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Salonen, McMahon Take Home Titles at Memorial Championship

Salonen, McMahon Take Home Titles at Memorial Championship

Salonen becomes first European champion in Open Women's division

Monday, March 4, 2019 - 11:29

Eagle McMahon (right) and Simon Lizotte (left) battled it out during the final round. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen, DGPT

Open skies and fairways often make for hot scores, and the Memorial Championship presented by Discraft provided exactly that. This year’s MPO winner is Eagle McMahon at 49 under par. He didn’t string it together wire-to-wire, but by the end of round three, he had secured a lead over Simon Lizotte that he would never let go of. As the defending champ, Lizotte was more than likely to be in the mix at the top, and he certainly didn’t disappoint, wrapping up the tournament at one better than his showing in 2018 with a 45 under par. Not far behind him in third was Jalle Stoor finishing the event at 43 under par. Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki did their best to charge for their share of second. Even without either of them throwing a single bogey today, they were held at bay and tied for fourth at 42 under par.

Friday afternoon, probably around 5:30 PM EST – that’s the list time Eagle McMahon threw a bogey, and the only time he did it this weekend. Taking a look at his four rounds for the week looks like a traffic jam of blue boxes. There were only a few moments where he even carded more than one par in a row. The best chain he strung together was undoubtedly his back nine at Fountain Hills during round two. It was perfect nine birdies, all in Circle 1, five of em’ parked. He might have been just behind Lizotte during the first two rounds at Fountain, but his determination to win the event was clearly unflinching as he started the whole thing with an almost flawless first front nine. Of course, hole 9 (the only hole McBeth missed on his historic 17 under round) ended that first streak, but he had plenty left, stringing together six birdies or more in a row four times this weekend.

Read the full story on DGPT.com »

Salonen Becomes First European Open Women's Memorial Champion

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One last look at the Open Women's leaderboard after the final round. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen, DGPT

The Memorial Championship presented by Discraft is wrapped up for the FPO division, and a new winner has been crowned. Going into today, it seemed like Jessica Weese, and Paige Pierce were the only two players within striking distance. Starting the day only one throw back from Eveliina Salonen they both had a shot at taking the title. 

Paige and Eveliina started the day going shot-for-shot with both players gunning for the prize. Paige put together a string of birdies to finish the front nine and move within one of Eveliina however, Eveliina always had an answer. As the play moved to a close Paige had more pressure to score and catch up. On hole 13 Paige's drive hit an early tree, and she was unable to make her par-saving putt which moved her to three back from Eveliina. On hole 14 Paige ran her putt for eagle but hit a tree and ultimately had to settle for a par practically sealing her fate.

Jessica started the day a little bit slower. Paige and Eveliina played hole one for a birdie, Jessica took a safe par. On hole two while Paige and Eveliina both bogeyed, Jessica carded another par. This put her right back into the hunt; however, when Paige and Eveliina both carded a birdie on three, Jessica was unable also to land a birdie. Jessica would then bogey holes five and six before righting the ship and making sure she did not fall out of third place.

Read the full story on DGPT.com »