Top 5 Golfers (Best Total Score) In The History Of The Colonial
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The Crown Plaza Invitational at the Colonial County Club In Fort Worth, Texas has returned for another amazing weekend of golf in North Texas.
The Colonial course was ranked by PGA Tour players as the fifth best course they liked to play on the Tour schedule each year. This ranking was based on course design and playability (Courses 1-4 on the survey were Augusta National, Harbour Town, Riviera and Pebble Beach, respectively.)
In honor of of the great Ben Hogan, here is a look at the best players/scores in the history of the Colonial.
Zach Johnson - Final Score 259 (2010)
On a weekend were the pros set new marks for most birdies and sub-par rounds - it led to the lowest cut in the Colonial's 64-year history: 2-under par.
On Sunday, either Bryce Molder or Brian Davis held a slight lead most of the day - but veteran Zach Johnson closed in with a hot putter and birdies on four of the last seven holes to overtake the lead and claim the title. No one in the field beat his final round of 64. In fact, Johnso's 64-64 finish for the final two rounds matched the mark set by former Colonial champion Keith Clearwater.
Kenny Perry - Final Score 261 (2003, 2005)
2003 was the largest crowd in Colonial history due to the top talent playing that year and addition of the world's #1 female player - Annika Sorenstam.
Ideal conditions allowed almost half the field to fire under-par scores the first day - but most eyes were on Sorenstam who hit a one-over 71 in proving her mettle and talent under immense pressure.
The cut fell at 1-over with veteran Kenny Perry tied for the lead at 8-under par after his 64. His Saturday performance, a record tying 61 and 8-shot lead put him far ahead of the competition. On Sunday Perry fired a 68 to win by 6 and set the new 72-hole mark at 19-under.
In 2005 Perry dusted the field and established new 36-hold and 54-hole scoring records of 12-and 18-under respectively. He became the ninth two-time champion at Colonial and the 10th multiple winner in 59-years.
Steve Stricker - Final Score 263 (2009)
A top field of both PGA and European players converged at Colonial in 09. Defending champion Phil Mickelson was absent and Stricker took advantage of the opening and found a hot putter the first day to take the first-round lead.
His second-round 63 set a tournament 36-hole scoring record. Tim Clark and Steve Marino joined him for a three-way sudden death playoff on Sunday. Stricker birdied the second playoff hole to claim the trophy and jacket.
Fulton Allem - Final Score 264 (1993)
Allem took on "The Shark" in a final-day head-to-head battle and scrambled his way to a tense 67 to beat Greg Norman by a shot and cap a record setting year at Colonial.
Allem broke the 36, 54 and 72 hole records. Despite his birdies on 16 and 17 Sunday, Norman nailed a 15-foot birdie putt on 18 to force one last point of pressure. Allem calmly knocked in his 5-footer for par and the win.
David Toms - Final Score 265 (2011)
Toms took Colonial by storm with a 62-62 opening that set a tournament 36-hole scoring record. His play in the first two rounds also opened up a record tying 7-stroke lead...that he lost on Saturday.
Strong play on Sunday kept him in contention, and an eagle from the fairway at #11 helped send him to a one-shot win in what he termed, "probably the most satisfying victory i've ever had."
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