FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -6.00pts

Bryant 10th
Kite 13th
Nielsen 32nd

What a wasted opportunity. Roberts and Weibring were late withdrawals and even though Kite and Bryant hadn't exactly been impressive in the first two rounds, they started the last one in 3rd and 6th place, chasing a player yet to win on this Tour. One placed? Two placed? A win even? Not even a place after Kite took seven at the 14th hole. Need to take such opportunities when they arise.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 2pts)

Brad Bryant to win 12/1 e.w. @ Tote
With Jay Haas and Loren Roberts battling for the Player of the Year award, this should be a good opportunity for the rest of the field to take advantage of their distraction. And there is no-one better placed to do this than the 3rd-ranked player on Tour, Bryant. He continued his amazingly consistent run of form (12 consecutive top-15 finishes) with a runners-up finish in the last Tour event and even held the lead on the last day until Gilder had five birdies in eight holes. He played solidly last year (6th after two rounds and finishing 11th overall), so there is little reason not to back him again at this price.

Tom Kite to win 16/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, BlueSq and BetDirect
Kite is also retained as a selection from the last event. It was only a very cold putter in the 2nd round that saw him fall out of contention and down to 24th place, but such was his play in the final round that it looked as though he would still finish in the top-5. He would ultimately finish 10th and two shots out of a top-5 place, but it was a strong indication of how well he is playing at the moment and it does mean that he has now finished in the top-10 in each of his last seven events, winning once. He also finished in the top-10 on his previous appearance in this event despite an opening 74, while his 2nd-round 64 is only one shot out of the course record. As with Bryant, there is little reason not to back such a consistent player at this price, particularly as he top-ranked last time out for greens in regulation at 93%!

Lonnie Nielsen to win 80/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Nielsen is not so consistent, but you can't expect that at this price. But he has finished 11th and 10th in the last two years here (and in the top-10 in his other North Carolina events in the last two years) and it was only a month ago that he was involved in a playoff for a Senior major, the JELD-WEN Tradition, with Eduardo Romero. At this price, he can certainly be backed to contend again in North Carolina.