Graham DeLaet finished tied for 10th at the HP Byron Nelson championship, during his 14th event of the 2013 Professional Golf Association season. The placing meant that DeLaet, a former Weyburn athlete, earned $174,200.
Graham DeLaet finished tied for 10th at the HP Byron Nelson championship, during his 14th event of the 2013 Professional Golf Association season.
The placing meant that DeLaet, a former Weyburn athlete, earned $174,200. His total earnings for the 2013 season is $811,384, and DeLaet's FedExCup standing is 54th.
After tying 10th, DeLaet had tweeted "thanks to everyone for the tweets this week. Not really what I had hoped for this weekend, but learning all the time."
This was the third time this season that DeLaet finished in the top 10 during a tournament. He has golfed in 14 PGA events to date, and made the cut 11 times during his 2013 season.
DeLaet was the highest ranking Canadian at the Byron Nelson tournament. Fellow Canadian Mike Weir tied 33rd, Stephen Ames tied 48th, and Brad Fritsch made the cut, but didn't finish the tournament.
According to the World Golf Rankings, DeLaet is still the top ranked Canadian golfer in the world.
DeLaet had opened the HP Byron Nelson Championship with matching three-under 67s and closed with two even-par 70s to finish T10, his third top-10 finish of the season (equaling the most of his career).
He had a solid first round, staying on par during the front nine, and then hitting three birdies during the back nine. Another accomplishment for DeLaet during the first round was that he had absolutely no bogeys.
DeLaet was more back-and-forth with bogeys and birdies during the second round. Starting on the back nine, DeLaet hit a birdie right off the start during hole 10, but then also hit a bogey during hole 11. Then later in the back nine, he hit birdies on holes 13 and 16, but then hit a bogey on hole 18.
On the front nine, DeLaet hit a birdie on holes one, three, six and seven. These strong showings pushed him up the leaderboard, very close to the leader of the day. However, DeLaet hit back-to-back bogeys on holes eight and nine.
With a total of six-under-par, DeLaet was still in good position to make the cut, which was set at even-par after two rounds.
Starting on the front nine for round three, DeLaet stayed on par for the first five holes, then he hit a bogey on hole six, and back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight.
During the back nine of round three, DeLaet shot back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13. However, he ended the tournament with a bogey on hole 15, and a double bogey on hole 17. His total for round three was 70, which was par for the course.
Then during the fourth and final round, DeLaet stayed on par for most of the course. He had two bogeys, hit on holes three and 11, and two birdies, hit on holes seven and ten. This meant another par 70 score.
DeLaet had one of his highest one-putt streaks at the Byron Nelson championship, at six. His highest one-putt streak for the 2013 season is seven, which he scored at the Honda Classic.
The 10th place finish was also DeLaet's second best placing of the 2013 PGA season. Earlier in the year, DeLaet had tied ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Honda Classic.
While golfing, DeLaet also had another sport passion on his mind, sending out a tweet to the Saskatoon Blades since they are hosting the Memorial Cup. "Want to wish the Saskatoon Blades good luck at the Memorial Cup. Get it done boys!"
The next tournament for DeLaet will be the Crown Place Invitational, which will be held Thursday to Sunday, May 23 to 26 in Texas.
Later this summer, DeLaet will have a busy July, with two important tournaments that will be hosted in Saskatchewan.
DeLaet is the co-chair of the inaugural PGA Tour Canada's Dakota Dunes Open, set for July 4 to 7. He has agreed to serve alongside Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation as tournament co-chair.
DeLaet played in two previous Canadian Tour events at the Dakota Dunes Golf Links prior to his move to the PGA Tour.
There is also the Graham DeLaet Charity Golf Tournament in support of Junior Golf in Saskatoon on Thursday, July 11.
This tournament is a joint initiative between Golf Saskatchewan and DeLaet, to raise awareness and funds to support junior golf programs throughout the province.
The proceeds from the tournament will support Golf Saskatchewan initiatives and a portion of the proceeds will assist the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation, whom Graham supported through fundraising events in 2011 and 2012. DeLaet started his golf career as a junior golfer at the Weyburn Golf Course.
As an amateur golfer, Graham enjoyed great success both in college and as a member of the Canadian National Golf Team. After a strong amateur career, Graham turned professional in 2006, earning status on the Canadian Tour, and then to the PGA Tour in 2010.
