BMW Championship: First Look
Adam Stanley
The PGA TOUR heads to Baltimore for the first time since 1964 for the penultimate event of the 2020-21 season, the BMW Championship.
Jon Rahm, who was in position to start his FedExCup Playoffs run with a win at THE NORTHERN TRUST, looks to defend his BMW Championship title after a dramatic playoff win over Dustin Johnson last season.
FIELD NOTES: Top 70 in the FedExCup standings after THE NORTHERN TRUST will tee it up at the BMW Championship… Rahm, the defending champion, stood to move from fifth to first in the FedExCup standings with a win at Liberty National… Dustin Johnson, who lost in a playoff to Rahm but went on to win the FedExCup last year, missed THE NORTHERN TRUST cut by a shot Friday after starting the tournament without a driver… After withdrawing from THE NORTHERN TRUST with an ankle injury, Patrick Reed is expected to return to action at the BMW… Olympic Gold medalist Xander Schauffele, two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, past FedExCup winners Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, plus Player of the Year candidate Collin Morikawa also will be among the headliners in Baltimore.
FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 2,000 FedExCup points.
COURSE: Caves Valley Golf Club, par 72, 7,542 yards. Opened in 1991, the Tom Fazio design was recently updated with infrastructure changes over an 18-month timeframe. There’s more length, plus new and/or restored bunkers, and, in places, additional rough. The front and back nines have been switched to allow for better spectator views. The PGA TOUR hasn’t played an event in Baltimore since the 1960s, but Caves Valley is no stranger to big-time golf – the course played host to the U.S. Senior Open, the Constellation Senior PLAYERS Championship, and the first International Crown on the LPGA Tour.
STORYLINES: The BMW Championship is the final opportunity to earn a spot in the FedExCup Playoffs finale, the 30-man TOUR Championship at East Lake… Keep an eye on the Monday finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST to see who will survive and advance. In 2020 there were six golfers who moved into the top 70 after THE NORTHERN TRUST and six who moved out… The FedExCup points leader after the first two Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10 under par, meaning those at the top will be fighting for position at the BMW Championship.
72-HOLE RECORD: 260, Keegan Bradley (2018). *At Caves Valley GC (N/A)
18-HOLE RECORD: 59, Jim Furyk (2nd round, 2013). *At Caves Valley GC (N/A)
LAST TIME: It was a thrilling finish to the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs in 2020, with Jon Rahm defeating Dustin Johnson in a playoff at the BMW Championship. Johnson, who had won by 11 the previous week, rolled in a double-breaking 43-foot putt on the 72nd hole at Olympia Fields to force a playoff with Rahm at 5-under 276 after the Spaniard fired a 6-under 64 in the final round (the low round of the tournament). Rahm answered right back, however, with a curling 66-foot birdie bomb of his own to seal the win. It was his 11th TOUR title. Rahm’s victory came despite a mental blunder in the third round – he picked up his ball without marking it on the green and was penalized a stroke. Only five golfers finished under par at the 2020 BMW: Joaquin Niemann, Hideki Matsuyama and Tony Finau – after a final-round 65 – were the others besides Rahm and Johnson.
Source: PGAtour.com
Nelly Korda wins gold medal in tightly contested final round at Olympics
KAWAGOE, Japan – Turns out that first major championship was just a start for Nelly Korda. Now she’s an Olympic champion and left little doubt Saturday about who’s the best in women’s golf.
Korda held her nerve during a chaotic chase for medals and a one-hour storm delay at the end, calmly taking two putts from just inside 30 feet for a one-shot victory.
The 23-year-old Korda gave the Americans a sweep of gold medals in golf. Xander Schauffele won the men’s competition last Sunday.
“With sports it’s so different because you’re constantly looking ahead for your next event,” Korda said. “It never really gets to kind of sink in. … But when I do look back, it’s just crazy.”
Jessica Korda, Nelly’s 28-year-old sister who posted a 64 for the low score of the final round, ran out to the green and the sisters hugged and shimmied in celebration.
