Kodak Challenge Update: Valero Texas Open

text size

Apr. 17, 2011

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: No. 17 at TPC San Antonio
Current PGA TOUR player Sergio Garcia lent his unique perspective in assisting celebrated golfer and renowned golf course architect Greg Norman with the design of the par-72, 7,522-yard AT&T Oaks Course. Similar to renown golf course designer Pete Dye, Norman's design philosophy is underscored by environmental sensitivity and a deep reverence for nature. Great care has been taken to incorporate the distinct nuances and indigenous flora of the natural Hill Country topography into the course design, to create a compelling, strategically diverse and strikingly beautiful course for golfers of all skill levels.

Fourth round

In contrast to Saturday's ideal conditions, gusting winds allowed for fewer scoring opportunities on Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 in the final round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. Seventeen PGA TOUR pros played the 347-yard par-4 hole under par on Sunday, compared to 40 who posted birdies in the third round. One pro to get the best of No. 17 was Fredrik Jacobson, who delivered the Kodak Challenge Shot of the Day when his 101-yard approach shot from the fairway bunker landed three feet shy of the pin, setting up a short putt for birdie.

Bill Lunde leaves TPC San Antonio in sole possession of the Kodak Challenge lead at 8-under-par after carding a birdie on hole No. 17 in the second round. Jarrod Lyle sits one shot behind with Charley Hoffman, who moved up the Kodak Challenge leaderboard with a birdie on Saturday.

Blake Adams holed out from 20 feet, scoring the final round's longest birdie putt, while J.B. Holmes became Valero's most consistent Kodak Challenger when he dropped a four-footer to card his fourth birdie of the tournament on hole No. 17.

While eagles eluded the field, Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the final round's third easiest hole at TPC San Antonio, yielding 17 birdies, 56 pars and four bogeys.

The next Kodak Challenge hole is the 452-yard par-4 No. 18 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., during The Heritage, April 15-18. The Heritage is the 12th of 30 tournaments to participate in the $1 million competition.

Third round

Calmer winds made for great shotmaking on Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 during the third round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. Among the pros to take advantage of Saturday's improved conditions was Charley Hoffman, who drained a three-footer for birdie on No. 17 to move into a tie for second place on the Kodak Challenge leaderboard with Jarrod Lyle. Hoffman and Lyle sit just one stroke behind Kodak frontrunner, Bill Lunde, at 7-under-par in the $1 million competition. Lunde narrowly missed a 22-foot eagle attempt on No. 17, but scored his second birdie of the tournament with a tap-in from five inches. Lyle played the Kodak Challenge hole at par.

The Kodak Challenge moment of the day was delivered by Brian Gay who carded a birdie from 22 feet off the left side of the green. Adam Scott tapped in a three-inch putt for the easiest Kodak Challenge birdie on Saturday, just missing his 38-foot eagle attempt from the rough.

On moving day, Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the second easiest hole at TPC San Antonio, yielding 40 birdies, 35 pars and 3 bogeys.

Second round

Bill Lunde birdied hole No. 17 at TPC San Antonio during the second round of the Valero Texas Open to grab sole possession of the Kodak Challenge lead at 8-under-par. After hitting his drive on the 347-yard par 4 to the front edge of the green, Lunde knocked his second shot to eight feet to set up his Kodak Challenge birdie. Jarrod Lyle, who was tied for first place with Lunde coming into Valero, remains in second at 7-under after playing No. 17 at par.

Billy Mayfair delivered the Kodak Challenge moment of the day, scoring a birdie from 44 feet off the backside of the green. Spencer Levin tapped in a six inch putt for the easiest Kodak Challenge birdie after narrowly missing his 18-foot eagle attempt. Levin moved to 6-under-par in the Kodak Challenge standings.

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the second easiest hole Friday at TPC San Antonio, yielding 38 birdies, 84 pars and 18 bogeys.

The Valero Texas Open is the 11th of 30 tournaments to participate in the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

First round

J.J. Henry moved to within one shot of the Kodak Challenge lead with a birdie on the 347-yard par 4 No. 17 at TPC San Antonio during the opening round of the Valero Texas Open. Henry, who is tied for the lead of the Valero Texas Open, landed his 73-yard approach to three feet to set up his Kodak Challenge birdie. Henry now sits 6-under-par in the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition, one shot behind co-leaders, Bill Lunde and Jarrod Lyle, who played No. 17 at par Friday.

Brendan Steele sank a 24-footer from the back edge of the green for the longest Kodak Challenge birdie Friday, while Kevin Chappel had the shortest from just 17 inches. The 2009 Kodak Challenge champ Kevin Streelman also birdied No. 17 to move within two strokes of the lead.

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the second easiest hole Friday at TPC San Antonio, yielding 37 birdies, 96 pars and 9 bogeys.