Photos by Kyle Coburn & Kasey Hine :: Story by Matt Byrne
August 30, 2007 (Plymouth, MA)-After seven years of toil, one of the North American Pro Golf Tour’s most talented players to never win a tournament broke his habit this week at the Pine Hills Open Championship, turning in three stellar rounds of 67-67-68, for a fourteen under par winning total of 204.
Donovan’s enduring presence on tour has been one marked by close seconds and near triumph, finishing in second place twice this year alone. In June Donovan lost in a playoff to Andrew Svoboda at the Atkinson Open. In the tournaments since he has finished anywhere between the cusp of victory and the bottom of the cut.
During the presentation ceremony the Pittsfield pro kissed the crystal trophy, grinning nearly uncontrollably.
After two days of outstanding golf by many players, Donovan set himself apart today with a solid front nine. He made the turn at two under par, but said he struggled with his swing. The back nine reflected a searching insecurity: two birdies, two bogeys and an eagle.
“[I was] fightin’ the swing a little bit. It was a gut check,” he said.
Adding into the equation swirling winds that caused many players to balk at club selection, Donovan’s round was a culmination of an old fashioned grind and good breaks.
Hole sixteen brought a round-saving eagle, where he said his approach to the green was accidentally aggressive.
“I got a ridiculous break—it bounced over the bunker and found the green, to about twenty-five feet,” Donovan said.
Dan Walters, who marked his first year on the pro circuit this month, finished second at twelve under par. He said the combination of the course, conditions, and facilities at Pine Hills made it one of the best events in which he’d played. “They have great practice facilities, I spent both afternoons practicing. You can’t ask for much more than that. And the golf course is fantastic,” he said. “It’s just a really beautiful place.”
Finishing in third place two strokes behind at eleven under for the championship was Nick Cook, Donovan’s third round partner. “I’m a little heated,” Cook said, visibly upset. “Donny and I both played pretty solidly today, and it was close right down to the end. I hit a lot of good shots today but I just couldn’t catch up to him.”
Also making a serious run was Dustin Cone, who flew around the course with seven birdies. Cone said he was pleased with his play, except for a brief break in rhythm during the back nine when he went double bogey-bogey on holes fourteen and fifteen.
“I had it going out there, I know I did. I can’t complain,” Cone said.
Although competition was tighter than usual this week, there were extra congratulations for Donovan from his fellow players, who recognized a deserved win when they saw one.
With his characteristic smile, the 2007 Pine Hills Open Champion summed it all up in one word:
“Finally.”
