Tuneup could net Sullivan paycheck
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008
Playing his best golf of the year, Maumelle’s Patrick Sullivan is using this week as a tuneup.
He might be in line for another victory.
Sullivan, who is in his third year as a professional after playing at UALR, earned his first professional victory last week on the Adams Tour. He shot a firstround 9-underpar 62 on Friday and leads the 35 th Arkansas Open at Burns Park’s Championship Course in North Little Rock.
Sullivan leads by five strokes over Little Rock’s Drew Laning, who shot 4-under-par 67. The only other players under par were Tyler Thurston (2-under 69 ) of Grapevine, Texas, and Joe Deraney (1-under 70 ) of Memphis.
“I had a little slower start [to the season ], played a little better in the middle of the season,” Sullivan said. “I’ve just been working on some things with [former PGA Tour player ] Jack O’Keefe. Last week it kind of clicked a little bit, which was a good time for me.” It’s a good time because the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School begins Oct. 21.
“For all the guys who are not on the PGA Tour, this is the biggest time of year,” Sullivan said. “Winning right before Q-school is a huge boost to my confidence. I’ve got that to build off of, and I’m confident I’ll play well.” Sullivan’s victory came last week on the Adams Tour when he shot 73-65-66-75—279 to beat Laning by two strokes.
“Winning is winning. No matter which tour you are on, there’s always going to be good players,” Sullivan said. “That was my first one, so it’s good to get that under my belt. It takes the pressure off a little bit.” He didn’t appear to have any pressure on him Friday. Despite not playing Burns Park since college, he played a nearly perfect round with nine birdies and nine pars.
He made birdies on Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 9 to shoot 4-under-par 31 on the front nine, then made birdies at Nos. 11, 13, 15, 17 and 18 to shoot 5-under-par 31 on the back nine to set a course record.
Sullivan has played primarily on the Hooters Tour this year and ranks 62 nd on the money list. His best finish this year was a tie for 10 th at the Texas Honing Open. He’s only played twice on the Adams Tour this year, playing the two events closest to Arkansas. He finished ninth at Texarkana, Texas, in July.
He was named All-Sun Belt Conference in 2004 and 2005, winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as a senior. He also was named to the Sun Belt’s 30 th anniversary team.
“I came out straight out of college and I realized I had to get a lot better quickly,” Sullivan said. “Some of the older guys have been out here forever, and there’s a reason they’ve been out here. They know how to score. That’s something I’ve had to learn how to do. And I think I’m getting there.” Last week’s victory didn’t come as easily as it could have. He was cruising to victory, making a birdie on the 13 th hole Sunday to get to 15 under par. That gave him an eight-stroke lead. He made bogeys on 14 and 15 and double bogeyed 16. He made par at 17 and then, still holding a fourstroke lead, made double bogey on 18 for the victory. Laning made birdies on two of the final three holes but still finished second, two strokes back.
“I had played well and was really focused,” Sullivan said. “ I had just birdied 13, and I was walking off the green. I looked up, and I was at 15 under and the next guy was at 7 under. I had an eight-shot lead. That kind of got me out of my rhythm a little bit, and I was just trying to get it in the house.
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