Nelly now has won three of the last four individual tournaments.
“This is just kind of like almost legend status as a golfer, period, male or female,” Jessica said. “It’s tough to win out here and she makes it look easy, but those girls are good. So for her to be doing, it’s insane to me. This is like total GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status to me.”
Mone Inami of Japan delivered the golf-loving host nation a silver medal, and it was nearly better than that.
Inami, given the honor of the opening tee shot on Wednesday, ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch toward the end, the last one from 8 feet on the 17th hole to tie for the lead. But her approach to the 18th plugged in the sand on the slope of a bunker. The best she could do was to blast out to 30 feet and she made bogey for a 65.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand had a 35-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 18th. She left it 4 feet short and had to make that for a 65 to finish one behind.
In the playoff for the silver, Ko found a bunker off the tee on the 18th hole, had to lay up and missed a 10-foot par putt.
Ko had to settle for the bronze, after winning the silver in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. She is the only golfer to win medals in both Olympics since golf returned after a 112-year absence.
“It’s not easy playing as the No. 1 in the Olympics. I did that in Rio,” Ko said. “And for her to fight through those kind of pressure and expectations and to end up winning the gold, I think it shows what kind of class player she is.
“I’m sure this is the start of many more majors and many more wins for Nelly.”
There was nothing easy about this final round for Korda, even starting with a three-shot lead. She fell into a tie for the lead, rebuilt it to three shots early on the back nine and then closed with six pars as three players made a bold run at her.
That list includes Aditi Ashok of India, at an extreme disadvantage all week with her lack of distance off the tee, some of that brought on by a bout with COVID-19 this summer. With her magic touch on the greens, Ashok stayed in the mix all day.
Her 12-foot birdie putt to keep pace with Ko burned the edge of the cup on the 17th hole, and she had a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th to stay in medal contention. That slid by the hole.
“I didn’t leave anything out there. I think I gave it my 100%,” Ashok said. “But yeah, fourth in the Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”
Korda finished at 17-under 267 and made two double bogeys this week.
One came on the 18th hole of the second round when she needed a birdie for a 59. Korda and her caddie did not realize the tee box was 30 yards forward, leading to the wrong club and wrong line into the rough behind a tree.
The other was Saturday on the par-3 seventh when her tee shot went left into a collection area. It took Korda three chips to get onto the green, and the double bogey dropped her into a tie with Ko and Ashok.
All three birdied the par-5 eighth – Korda with a 25-foot putt that was as big as any – and Korda ran off birdies at the next two holes to restore her three-shot lead.
“I told myself there’s still a lot of golf to be left and I’m very proud of how I handled the next three holes, or even just the entire round after that,” Korda said.
Inami, Ko and Ashok all whittled away until they ran out of holes and Korda was left with a gold medal, along with a future that never looked brighter.
Source: golfchannel.com
Bryson DeChambeau out of Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19
Bryson DeChambeau’s Olympic debut will have to wait at least three years.
DeChambeau, the world No. 6 and fourth-ranked American, tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the Toyko Games, USA Golf announced Saturday night. DeChambeau will be replaced on the four-player U.S. team by Patrick Reed, who competed in the 2016 Rio Games.
According to USA Golf’s statement, DeChambeau produced a positive test as part of the final testing protocol before leaving the U.S. for Japan.
“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA,” DeChambeau said. “Representing my country means the world to me and it is was a tremendous honor to make this team. I wish Team USA the best of luck next week in Tokyo. I will now focus on getting healthy, and I look forward to returning to competition once I am cleared to do so.”
Reed will now have to undergo three days of testing, ending with Monday, before he can leave for Japan and join teammates Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. Reed is ranked 13th in the world rankings and got the replacement nod over No. 8 Patrick Cantlay and No. 7 Brooks Koepka, who were both listed ahead of Reed on the reserve list.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to represent our country and be a part of Team USA in Tokyo,” Reed said. “I wish Bryson nothing but the best, and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to compete, and I will do my best to play my best and represent our country.”
