MasterCard Classic

[Stanley]

Outright plays (2pts):

Tom Jenkins to win 25/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Very weak event so two top-10 finishes in four starts this year puts Jenkins up with the favourites this week. He actually led this event with one round to go last year, but a closing 70 saw him finish a shot behind David Eger. He did win Bruno's Memorial Classic in May last year, so he is capable of winning this week or securing a top-4 place finish at least.

Keith Fergus to win 50/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Fergus is making his debut on the Champions Tour this week and will be hoping to follow McNulty example from last week in winning on his first Tour start. With no course form, he would not be a selection simply because of his relatively young age, but having finished in the top-15 in a Canadian Tour event in Texas last week, he may not be as uncompetitive on this Tour as he has been for the past few years on the PGA Tour. This looks a large price with five places for someone at this stage of their Champions Tour career.

Graham Marsh to finish in the top-four 20/1 @ Centrebet and SIA
I can't see Marsh winning this event, so the 100/1 each-way price at BetInternet is passed over, but he is certainly capable of finishing in the top-4. He did just that in two of his last ten starts of 2003 and in that run finished outside the top-25 on only one occasion. And with finishes of 9th and 12th in this event in the last two years, he certainly looks far more capable of sneaking a place win that these odds suggest.

 

[Stanley]

Matchup plays (2pts):

Mike McCullough to beat Eamonn Darcy -115 @ Five Dimes
Opposing Darcy who did finish 2nd in this event last year, but was very poor in finishing 64th in his only start of the year so far. McCullough beat him by 13 shots on that occasion and has shown good form this season.

Graham Marsh to beat David Eger -105 @ Five Dimes
Marsh has also shown good form this year and currently lead Eger 3-0-1 h2h this season. Eger has yet to register a top-20 finish in 2004 and will have to cope with the added pressure of being the defending champion this week. Another top-20 finish from Marsh should be enough for victory.

Tom Jenkins to beat Bob Gilder -111 @ Centrebet
The difference in the form between these two players is just as emphatic. Jenkins leads Gilder 4-0-0 h2h this season and finished seven shots ahead on this course last year, so no hesitation in backing another outright selection for the second time.

1st round plays (2pts):

Tom Kite to beat Dana Quigley -133 @ Five Dimes
Des Smyth to beat Sam Torrance -112 @ Five Dimes
Mike McCullough to beat Eamonn Darcy -115 @ Five Dimes

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I was looking at Fergus hard also Stan and passed because was not aware of the Candian tour event. Nice research on your part--and a dandy find--win or lose!:thumb:

 

[lostinamerica]

OUTRIGHTS:

Trying just one . . .

Jose Maria Canizares(80/1) for 0.25* e.w. (Max allowed) @ Bet365

An awkward course is what I remember second most about last year; first most was a fumbled play on my part. The "love it or hate it" look this course projects has me thinking that some course form is not to be taken lightly, and wayward driving would seem to start you on your way to visiting spots and facing shots that further weigh on your disposition . . . Canizares' current form is mostly encouraging. I look at his record and see a trend toward success when there are some demanding or awkward or funky fits, slopes and bumps that can be discomfiting to many. It's not Spain, but it's as European as they'll see, and the field is manageable. Seems too obvious given the way I keep gravitating in his 80/1 direction, which means something middle of the road more often than not.

GL

 

[Stanley]

1st round update: 1-2-0; -2.54pts

Kite/Quigley WON by 2
Smyth/Torrance LOST by 3
McCullough/Darcy LOST by 6

2nd round plays (2pts unless stated):

Mark James to bear Sam Torrance -120 @ Five Dimes [4pts]
Mark McNulty to beat Dana Quigley -135 @ Five Dimes
Danny Edwards to beat Howard Twitty -115 @ Five Dimes

 

[Stanley]

2nd round update: 2-1-0; +3.30pts

James/Torrance WON by 1
McNulty/Quigley LOST by 2
Edwards/Twitty WON by 5

3rd round plays (2pts unless stated):

Mark James to bear Sam Torrance -125 @ Five Dimes [4pts]
Des Smyth to beat Eamonn Darcy -122 @ Five Dimes
Andy Bean to beat Jack Spradlin -115 @ Five Dimes

 

[Stanley]

3rd round update: 0-3-0; -9.74pts

James/Torrance LOST by 4
Smyth/Darcy LOST by 3
Bean/Spradlin LOST BY 1

Outrights - Final update: 1-2; +36.00pts

Jenkins 7th
Fergus 39th
Marsh 2nd

At last a decent payout to pull this Tour into profit. Was rueing the decision to bet Marsh place-only instead of 100/1 each-way for most of the day, but he surrendered sole lead with bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes and then failed to birdie the par-five last hole to win the event. He lost the playoff on the 3rd hole so ultimately the place-only bet was correct. Still, a 125pt profit from a 100/1 each-way winner would have certainly turned this frustrating season around!

Matchups - Final update: 5-7-0; -7.28pts

McCullough/Darcy LOST by 10
Marsh/Eger WON by 9
Jenkins/Gilder WON by 7

Disappointing return on the 18-hole plays or at least from the final round. Will just concentrate on tournament matchups for a while now.

Champions Tour ytd
Outrights: 4-11; +29.50pts
Matchups: 24-27; -15.64pts