Welch gets a taste of the Nationwide Tour
By: Jeff Sinkiewicz on 04/19/10 07:07 AM.jpg)
In round one of the Fresh Express Classic, Welch made 2 birdies and two bogeys on the front side to stay at even par. Michael struggled a bit on the backside making bogey's on 10 and 11. Welch made one of those shots back by making birdie on 15 but shortly gave it back on 17 with a double bogey to finish with a 3-over, 74. Oppenheim made a bogey on the first hole and went on to make 6 birdies in his next nine holes including 5 in a row from holes 3 through 7. Rob carded a 4-under, 67 on day 1.
Welch bounced back nicely in the second round as he made 2 birdies (3rd and 9th holes) and an eagle on the par 5, 7th hole to go 4-under at the shack. Much like the first round, 10 and 11 gave Welch trouble as he gave back two shots by making bogey on both of those holes for the second day in a row. Michael went on to make 4 more birdies for a 33 backside and a 6-under 65, good enough to make the 2-under cut as he sat -3 after 2 rounds.
Three bogeys and a double bogey(11th hole) could of been a lot worse for Welch in the third round but offset them with five birdies to finish at an even par, 71 to stay at -3 for the week. Oppenheim had identical scores (68) with similar score cards by making 5 birdies and 2 bogeys putting himself tied for 11th going into Sunday's round at -10.
In today's final round, Welch made 3 birdies and a bogey, making him 2-under at the turn. Michael finally got past 10 and 11 bogey free with par-birdie to start the back nine before making bogeys on 12 and 13. Welch once again bounced back with a birdies on 14, 15 and 17 and carding a 3-under, 68 after making bogey on 18. Welch finished the week tied for 44th at 6-under par.
Rob Oppenheim made a charge in today's final round after making par on the first hole, Rob went on to make four birdies( 2, 3 ,4 ,9) and a bogey on 7 for a 3-under 33 on the front. Oppenheim made one birdie and one bogey for an even par 35 on the back and carded his third straight 68 of the weekend leaving him at -13 for the week. Oppenheim has cashed in 4 of the 6 events he has entered on the Nationwide Tour this season finishing 12th this week. Rob has a 23rd place in event 1, a 16th place in event 3 and a 27th place finish in the last event. Welch will return to the Hooters Tour this week at Crystal Lake Golf and CC in Hampton, Georgia.
Visit Sink the Putts for more on New England golfers on the Tours.