The men’s golf competition begins Thursday at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Source: Golf Channel
Grill and Patio Now Open Daily!
The grill at Bahle Farms Golf Course is now open DAILY from 10:30-4.
We are serving up burgers, hot dogs and brats.
Our patio is also fully open for your leisure. Relax on the patio with a hot grill item after your round!
Our Current Alcohol Policy
Due to the recent sale of Bahle Farms Golf Course and the liquor license transfer process, we are unable to serve alcohol at this time.
We apologize for the inconvenience but for the time being, outside beverages and coolers will be allowed on the course, but please refrain from bringing hard liquor. We ask that you remain respectful and act responsibly as we are navigating this time.
Thank you for your cooperation during this brief transitional phase.
Now Offering Golf Lessons
We are pleased to introduce Chris Munson as Bahle Farms Golf Course’s new golf instructor.
Chris is an avid golfer and is in the process of becoming a PGA teaching professional.
About Chris:
I started golfing at the age of 13. Since then, I have had the pleasure of golfing throughout high school and college. I took lessons from my father who was a teaching pro and through his guidance and helpful tips I have been able to use what I learned to start teaching the game to others. I love the game as well as the tedious process of getting better.
I have a passion for teaching and watching players grow their game. The most rewarding part of teaching golf and the swing is seeing results and being able to consistently see those results not only at a lesson but on the course as well. I have a really strong ability to transfer what I teach in lessons over to the course so that there are instant results which ultimately lower your scores.
Lessons are available in 30 min and 1 hour time slots, and group lessons are available (10 person maximum).
TAKE 20% OFF ANY LESSONS BOOKED BY JUNE 20TH (FATHER’S DAY).
For more information and to book a lesson with Chris, please visit calendly.com/chrismunson.
Introducing the New Owners
From left to right: Melissa Obis, Crosley Duckmann, Mark Duckmann
It’s official: Bahle Farms Golf Course is under new ownership!
My name is Crosley Duckmann and I am the new owner of Bahle Farms Golf Course, along with my father, Mark Duckmann. I am the General Manager so you will be seeing me around often. My girlfriend, Melissa Obis, will be joining us as well as our Marketing and Events Manager.
We’d like to introduce ourselves and share a little about us.
About Crosley: I am from Des Plaines, Illinois but have spent my summers in Leland since I was born. I have many family members who are residents of the greater Leelanau area, and I am thrilled to call this beautiful place home. I am an avid golfer and have been playing my entire life, along with hockey and baseball. I graduated from Illinois State University with degrees in Financial Accounting and Business Information Systems in 2020, and although the past year has been tough and unpredictable because of COVID, it led me to this opportunity at Bahle Farms. I cannot begin to explain the excitement I have for becoming the new owner, and am looking forward to meeting and building relationships with our customers.
About Mark: I am a semi-retired financial accountant and small-business owner. Although from Chicago, I have been spending summers up in Leland for 30 years. I am excited to work alongside my family to continue the tradition of Bahle Farms Golf.
About Melissa: I am originally from Grayslake, Illinois, which is about an hour north of Chicago. I graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and have several years of experience in both marketing and events. Although fairly new to golf, I very much enjoy the sport and you will likely see me practicing out there often. I have a passion for events and overall creating unforgettable experiences for customers.
We are so excited to be the new owners and operators of Bahle Farms Golf Course. This is such a beautiful and special place that we intend to preserve the integrity and continue the legacy for many years to come. Please come say hello to us as you visit Bahle Farms, and we very much look forward to getting to know you all.
Updates to the Season Pass Terms and Conditions
Updated and Effective 5/25/2021
We have made minor updates to the Bahle Farms Season Pass Terms and Conditions. Please read to stay updated on our latest policy. If you have any questions, please call the Clubhouse or email info@bahlefarmsgolf.com. Thank you for your cooperation!
We thank you for a wonderful start to the 2021 season, and look forward to much more golf!
