Posted September 3rd, 2008 by Kenny Colston
USA Ryder Cup team captain Paul Azinger announced his four captain’s picks today for this year’s competition being held in Louisville at Valhalla Golf Club. The most popular and controversial of his four picks and probably the biggest crowd pleaser around these parts is the inclusion of Campbellsville’s J.B. Holmes. The Kentuckian was chosen to the team along with Chad Campbell, Hunter Mahan, and Steve Stricker.
Holmes competed for Taylor County High School as a third grader and eventually became an SEC Champion at the University of Kentucky in 2005. Holmes won the 2005 PGA Tour Qualifying School and finished 10th in his first tournament as a professional. Later that year he won the FBR Open. After a slight downslide, Holmes returned to form earlier this year by once again winning the FBR Open, beating Phil Mickelson in a playoff. He finished T-25th at the Masters this year and T-29 in the PGA Championship in August.
Holmes is known for his long drives and free-swinging style of play. He averages 300+ off the tee and is a player that will get a lot of attention at Valhalla later this month. He routinely draws big crowds due to his distance off the tee.
The announcement of Holmes joining the team makes the second native Kentuckian on the Ryder Cup team this year, with fellow Kentuckian Kenny Perry. Perry earned his selection through his season long play and points earnings. Together, these two will have the crowds going crazy in a couple of weeks at Valhalla. I guarantee these two will be teammates at least once during the competition.
Posted April 13th, 2008 by Kenny Colston
On a day when a South African, Trevor Immelman, won his first major and a green jacket, Kentucky’s two hopes to win the Masters struggled like much of the field. Steve Flesch started the day at eight under par and continued to stay eight under through the first nine on Sunday. On the 12th hole the wheels began to fall of as he hit his tee shot to the par 3 into the creek running across the front of the green. He went on to double bogey the hole and then went on to bogey four of the last five holes and shoot a six over par 78. He finished in a tie for fifth at two under, enough to guarantee himself an invitation back to Augusta next year.
As for J.B. Holmes, he shot a four over par 76 on Sunday, finishing in a tie for 25th place. Overall, a good finish for his first career Masters, and also will help boost his status in the FedEx Cup Standings as he works his way towards September and the Ryder Cup in Louisville. The top 8 in the standings are automatically on the Ryder Cup team while the Captain, Paul Azinger, gets four picks. I like Holmes’ chances to finish in the top eight, but I think that if he doesn’t, he could very possibly be one of those Captain’s picks based on the fact that he has played several rounds this week with Azinger and seems to be liked by Azinger.
Posted April 12th, 2008 by Kenny Colston
It wasn’t quite the greatest day for Campbellsville’s J.B. Holmes who shot a one-over-par 73 today but Union’s Steve Flesch has put himself in position to make a good run to win his first major and capture the first green jacket for a Kentuckian since Gay Brewer way back in 1967. Flesch fired a three-under 69 in his third round, putting himself alone in third place. He will play his final round with European Paul Casey, teeing off in the second to last group. Entering Sunday, Flesch will be three shots back of leader Trevor Immelman.
Holmes struggled today shooting a 73 and putting himself at even par for the tournament entering Sunday’s final round. He is still tied for 19th place and with a good round on Sunday he could work his way into the top 10 and get a invitation back for next year’s tournament.
Posted April 12th, 2008 by Kenny Colston
Former Wildcat golfers and Kentuckians Steve Flesch and J.B. Holmes made up some ground today during their second rounds at The Masters. Flesch followed up his opening round 72 with a five under par 67, putting him in a tie for third with 2-time Masters Champ Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter. His 67 was the best round of the day at Augusta. Holmes also had a better second round than first, firing a one under par 71 on Friday. He finished the day tied for 13th with six other players including some guy named Woods. Both made the cut and will be around for the weekend rounds.
Steve Flesch will tee off in the second to last group of the day on Saturday with Mickelson at 2:30 pm. Holmes tees off at 1:40 with left hander Sean O’Hair. Hopefully both can make a run and end up in the final pairing on Sunday. How cool would that be?
