John Mallinger, strong hopeful heading into Texas Open
Field set for this week’s Texas Open
By Richard Oliver – Express-News, May 13, 2009
When Steve Shields thinks about the coming week at the Valero Texas Open, history comes to mind.
As in: Who’s going to make it this time around?
“Who knows what this year will bring?” said Shields, director of golf at La Cantera, which will host the PGA Tour event for the 15th and final time. “This might be the top moment in its history.”
If so, the lineup to do it has been finalized.
The final slots in the 156-man field were determined Monday when Robert Gates of Spring, Chris Baryla of El Paso, Steve Dartnall of Coral Gables, Fla., and Todd Fischer of Livermore, Calif., finished atop the standings at a qualifier held at Comanche Trace in Kerrville.
The field, 12 players larger than the 2008 Fall Series event, boasts nine former major-winners and eight past Texas Open champions.
Justin Leonard, who will be seeking a record fourth championship at the San Antonio stop, joins defending titlist Zach Johnson in Wednesday’s pro-am competition at the Palmer and Resort courses at La Cantera.
“I’ll always remember Justin walking by me that last time after he won,” Golf San Antonio head Tony Piazzi said, “and saying, ‘I really like seeing you here on a Sunday afternoon late.’”
Steve Pate and Spike McRoy joined J.L. Lewis, Brandt Jobe, Tadd Fujikawa, Martin Piller and San Antonio’s Matt Loving as sponsor exemptions.
Tim Thelen, director of instruction at The Traditions in College Station, is in as the Southern Texas PGA sectional champion.
The tournament had to dip into its alternate list Monday, however, when PGA Tour players Aaron Baddeley, citing a wrist injury, and Kevin Na withdrew. Other defections included Tim Petrovic, Brett Quigley, Dudley Hart, Peter Lonard, Gabriel Hjertstedt and Johnson Wagner.
Alternates Dennis Paulson, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Ted Schulz are among new entries who will tee off Thursday, as a result. Players will practice today.
PGA
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