Sleeper Picks: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

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May. 18, 2011

The PGA TOUR travels to Colonial Country Club this week for the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our experts from PGATOUR.COM select the player they think will win this week's event. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same. The player who wins the previous week picks last the following week. To see who our experts picked, click here.
SLEEPER PICKS
Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top picks, which have the best chance as sleepers?

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Sleeper picks: Crowne Plaza Invitational

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Chris Dunham			KYLE STANLEY. This was the site of the rookie's only made cut in three TOUR starts last season. The bomber isn't exactly a good fit for this course on paper, but comfort from four rounds at par or better last year can go a long way.
Amanda Balionis			CHARLIE WI. Had a good week going last week at THE PLAYERS before fading with a 75 on Sunday. As one of the TOUR's straight hitters, loves Colonial, where he tied for 13th in 2009 and tied for 15th in 2008.
Helen Ross			TOMMY GAINEY. OK, so Gainer is making his debut at Colonial. The understated South Carolinian is playing extremely well this year with four top-10s including two thirds. Plus, he's a creative shotmaker who should be able to think his way around Colonial well.
John Schwarb			BO VAN PELT. Like my Expert Pick, I'm taking a Hoosier who has yet to hit his 2011 stride but has good Colonial history (T10 last year, T5 in '04, no missed cuts). Time to heat up with the weather, Bo.
Mike McAllister			BRIAN DAVIS. He was solid last week at THE PLAYERS, breaking par in three rounds. Davis is accurate off the tee (9th on TOUR) and finds greens with regularity (35th). If his putter gets hot the 2010 Colonial runner-up could contend again.
Lauren Deason			GREG CHALMERS. Ranks third on TOUR in Strokes Gained -- Putting, putting him right there with other pure rollers like Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker. Lack of distance off the tee won't hurt him here. Already has two top-10s this year.
John Swantek			TOM LEHMAN. The Charles Schwab Cup leader is taking a break from dominating the Champions Tour to take his swings at Colonial, where he won the title back in '95 and has finished inside the top 15 two of the last three years. Why not?
Anne Szeker			BOBBY GATES. This Nationwide Tour grad had the week off after an impressive T6 finish at the Wells Fargo Championship. His season has been hot and cold, but he ranks 17th in driving and 4th in eagles.
Brian Wacker			JOHN ROLLINS. A buddy of mine played with him in a charity outing this past week and said Rollins was puring it. That's good because Rollins has struggled this season, though he did finish in the top 25 at Colonial in 2007.
Ryan Smithson			KEVIN STREELMAN. My original pick in this spot, Scott Verplank, withdrew early Wednesday. I'll go with Streelman even though he's struggled this year, mainly because he's putting really well. Fired a final-round 67 at THE PLAYERS.

Standings after 16 events

LAST WEEK: Ryan Smithson extended his lead with his savvy choice of Paul Goydos at THE PLAYERS.
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	4	4	7	914.98
2	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	6	681.40
3	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	3	4	620.00
4	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	4	6	578.39
5	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	1	5	391.50
6	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	1	3	367.78
7	John Schwarb Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	1	3	293.00
8	Chris Dunham Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	3	287.84
9	John Swantek Host, On The Tee	0	0	1	2	271.44
10*	Amanda Balionis Host, PGA TOUR Today	0	0	1	3	204.50