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SPORTS

Double eagle is third in 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011
(Updated 5:27 am)

Fabian Gomez holed a 5-wood from 247 yards for a double eagle on the par-5 15th hole at Sedgefield Country Club during the first round of the Wyndham Championship.

Gomez's shot clanged into the cup on the fly for just the third double eagle on the PGA Tour this season -- but the second in North Carolina.

Alex Cejka made one on No. 10 at Pebble Beach in February, and J.B. Holmes made one on the 15th hole at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte in May.

It's the first double eagle at Greensboro's PGA Tour stop since 1993, when Tom Sieckmann had one at the ninth hole at Forest Oaks.

There were three in five years when the old GGO was played at Sedgefield in the early 1970s: Rod Curl in 1971, Larry Wise in 1974, and Lee Elder in 1975.

Gomez finished his first round at 2-under 68.

LEONARD ON THE GREENS: Justin Leonard, after shooting a 4-under-par 66, talked about the greens at Sedgefield.

"They're certainly in better condition than last year," Leonard said. "Last year it was so hot. I mean not because of anybody but it was really trying to keep the greens alive and, you know, the temperatures have been a little bit cooler, although today was a little warm, but the greens are rolling out a little bit and they're just a touch firmer than they were last year."

ELS ENJOYS: Ernie Els, who finished at 5-under, enjoyed playing the shorter Sedgefield just a week after competing at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Sedgefield is playing at 7,000 yards, about 500 shorter than Atlanta.

"I had a bit of a tough time there, I missed the cut," Els said. "But I really enjoyed the course last week but, as you say, it was a really kind of a beast compared to this old lady, shall I say. It was nice to have greens that are receptive and, you know, you can hit some 3-woods to keep the ball in play and, you know, kind of play the game of golf almost other than trying to survive. You can almost attack a golf course. It was nice a change."

HOME COOKIN': Carl Pettersson, the 2008 Wyndham champion and a former Greensboro resident, seems glad to be back:

"I always enjoy coming here and playing here," the Grimsley alumnus and Raleigh resident said. "I grew up in Greensboro. I got good Mojo."

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