For Keegan Bradley, it was a personal crowning achievement.
He captured the championship of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Open, held June 22-25 at River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, which was the first time the 37-year-old had won a PGA Tour event in New England, where he grew up. During the post-tournament TV interview, it was clear that he was extremely pleased to have won in the area where he was raised.
Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist
Bradley was born in Vermont and lived in Massachusetts during his pre-pro life. Throw in that he won his largest cash prize of $3.566 million, and it was a great day for the New England native, and his many fans and friends in that part of the United States.
It begged the question: Did he ever play in Maine?
Not to the recollection of MaineGolf tournament director Randy Hodsdon, who is an authority on this state’s golf history. He thought that Bradley went from playing collegiately at St. John’s University in New York right to professional golf.
For Bradley, it was his sixth PGA Tour victory, in a career that started in 2008. Which includes no majors titles. Obviously, a PGA major title would be greater than the Travelers victory. That, Bradey will tell you, is a work in progress.
In the FedEx Cup standings, Bradley improved from sixth to fifth. That virtually assures him of a very good seed in the FedEx playoffs, which bridge the gap between the current season and the 2024 PGA Tour. That schedule starts during the fall of this year.
Among older golf fans, who could forget that Keegan is the nephew of Pat Bradley, a very successful player on the LPGA Tour, and a member of its Hall of Fame?
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The annual Maine Event, formerly the Maine Open, was held June 26-27 at Augusta.
In the Open Pro bracket, Shawn Warren, an instructor at Point Sebago, was the champion (69-72—140). Jerry DiPhilippo, Fox Ridge pro, was third (72-74—146).
Caleb Manuel of Brunswick Golf Club won the Open Amateur Division with the tournament’s best score (66-65—131). Ageless Mark Plummer of Augusta won the senior and super senior brackets (71-73—144).
In the women’s division, Turner Highlands sisters Jade and Ruby Haylock were second and third, respectively. Jade recorded 78-78—156, while Ruby came in at 77-80—157.
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The Drive Fore Kids celebrity golf tournament June 21-24 at the Falmouth Country Club reportedly raised more than $100,000, which goes to its charity, The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
A job well done.
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Because of the Fourth of July, the upcoming MaineGolf schedule is just the July 5 Senior Amateur 4-Ball Championship at Fairlawn.
Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his 11th season as Sun Journal golf columnist.
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