Innisbrook: Dufner Leads PGA Transitions Championship

A special thanks to the Copperheads' Rick Odioso for sending us this information.

 Jason Dufner, looking for his first PGA TOUR victory despite a run of success that has seen him rise to 39^th in the Official World Golf Ranking, took the second round lead in the 2012 Transitions Championship on Friday with his second consecutive 66.  At 10 under par, he is two shots ahead of first round leader Padraig Harrington who followed his course-record 61 with a 73 and William McGirt (66-68).

Dufner will have to best a daunting field of contenders on the weekend to claim the Transitions Championship Trophy.  There are 24 other players within five shots of the lead and they include some of the top names in golf, including World #2-ranked Luke Donald, now three back at -7.

Past Transitions winners Jim Furyk (-6) and Retief Goosen (-5) are in that mix, as are last week’s winners Justin Rose (-5) and George McNeill (-7), Sergio Garcia (-6), Webb Simpson (-5) and Ernie Els (-5). 

With a victory, Els would secure a spot in the upcoming Masters, while Donald would re-take the top spot in the OWGR with a triumph.

And how about 51-year-old Kenny Perry who is four shots back at -6?

ROUND ONE NOTES:  Harrington had 10 birdies on Thursday and one on Friday.  It came at his second hole, the par-5 11^th, one of the eight he did not birdie in his record 61… St. Patrick’s Day will be well represented in the final three groups with Harrington, McGirt and McNeill, all with Irish heritages…Through two rounds, there has yet to be a hole-in-one or an eagle on a par four…The cut for 77 players came at -1, the same as last year…Jonathan Byrd made the cut at the number, giving him a tournament record 10 times playing on the weekend.  He had been tied with Woody Austin.

CALLAWAY HOLE IN ONE CHALLENGE:

Brooke Dalton, a 14-year-old from Bishop McLaughlin High, and 72-year-old Joe Blake will be among the contestants competing in the Callaway Million Dollar Hole-in-One Challenge at the 17^th hole Saturday following the completion of play at approximately 6 p.m.  They are among the amateur golfers who made hole-in-ones during a recent two week window, and they will get a second chance to duplicate that feat Saturday.  The first player to make a hole-in-one receives $1 million and anyone hitting their shot within 10 feet will win a set of Callaway golf clubs.

CHEF IRVINE WITH DEMONSTRATION ON SATURDAY

As part of the Transitions Championship, the Food Network’s Chef Robert Irvine is joining Andre Halston, Executive Chef of Innisbrook Resort, for a cooking demonstration this Saturday at Innisbrook. In the Healthy Sight Village, behind the 18th green of the Copperhead Course, both chefs will reveal recipes they collaborated to create – and that use ingredients to promote eye health (in honor of tournament title sponsor Transitions Optical).

Chef Irvine, host of the Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible, who is also bringing his Dinner: Impossible tour to the Clearwater area in April, is making a special appearance at the Transitions Championship this weekend. Along with Chef Andre, who has been preparing meals for PGA TOUR players and coaches throughout the Championship, he will share special recipes with attendees and advise which ingredients to use (whether you are a professional chef or in your own kitchen at home) that are ideal for maintaining healthy vision as part of a healthy lifestyle.

SATURDAY PAIRINGS

Local favorite John Daly was among a large contingent on the cut number.  He tees off at 9:42 on Saturday…The first “group” is actually a single player, Charlie Wi, at 8:05.  Tee times in twosomes extend to the final grouping of Dufner and Harrington at 1:55.

You can see all of Saturday’s groupings here