Crowne Plaza Invitational @ Colonial, Zach Johnson Wins

Zach and Jason Halleran/Getty Image

Zach Johnson, the good Christian won the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Pentecost Sunday, well done Zach. There was a moment of controvsey after Zach had maded his final putt. Jason had masked him to move his marker from the putting line, and in the heat of the moment zach forgot to replace the marker to it’s original position, he incurred a two shot penalty. That meant he acutally only won the tournament by one shot from Jason. A sad day for Zach’s caddy, Damien whose father passed away in Pensacola, aged 88.

Jason Dufner did not have such a good round and finally fell over taking a triple bogey 7 at the par four 15th hole, effectively handing the title to Zach, in the two horse race.

Crowne Plaza Invitational @ Colonial. Jason Dufner leads, shadowed by Zach Johnson.

Jason Dufner, shadowed by Zack Johnson, Halleran/Getty Images

Jason Dufner leads the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial by just one shot, he is being shadowed by playing partner Zach Johnson. Jason had a third round of -4 under par 66, and Zach beat him on the day with -5 under par 65 for his round. The pair will tee it up together again tomorrow for the final round, on Pentecost Sunday. I am guessing that Zach will be wearing red again for the last round, it could be a good omen for the faithful Christian.

The next closest player is Tom Gillis at -7 under par, meaning Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson will essentially be in a match play competition for the final 18 holes. I will look forward to it, it should be a great contest and we should see some great golf.

Unfortunately for the rest of the field, including Tom Gillis, they will just be playing for the minor places. Rickie Fowler struggled in the third round managing to come home at even par, for a tournament total of -4 under.

Crowne Plaza Invitational, 2nd round @ Colonial, Jason Dufner leads.

Jason Dufner Halleran/Getty Images

Jason had a bogey-free 6-under 64 on another windy day at Colonial, to reach 11-under par for the tournament. Just a week after winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship, Jason had a two-stroke lead over Zach Johnson, at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, the 2010 winner. Zach had a second round -3 under par with a score of 67.

The only player ever to win both PGA TOUR events in the Dallas-Fort Worth market in the same year was Ben Hogan in 1946, Jason would love to join Ben on that short list;

“That would be great company to join, obviously. To have anything compared to him or be talked in the same sentence with him is something that would be pretty unique and special to me.”

” When I step to the first tee, I feel like I’m going to play a good round of golf. That’s a nice way to play. It’s a comfortable way to play. I’m just trying to be confident and think about the things I’ve been doing for almost a year now, and realize that those are the things that are making me successful out here, and not get too caught up in everything else that’s going on around me.”

Zach was still happy with his progress in the tournament;

” Today, it was good. I got off to a great start, that’s always nice. I hit a couple of bumps along the way. I made some good saves, gave myself some opportunities that I missed. And then got some momentum going on the back but it seems like every time I made a birdie I put myself in a pretty difficult predicament to make par. I finished strong. A good save on 15. A good birdie on 16 and another good save on 17. And 18, I’ll take a 4 there. I hit a good putt, misread it. I’m excited about tomorrow.”

Colonial first round, Zach Johnson leads Crowne Plaza Invitational.

  

Zach Johnson /Halleran/Getty Images

Zach Johnson  had a bogey-free -6 under par 64, that gave him a one-stroke lead after the first round in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial,  where the 20-30 mph winds, with higher gusts whipped through the big oak trees lining the fairways. Zach was pretty happy with his first round, saying;

“Today was great. I got off to a good start, just hit some quality shots. I didn’t put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome. I kept the golf course in front me. I attacked when I could attack. I had a couple of nice saves when I needed it.  I feel good. Health-wise is good. I have had some guys that have done some nice work with me from a physical standpoint. I am breaking down. I am 36, right? I’m not saying I practice a ton, I don’t have kids, but I practice a lot and as a result my body breaks down. So I give that enough emphasis. I drove the ball fine. I just kept the golf course in front of me. I attacked when I could attack. I had a couple of nice saves when I needed it. I think I missed the shortest,  the putt I had for birdie that was the shortest I think I missed. But then I made my share, too. So it probably did even out in the end. I felt like I could have had some more. I made a couple of bombs, too. I’ve got zero complaints. I controlled my trajectory in the wind nice.”

Zach sunk  a 40-foot birdie putt at the 396-yard 10th hole, he said of that putt;

 ”The big putt that got me going. ”                                                                                                                                                                                                        Zach then had four consecutive birdies, a span that included two par 3s and all the putts were between 14-21 feet. Not bad going.

Jason Dufner, winner of the HP Byron Nelson Championship last week, started at Colonial with three consecutive birdies, and was 5 under par after a ten foot birdie putt at the 174-yard eighth hole. Jason was one of four players to finish just one shot behind Zach, with a -5 under par 65. The others tied in second place were, Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers.

Harris English had never played a full round at Colonial until Thursday, but said he had a good solid round of golf;

“Three bogey-free rounds I have had in a row, which I’ve never done. I’m playing solid golf and not really getting out of position. I’m getting my putter going. I’m hitting it to 15 or 20 feet a lot and seemed to be making a good many of those. It’s just been good.”

Jason Dufner had a nice round;

“Iit was a nice round today. The upper wind this afternoon made it a little tougher on the game and get the right hook, so a good start 5 under. I will comeback tomorrow in the morning. Hopefully the wind will lay down, and I will have another good round on the board.”

Rickie Fowler opened with a -2 under par round of 68, which he said was decent but not good enough;

“Decent. Not good, not bad. It’s nice to make two birdies in the last three holes and get back under par and give me some momentum.”