This week the LPGA made their annual stop in New Jersey, but instead of the usual Shopright Classic from Seaview Marriot, the Sybase Classic took center stage. Playing for the first time at Montclair Country Club, defending champion and the No. 1 player in women’s golf Lorena Ochoa won, finishing three strokes ahead of tournament frontrunner Sarah Lee. Ochoa closed the deal with a 4-under 68 for an 18-under tournament total. The duo distanced themselves from the field the day before, turning the outcome into a match play event. The victory was the second of the season and the 11th of her career for the LPGA Tour’s top player in 2006. Full Field ScoresEditorial comment:
When I see scores like this, the first thought is that the course was short and easy. It blows my mind to see how low pros go, because as a handicap golfer for over 40 years I know “there’s nothing easy about it”. There’s no such thing as an easy golf course and par was meant to be broken, only by a chosen few. Pro golfers make it look easy because they are that good, miles above the rest of us. Oh well, I’ll just have to settle for breaking 80. Golf’s still the best good habit in my life. Email your thoughts to: AJM.ME@thumbsdown.info.

Matt Davidson from West Windsor, who qualified to play on the PGA Tour in 2005 shot a 65 in the final round to finish in sixth place (his best finish of the year) and on the Hooters Tour. Davidson finished at 12 under par and now ranks 24th on the tour’s money list.Davidson had an unusual “be careful what you wish for” experience in 2004 by playing the best six rounds of his life at Q-School, qualifying to play on the PGA Tour. In his first round as a pro he was paired with Michele Wie during the 2005 Sony Open in Hawaii. As his father put it, “it’s like he started his career with the NY Yankees. A great learning experience, but talk about pressure”.

PGA Tour
AT&T Classic
TPC at Sugarloaf
Duluth, Georgia
Defending: Phil Mickelson
Purse: $5,400,000Master’s Champion Zack Johnson validated is credentials as a PGA winner at the AT&T Classic (formerly the Bell South), beating Ryuji Imada on the first hole of a playoff. After Imada slightly pulled his approach shot into the water, Johnson abandoned his conservative strategy that helped him win the Masters, by laying up on par 5’s. This time went for it and landed his second shot onto the 18th green, leaving a 60-footer for eagle. His approach putt finished a few inches from the hole, with a tap in for the victory. Johnson, also the 2004 winner, closed with a 5-under 67, 15-under par. Full Field ScoresEuropean Tour
Irish Open
Adare Manor Golf Club
Limerick, Ireland
Defending: Thomas Bjorn

Padraig Harrington became the first Irishman to win the Irish Open in 25 years Sunday, beating Welshman Bradley Dredge on the first hole of a playoff. Full Field Scores

Nationwide Tour
BMW Charity Pro-Am
The Cliffs
Greenville, South Carolina
Defending: Ken Duke
Purse: $650,000 ($117,000 to winner)

Nick Flanagan birdied his final three holes Sunday and shot a 7-under 65 to win the BMW Charity Pro-Am, his second Nationwide Tour victory in a row. In the final round he pulled ahead of third-round leader, Richard Johnson and Tommy Gainey, a contestant from the Golf Channel series “The Big Break” who had a disappointing final round of 77. Full Field Scores

Champions Tour
The Regions Charity Classic
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Hoover, Alabama
Defending: Brad Bryant
Purse: $1,600,000

Brad Bryant repeated as champion by beating R.W. Eaks on the third hole of a playoff, becoming the first player to win the tournament twice. After both players parred the 470-yard par-4, 18th hole twice in the playoff, Bryant sank a 13-foot birdie putt to win. Full Field Scores

Canadian Tour
Iberostar Riviera Maya Open
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Spencer Levin finished with a 7-under 65, for a 21-under-par total to win his first tour title. Full Field Scores