A swing tip from former Washington Capital Adam Oates helped Seattle’s Jeff Gove to the best round in his on-again, off-again PGA Tour career Thursday in the Booz Allen Classic.
By not “restricting his hip,” Gove is bombing it off the tee and his drives, which averaged 298 yards yesterday, keyed his 8-under-par 63, one stroke behind leader Ben Curtis.
Gove played well at Avenel in 2000, finishing 16th. The 35-year-old has spent his golf career bouncing between the Nationwide and PGA Tours, never sticking more than a year in the big time. But this season, Gove appears destined to stay. Despite missing five straight cuts, Gove played well enough early in the year to earn $326,736, ranking 125 on the money list.
A big check this week would go a long way to ensuring Gove retains his playing privileges. The top 150 earners keep their PGA Tour card.
Ignorance is bliss for Coceres
When asked how he got into the Booz Allen Classic, Argentina’s Jose Coceres said he wasn’t sure. During his opening round 64 Thursday at Avenel, Coceres wasn’t concerned where he stood.
“I played 18 holes today without ever looking at the leaderboard,” said Coceres, 42. “I played confident and after I finished, I found out it was very good.”
Coceres, a two-time winner on the tour, is playing in just his fourth PGA event this year. He had a top-10 finish and has won $160, 568.
Sutton’s good fortune
Andrew Sutton, the caddie for Ben Curtis, used to work for England’s John Bickerton. But when Bickerton failed to qualify for the 2003 British Open, Sutton, also a Brit, set out in search of a bag.
He called IMG, a sports management firm that represents many professional golfers, and offered his services. Ten minutes later, Sutton got a return call. His assignment was Curtis, who went on to win the tournament.
Go Navy
If not for a Navy logo on his golf bag, you might never know that ensign Billy Hurley III had any ties to the Annapolis service academy.
Then again, to miss out on Hurley’s Naval roots, you would also have to ignore his goat’s-head driver cover, the naval rank that is stitched into his bag, and the dozens of supporters from the Midshipmen golf family that followed his every shot on Thursday.
Hurley — who is playing in the tournament via a sponsor’s exemption — got off to a rough start. Teeing off on the back nine, Hurley bogeyed No. 10 on his way to a 77.
Special correspondents Dan Oshinsky and Missy Rosenberg contributed to this report.
