Former PGA Tour winner Pate leads Bogota Open

Golf Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - Bogota, Colombia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former PGA Tour winner Steve Pate had a five-under 66 Saturday to take a two-shot lead after three rounds of the Nationwide Tour's Bogota Open.

The 48-year-old Pate birdied five of his last 11 holes to post an 11-under 202 and distance himself from a pack of players at the top of the leaderboard.

Tag Ridings, a leader after both of the first two rounds, had a one-under 70 and dropped into second place at nine-under 204.

Three players shared third place at eight-under 205, including Zack Miller, who produced the low round of the day with a six-under 65. Aaron Watkins (67) and William McGirt (70) were also at 205.

McGirt held sway over the field for much of the day. He took a two-shot lead with a pair of early birdies and remained on top of the leaderboard until a bogey at the 13th.

While McGirt fizzled on the back nine, Pate thrived.

Back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes got him within a shot of the lead, but he didn't grab a piece of first place until a birdie at the 13th.

Pate added two more birdies -- at the 16th and 18th holes -- to secure his two-shot lead.

If he can hold on through Sunday's final round, Pate will taste winning for the first time in more than a decade.

The two-time Ryder Cup selection won six times on the PGA Tour between 1987 and 1998. He might also have won the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic if not for David Duval's final-round 59.

"I have no idea what's going on," Pate joked. "I'm hitting it well. I'm not doing anything stupid."

Basically, Pate is playing it safe.

"Even though I have wedges in my hand I'm making sure it's on the green, short of the hole and trying to putt uphill as much as possible," he said. "It seems to be working out."

Pate made only one cut in four starts on the PGA Tour last year. He also missed the cut in most of his starts on the Nationwide Tour. In fact, he hasn't made more cuts than he's missed in any season since 2005, when he was 5-for-9 on the Nationwide Tour.

No one has to tell Pate he's in rare form. He knows how long it's been since he's had an opportunity this good. Now it's just a matter of holding on for the ride.

"I may go out and vomit all over myself tomorrow," Pate said, "but it's fun to be in this position."

NOTES: Pate shot a bogey-free 66 for the second day in a row...This is the first PGA Tour-sanctioned event in South America...Pate's best finish on the Nationwide Tour is a tie for fifth at the 2008 Mexico Open.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com

MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

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This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)
5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.