Bolli comes from behind to win Northeast Pennsylvania Classic  MOOSIC, Pa. -- Justin Bolli has been knocking on the door all year.  Justin Bolli is now firmly in "The 25." (WireImage)
Bolli was tied for the lead until Martin Laird birdied the final hole at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic to win by one stroke. At the Ft. Smith Classic, Bolli held a three-stroke lead after three rounds, but bogeyed the final hole to miss out a playoff by one stroke as well. Bolli's fortunes changed as he birdied the 16th and 18th holes on Sunday to win the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic by one stroke over Richard Johnson and Patrick Sheehan. "It's weird. At Ft. Smith, I really expected to win. I really thought it was my time. Obviously, that didn't happen," Bolli, a University of Georgia graduate said. "Going into today, I thought a win was possible, but a lot of it depended on how the leaders played. If they go out and play well, then I'm playing for second or third. I guess that's the way the game works." Johnson had a one-stroke lead heading into No. 17, but put his approach shot into a creek near the green which resulted in a double bogey. If anyone can understand what Johnson is feeling, it's Bolli. "I feel for Richard because I've certainly been there before. You have to feel for the guy, but at the same time I played well today," Bolli said. "Richard is a very good player and it's only a matter of time before he gets a victory of his own this year." The former walk-on at the University of Georgia started the day five shots behind Johnson at the start of the final round. With his victory and the $90,000 winner's check, Bolli moves to No. 6 on the money list with nearly $250,000. His position on the money list all but guarantees he will finish the year inside "The 25" and earn his 2008 PGA TOUR card. "It's a good feeling. Last year, I was pretty close and didn't play well towards the end of the year. I wasn't quite ready for the PGA TOUR the last time, but I'm excited to get back to that level. That's why we are all out here, to perform on the PGA TOUR," Bolli said. "It's very difficult to earn your PGA TOUR card out here. You've got to play well all season. Even if you win, you have to have several other good weeks. The competition is so tough, you have to be consistent." It also means that Bolli's caddie will continue to wear one of 'The 25' gold bibs throughout the remainder of the season. The program began this season to signify the players who were ranked within the top 25 on the money list and on their way to earning their card. "I joke with my caddie about wearing it out on the town. I give him a hard time," Bolli said. "I tell him that he probably sleeps in it at night." Bolli finished the tournament ranked No. 2 in fairways hitting 48 of 52 for the week. On Sunday he hit 17 of 18 greens. Sheehan continued the strong play that has made him the highest-ranked player on the money list that has yet to win this season. With his runner-up finish, Sheehan moves just behind Bolli to No. 7 on the money list. The 37-year-old, who has spent time on both the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour since turning professional in 1992, records his second runner-up finish of the season, his sixth top-10 finish and his 10th finish inside the top 25. "I'm not disappointed, I played well. It was a good day. The pin placements were set up so tough today," Sheehan said. "I was pretty thankful to get what I got as far as offense today. You are going to make some mistakes on a golf course like this. I'm pleased. These are some of the best greens we've seen all year." For Johnson, it was a disappointing finish to an otherwise impressive week. But there is good news for 35-year-old originally from Cardiff, Wales, but now living in Arkansas. With his T2 finish, he also moves into the top 25 to No. 22 on the money list. "I just had a terrible day on the greens. I putted terrible. I hit one bad shot on 17 and missed too many five footers," Johnson said. Final-Round News & Notes: There were zero bogey-free rounds recorded on Sunday... Daniel Summerhays, who became the first amateur to win a Nationwide Tour event earlier this year at the Nationwide Tour Children's Hospital Invitational and turned professional one week later, recorded his first top 10 as a profession with a T10 finish. He's made three consecutive cuts since turning pro.... The scoring average of 71.938 The Nationwide Tour heads to nearby Rochester, NY, for the 23rd tournament of the year at the $600,000 Xerox Classic. |
