FALMOUTH — Golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour are studying that Maine isn’t precisely essentially the most handy cease on their schedule.
“It’s not straightforward to get all the best way right here,” stated Nicolas Echavarria, a 27-year-old Colombian. “We don’t play some other event within the northeast a part of the US. I feel the (northernmost) event we play after this one is Chicago.”
It’s a visit, nonetheless, that Echavarria was pleased to make.
“General, this place is superior. We’re very fortunate to have a event right here,” he stated. “It’s well worth the journey to get right here. It’s a really fairly place.”
The professionals on the Korn Ferry Tour, the feeder circuit for the PGA Tour, are getting their second take a look at Falmouth Nation Membership with the return of the Reside and Work in Maine Open. Whereas the event made its debut on the course final 12 months, gamers this time round have a greater thought of what it would appear like.
“I keep in mind there being some fairly respectable crowds out right here on the weekend final 12 months. They received behind the occasion, which is very nice,” stated Erik Barnes, a 34-year-old professional out of Marion, Indiana. “You’re feeling such as you’re enjoying for any individual different than simply the opposite guys in your group and your caddy, so I hope folks get out and watch this week. It’s a enjoyable event.”
Gamers will likely be competing for a $750,000 purse, with $135,000 going to the winner. That’s a rise from $600,000 and $108,000 final season, and that’s not the one factor that ought to climb. After the occasion drew 6,350 followers over 4 days final 12 months, event director Brian Corcoran stated he’s anticipating extra.
“I’ll be extremely disillusioned if we don’t have 10,000-plus over the week,” stated Corcoran, the CEO of Shamrock Sports activities. “We wish to preserve this momentum going.”
The followers turning out will see gamers attempting to punch their tickets to the PGA Tour subsequent season, in addition to some who have already got. Carl Yuan, Brandon Matthews and Barnes have clinched tour playing cards, with Barnes incomes his two weeks in the past in Wichita, Kansas.
“Truthfully, it ought to make me really feel like I’ve received nothing to lose, as a result of actually, I don’t,” stated Barnes, who tied for twenty fifth final 12 months in Falmouth at 6 underneath. “However it’s nonetheless sort of the identical sense of urgency each week. I simply really feel like I must preserve grinding out each shot, each putt.”
The excellent news for Barnes incomes his PGA Tour card was blended with the unhealthy information of lacking the reduce eventually week’s U.S. Open by one shot, regardless of holing an strategy shot from 78 yards for eagle on the par-4 seventeenth gap within the first spherical.
“There was a big interval of disappointment,” he stated. “I completed up on Friday and I used to be fairly upset till the subsequent morning, once I may actually sort of settle down and grasp the truth that … there have been a variety of positives that got here from it.”
Followers may even get to see the 2 largest novice names within the state. Camden’s Cole Anderson, a 21-year-old rising junior at Florida State, will play through sponsor’s exemption and compete in his first event in his dwelling state for the reason that 2020 Maine Beginner.
“I’ve been ready for the chance to be again in my dwelling state. It’s been some time. … It’s most likely about 10 months since I’ve been dwelling,” he stated. “It’s good to be again. I’m having fun with the cool climate. I’m not sweating for as soon as. I’ve spent 10 months simply sweating.”
Anderson, an aspiring professional, stated he’s been studying concerning the skilled golf life from the gamers who stay it. To an extent.
“I’ve been studying quite a bit already, simply selecting brains once I can,” Anderson stated. “You wish to ask guys as a lot as you possibly can with out impeding their course of. On the finish of the day, they’re out right here enjoying for a examine. The very last thing they want is enjoying 21 questions with a university child.”
Anderson will likely be joined within the subject by Caleb Manuel, who’s coming off of his personal U.S. Open expertise. Manuel, a rising junior on the College of Connecticut, performed within the Reside and Work in Maine Open final 12 months and missed the reduce, however stated he feels extra ready this time.
“I’m undoubtedly much more relaxed,” he stated. “Final 12 months it was sort of a rush, and I used to be simply on the point of get going. This 12 months it’s extra of setting targets and extra expectations for myself.”
He’s extra relaxed now, however Manuel stated he expects the butterflies to return when he tees it up with future PGA Tour execs.
“I’m not nervous but, however I’ll be nervous on the primary tee,” he stated. “Each event I play in, faculty or novice, I attempt to win, contend. I’d say that’s the aim this week.”
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