The top story was Pat Polzin winning his 2nd National Championship and closing the win on the same course as he had done in 2009. Kyle Zeitz played steady for three rounds and had a 5 stroke lead over Pat and a 13 stroke lead over the next closest challenger. Pat took the opportunity to put a few thoughts in Kyle’s head after their round on the PGA West – Nicklaus Course. Kyle has never been in the top 5 let alone leading a National Championship and Pat knew he needed some help considering how Kyle was playing.
The two sat down to talk over a beer and Pat said things like: “Good luck sleeping on the lead, I would rather play from behind and good luck with fighting those issues.” The final thought that Pat planted in Kyle’s head was answering Kyle’s questions:
Kyle: Pat, you were the only one who had a subpar round this week
Pat: Yes I was
Kyle: If I recall, you were the only one in 2009 to have a subpar round in our flight
Pat: Yes I shot 68 on the final day
Kyle: Which course?
Pat: PGA West Stadium the same one we are closing the championship out on tomorrow
Pat Polzin had planted some thoughts for Kyle to sleep on and needed help because Kyle Zeitz had played solid over three rounds shooting a total of 12 birdies over the first three rounds. The final round began with Pat birdying the first hole and by the end of the 63 hole, Pat Polzin had closed the gap to one stroke. Kyle Zeitz did not post a birdie in his first 9 holes of the day.
Kyle managed to go 3 strokes up paring the first 4 holes on the back nine while Pat bogied 10 and 13. With five holes to play, Pat knew he was running out of holes and Kyle Zeitz did not look like he was going to fold. On the 14th hole a door opened when Kyle hit his drive OB posting a 6 to Pat’s 4 closing the lead to just one stroke and four holes to play. On fifteen the pressure seemed to be getting to Kyle because he had not had a birdie yet and tried to force the issue with an aggressive play on 15. Though Pat bogied 15, Kyle sprayed the ball around and made a poor putt to get the pair tied after 69 holes.
The last three holes were not fun to watch because Kyle began to implode. He lacked confidence and the pressure had gotten to him. Pat drilled a drive down the middle of the Par 5 sixteenth and Kyle deciding to take an aggressive line pulled his drive well to the left and OB. He hits a provisional ball that heads left and OB again only to bounce back off the roof top lying 3. Knowing that pat is in great position to score at least a par, Kyle decides to go for the green only to end up in the 15 foot high bunker left. He hit a great shot out and made an 8 foot putt for a 7.
Pat has been in the lead before at the 2009 Championship and he knew par on the closing holes would be enough to at least tie or win. The 17th hole sealed the deal when Pat put his shot 15 feet to the left putting pressure on Kyle to birdie and draw within one. When Kyle flew the green to the left and in the water, the Championship was over even though Kyle made an excellent four; Pat had gone 3 strokes up with one hole to play.
The tough 18 could produce a double bogey and Kyle has yet to birdie a hole so there was still pressure on the tee shot for Pat. He steps up and drills a soft draw to the center of the fairway. Kyle took an aggressive line and hit the rocks to the left knocking his ball into the hazard and that closed the deal even if Pat double bogied. To put a finish touch on his 2nd National Title, Pat knocked in a 10 foot putt for birdie to shoot a 77 and a total of 305 to win the Championship by 6 strokes.
Congratulations to Ken Larney and Dane Yarnell for making the top five and to Pat Polzin on his come from behind win for his 2nd National Title.
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