Dan Roebuck’s Reno Tahoe Open preview: Bowditch fancied
Published:The Reno Tahoe Open may be the secondary event on the PGA Tour this week but its use of modified Stableford scoring for the second consecutive year gives punters another dimension to decipher when it comes to picking the winner.
The system rewards attacking golf, with eights points given for an albatross, five for an eagle and two for a birdie. Poor play, however, is punished, with a point taken off a players’ tally for a bogey while three are subtracted for double bogey’s or worse – a par is worth nothing.
Twelve months ago, JJ Henry won with 43 points, while the best single round score was 17 by JB Holmes. The par 72, 7,472 yard-Montreux Golf and Country Club stages this event once more, and it may pay to back Jason Bohn to improve on last year’s 19th position at the Nevada layout.
Bohn has been in ‘winner waiting to happen’ mode recently, with a ninth place at the Sanderson Farms Championship followed up with second place in Canada on Sunday. He ranks 15th in birdie average on tour and given the fact he doesn’t make too many mistakes – he ranks 14th in three-putt avoidance – he is a must on the staking plan.
No non-American has ever won this tournament, but 33/1 shot, Steven Bowditch, might break the home stranglehold on the title. The big hitting Australian has form figures of 2-12-17 coming into this week’s event and found his touch on the greens last time out when ranking third in putting average in Mississippi.
Lastly, Bill Lunde is worth a small investment at 40/1. Again, it’s his recent form figures that persuade me to add him to the short list, with two recent top 20 finishes. Tenth at Montreux three years ago also bodes well.
My three to follow – Bohn, Bowditch and Lunde.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
