Sports: Koch looks at the bright side of his bogey finish

Golf

Koch looks at the bright side of his bogey finish

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer

NAPLES -- Gary Koch is playing in his second Champions Tour event, but it was no rookie mistake that led to bogey on the 18th hole Friday at TwinEagles, home of the ACE Group Classic.

Koch, who lives in Tampa, was tied for the lead when he busted a drive that left him 120 yards from the pin at the 425-yard, par-4 18th. From there he plunged a pitching wedge approach into the water.

"It could have been worse," Koch said. "I could have hit the next one in the water."

After a drop he hit the same wedge to 12 feet and drained the putt for bogey 5 and 68, two shots behind first-round leader Vicente Fernandez.

Koch was coming off a stretch in which he played five holes in 5 under, including eagle at the par-5 13th.

"I had a wedge in my hand and figured I could probably go right at the hole," Koch said. "I just pushed it about 3 or 4 yards. ... That was nice making that putt to make 5. For my psyche, that was good."

RECOVERING: Bobby Walzel shot 68 and was happy just to be playing the game.

Walzel, a third-year Champions Tour pro, had his 2002 season cut short after surgery for prostate cancer. He received a medical extension this year, which means he has 11 events to earn $206,000 to remain fully exempt.

"I've been recovering for about five months," he said. "I still get a little tired late in the rounds, but I'm okay. It's a joy to be out here."

ODDS AND ENDS: Jack Nicklaus hit two balls into the water on the third hole and never recovered after triple-bogey 8. He shot 76. ... . Bobby Wadkins withdrew with back spasms and was replaced in the field by Pat McDonald. ... Ireland's Des Smyth made his Champions Tour debut, shooting 70. Smyth, the qualifying-school medalist, turned 50 Wednesday. ... Tom Watson was the only player not to make bogey or worse. ... Gary Player and Dale Douglass teed it up for the 16th straight year in Naples. Both shot 74. They are the only two to have played in every Naples event. Douglass, who won the inaugural Verizon Classic in Tampa in 1988, also has played that event every year. ... Palm Harbor's Jay Overton, who earned one of three spots in qualifying, shot 71.