Bruno's Memorial Classic

[Stanley]

Outright plays (2pts):

Gil Morgan to win 12/1 e.w. @ Stan James, William Hill and BetInternet
Can't see beyond two form horses and a course specialist this week. Morgan has finished outside the top-10 just one in eight starts this season and came very close to adding a second title of the year last week. It was still his fifth top-4 finish in his last seven starts, so he should get another place finish at least, particularly as his previous course form has been very good.

Bruce Fleisher to win 16/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Fleisher has been much more competitive this year than last with one win and five top-10 finishes already. Having finished in the top-20 in each of the last five years and was runner-up last year, he should be able to build on his current form and challenge for this title again this year.

Tom Purtzer to win 18/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Purtzer is a form player who might not have such good credentials on this course, but is currently on a run of five successive top-6 finishes, including one win. In that form and having two years' course experience, he is difficult to leave of the selection list.

 

[Stanley]

Matchup plays (2pts unless stated):

Tom Watson to beat Bob Gilder -130 @ Five Dimes [4pts]
Very strange matchup. Gilder has not had a top-10 finish in six months, while Watson was able to make the cut in the Bay Hill Invitational only last month. This will be his first full tournament since the death of Bruce Edwards, but this should not make such a big difference.

Tom Purtzer to beat Mark McNulty -118 @ Centrebet
Since winning on his first Champions Tour start, McNulty has been a big disappointment. His 26th place finish last week was his best finish in six weeks and that is a huge contrast with Purtzer who has not finished outside the top-6 since the middle of February.

Tom Watson to beat Tom Purtzer -110 @ SkyBet
Partly a hedge play on Purtzer in the outright market, but also an acknowledgement that for all Purtzer's current form he is not the player that Watson still is. Course form may not be great and this might be an emotional letdown for Watson after the Masters and the loss of his caddy, but he is still a great player who could dominate this Tour if he had the desire.

Mark James to beat John Jacobs -115 @ Five Dimes [4pts]
Pitting no course form against good course form, but James' performances on the Champions Tour have been very encouraging and much better than I expected. Playing the course for the first time on each occasion, he has finished in the top-20 in all of his four starts this year, finishing ahead of Jacobs on the last three occasions.

 

[lostinamerica]

OUTRIGHTS:

Gary Koch(60/1) for 0.50* e.w. @ 5dimes
Doug Tewell(55/1) for 0.40* e.w. @ 5dimes
Lonnie Nielsen(100/1) for 0.40* e.w. @ 5dimes

I'm not sure why - constraints on my time, the fact this Tour has been taking its time in hitting its stride, and/or the fact it's been months since Tom Watson was on the leaderboard - but I haven't been keeping tabs as closely as usual and trying to immerse myself into a profitable rhythm with the goings on on this Tour, yet. But with one of the most charged up stops of the year getting under way and the pace of the whole Tour about to pick up, I'll be seeing if I can come up with anything . . . Gary Koch was smack dab in the middle of my radar for this week as of his 68 last Friday, and with antenna up, the plusses and minuses on my ledger in breaking it down since that time are heavily weighted on the plus side. Next, I'm pretty much going against my better judgment in adding to my card, but I think Tewell has the class to get something going this week (although his course form doesn't confirm it), and I'm sure to spoil Lonnie's run of six straight rounds in the 60's by climbing on board. FWIW in spoiling a run, all 3 picks fit the profile of no repeat winners on Tour this year and no repeat winners of this event . . . There is nothing well-honed about any of my choices, but it would be nice to see one of them in contention over the weekend to enhance my interest.

GL

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

72 holes
Stadler -125 over Watson @ Stan James

Matchup on Watson/Gilder was odd Stan. It was dropped @ -115 @ 5 Dimes initially I believe, now -150. Wanted to jump on it also but question his mind set--will wait till I see him return to old form--of course then it will be too late--Good Luck

 

[Stanley]

Outrights - Final update: 1-2; +16.00pts

Morgan 57th
Fleisher 1st
Purtzer 25th

Very surprising to see such lowly positions from Morgan and Purtzer having been consistent all year, though coasting after an uncompetitive first round is understandable in these circumstances. Just as well Fleisher dominated the event, leading from start to finish and closing as a seven shot winner.

Matchups - Final update: 2-1-0; +5.80pts

Watson/Gilder WON by 3
Purtzer/McNulty VOID (McNulty dns)
Watson/Purtzer LOST by 2
James/Jacobs WON by 10

Good profit on the matchups even though I called Watson wrong. He finished down in 33rd position, but thankfully it was just enough to beat Gilder in the double-play. Much more convincing with Mark James!

Champions Tour ytd
Outrights: 9-21; +94.50pts
Matchups: 33-32; -3.46pts