Greater Hickory Classic

FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -6.00pts

Hatalsky 21st
Jenkins 59th
Nielsen 11th

This is why I've never backed Lonnie Nielsen before this week! Every day he managed to get himself into the top-3 and challenging for the tournament, but managed to finish the day in 6th place on Friday and Saturday and one shot outside the top-5 on Sunday. Four pars at the par-fives were crucial on the last day and I think it will be a long time before he finally wins an event.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 2pts)

Morris Hatalsky to win 18/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Always a little hesitant to back players who have had two very high finishes and Hatalsky has finished 2nd in his last two starts, but at least there was a week's gap between them. And his event history is rather impressive as well: he has finished in the top-5 in both years. So after finishing 2nd on this Tour four times in 2005, he is certainly due a victory this week.

Tom Jenkins to win 20/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
While Hatalsky's consistency is marked by ranking 3rd in Scoring Average this season despite being winless, Jenkins can point to the Money List as an indication of his success. Of this week's field, only the out-of-sorts Dana Quigley ranks above him in that category. He was overtaken by an impressive Hale Irwin to deny him victory last week, but Irwin is absent this week and his 2nd place finish did maintain his very impressive record in North Carolina. He has played in that State five times since the start of the 2003 season and finished in the top-5 on four of those occasions, including two runners-up positions. This looks a good opportunity to continue his good form on this course and in this State.

Lonnie Nielsen to win 80/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Not yet a winner on this Tour, but he did finish 2nd in the 3M Championship in August and has two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. His 6th place finish in last week's SAS Championship meant that he is 3-for-3 in top-10 finishes in North Carolina on this Tour, including this event last year, so really shouldn't be at such high odds.