Oct. 14, 2010
MORE: Interactive Kodak Challenge scorecards
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, the Kodak Challenge travels to CordeValle Golf Clu in San Martin, Calif., where players take aim at the 325-yard par-4 17th hole. The 17th at CordeValle is a short, drivable par-4 of 290 to 325 yards. The green is receptive to a long shot for the back of it is bowl shaped, causing balls to roll toward the center of the green. The picturesque hole is fronted by a lake short, right and by the magnificent Clos la Chance Winery in the back.
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| First round |
The stakes were raised in the season-long $1 million Kodak Challenge competition during Thursday's opening round of the Frys.com Open. Co-leaders Rickie Fowler, Troy Merritt and current runner-up Tim Petrovic -- all paired together on Thursday at CordeValle -- each played the par-4, 358-yard Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 at par. But that didn't stop Webb Simpson and Aaron Baddeley from taking advantage of scoring opportunities and a late-season move up the Kodak Challenge leaderboard.
While Simpson sank a long 27-foot birdie putt on the hole, Baddeley narrowly missed his 4-footer for birdie, easily sinking his par putt. Both move up the Kodak Challenge leaderboard to 13-under. Baddeley was able to replace a bogey on his Kodak Challenge scoring card with his par, resulting in a one shot swing thanks to Kodak Challenge's unique scoring rule, which allows players to record their best 18 scores. The Frys.com Open represents Baddeley's 22nd Kodak Challenge hole. Baddeley still has three more opportunities this weekend to move up another stroke with a birdie on the hole.
The "Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day" belonged to Simpson.
No. 17 at CordeValle Golf Club was tied for being the second easiest hole at the Frys.com Open during Thursday's opening round. It yielded 39 birdies, 76 pars, 11 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. |
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| Current Kodak Challenge Leaderboard |
| T1 |
Troy Merritt |
21 |
-14 |
| T1 |
Rickie Fowler |
18 |
-14 |
| T3 |
Webb Simpson |
23 |
-13 |
| T3 |
Tim Petrovic |
22 |
-13 |
| T3 |
Brendon de Jonge |
20 |
-13 |
| T3 |
Aaron Baddeley |
19 |
-13 |
| T3 |
Bill Haas |
17 |
-13 |
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