Just when we thought we had turned the corner on the weather up here in the Northeast, Mother Nature reminded us who is really the boss. I teed off in comfortable temperatures on Saturday with the mercury approaching 70 degrees. There were plenty of shorts on the packed course and spirits were high. But by the middle of our second nine the wind had picked up, the temps dropped about fifteen degrees and we were scurrying for our sweaters and jackets. It was a portent of the incoming “late winter” weather we are about to deal as they predicted temperatures in the 30’s.
But after our round, as we warmed up we were treated to a rare treat in professional golf: a Saturday finish. And not just one finish, but two.
As planned the LPGA’s Lotte Championship has finished on Saturday the past few years and was scheduled to wrap up late Saturday night again this year. It seems it is more convenient for viewers back in Japan, where the tournament sponsor Lotte is based to get a chance to see the tournament 
finish on their Sunday with the time difference. It’s a great move by the LPGA to give the ladies some prime time exposure without battling against a PGA Tour telecast.
But last night we were treated to another version of golf’s Saturday Night Live as PGA Champions opted to condense their tournament into two days due to the poor weather forecast. The Seniors, sorry I still call them seniors, played 36 holes on Saturday to beat the weather and finish their 54 hole event.
And it finished with a bang as Steve Flesch, Scott Parell and Bernhard Langer needed a playoff to decide the winner. Now Langer, the Lebron James of the Champions Tour had to be the favorite facing two players looking for their first elder tour win. But that is why we play the game. You would have to figure a veteran winner like Langer may have an advantage in the playoff but he couldn’t hold off a charging Parell who had just shot a 64 and jumped into a tie for the lead. Nor could he stop Flesch who also birdied eighteen to earn his playoff spot. 
When Langer failed to birdie the first playoff hole (eighteen) he was sent packing as Flesch and Parell replayed the hole again. With Parell’s approach finding the water all Flesch needed was a par but he continued his mastery of the eighteenth hole with another birdie, his third straight there for the day. It is his first win on the PGA Champions Tour and his first since 2007 when he won the Turning Stone Resort Championship a span of 169 starts over the PGA and Champions Tours.
Later that night, continuing the Saturday Night Live theme, Brooke Henderson battled the wind, firm greens and maybe herself for a bit as she claimed her victory at The Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
Coming off her third round 73 which saw he putter give her fits, the Canadian and former hockey player bore down and attacked the wind blown Ko Olina course. Pounding her driver both off the tee and the deck she took control of her round on the back nine with birdies on fourteen and sixteen to hold off a surging Azahara Munoz and a charging Inbee Park.
Henderson’s final round 69 was good enough to earn her sixth LPGA title, not bad for a twenty year old ex-goalie. She has chosen to dedicated this win to all those dealing with the tragic crash of the Humboldt, Saskatchewan hockey team. Good on ya, Brooke.
Watching some Saturday Night Live finishes is a great weekend treat and maybe not a bad idea for these tours to get some more exposure and fresh eyes watching them.
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