par-3 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club at even par. Green remains tied for the Kodak Challenge lead at 11-under par with Kevin Streelman, who is idle this weekend. Jeff Klauk, currently tied for third in the Kodak Challenge at 9-under par, continued his mastery of No. 17 with his second consecutive birdie on the 197-yard hole. Nicholas Thompson, the first golfer on the TOUR to officially complete 18 Kodak Challenge holes this season, played the 17th at par to remain tied for second in the Kodak Challenge with Michael Letzig at 10-under par. Players must complete a minimum of 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to compete for the $1 million prize. At the end of the season players are allowed to select their best 18 Kodak Challenge scores. Letzig carded one of the better rounds today at the Buick Open, shooting a 65 to finish the day in second place behind tournament leader, John Senden.

First round

While much of the field played No. 17 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club at par, Nathan Green carded one of the day's few birdies on the par-3 to grab a share of the Kodak Challenge lead. Kevin Streelman, who is idle this week, remains tied for first with Green at 11-under par. Jeff Klauk and J.J Henry also birdied the 197-yard par-3 to move to 9-under par and third place. Nicholas Thompson, who played No. 17 at par to remain tied for second at 10-under par, became the first golfer on the PGA TOUR to officially complete 18 Kodak Challenge holes this season. Players must complete a minimum of 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to compete for the $1 million prize. At the end of the season players are allowed to select their best 18 Kodak Challenge scores. Scott Verplank and Tim Herron were among the Kodak Challengers to stumble on the tricky par 3 17th. Verplank carded a double-bogey to drop to 7-under par, while Herron's bogey dropped him to 8-under in the Kodak Challenge standings. Since the Kodak Challenge captures a golfers best score of a tournament, Verplank and Herron have plenty of chances ahead to redeem themselves -- a better performance on No. 17 this weekend will wipe out a lesser score.

2009 round-by-round statistics on the par-3 17th at Warwick Hills