October 17, 2009–The low scores this week at Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, are not only revealing leaders and champions, but the season-long Kodak Challenge competitors are jumping around by taking it low. The Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA Tour players and fans, and celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA Tour. All players can compete, and all they have to do is play. Players must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to be eligible to win. The player with the lowest cumulative score relative to par wins $1 million and the Kodak Challenge trophy.
In the actual tournament, several Las Vegas golfers have a great shot to become the first players with strong Vegas ties to win the title. Click the previous scoring link to monitor their progress. J.J. Henry carded an eagle on hole # 16 to move into a first place tie for the Kodak Challenge lead with Kevin Streelman at 14-under-par on Friday. For the second-straight day, perfect weather conditions favored the pros on the 560-yard par 5 at TPC Summerlin, which ranked as the easiest hole on the course. Henry sunk a 22-foot putt to join several top Kodak Challenge contenders to eagle hole #16 during the second round. Matt Bettencourt and D.J. Trahan also recorded eagles to move to 12-under-par and 11-under-par respectively.
Bettencourt’s move was particularly noteworthy because he failed to make the cut, but made the most of his two chances on the Kodak Challenge hole this week (The Kodak Challenge records a player’s best score, regardless if they play 2 or 4 rounds). Nathan Green carded a birdie to join Steve Lowery at one-shot off the lead at 13-under-par. 22 golfers are presently within three shots of the Kodak Challenge lead. With two days of action left, movement on the leaderboard is far from over. There were 19 eagles, 58 birdies, 34 pars and 11 bogies recorded on the Kodak Challenge hole #16 during the second round of tourmament action.
TPC Summerlin is one of two Las Vegas golf courses operated by the PGA Tour, joining the TPC Las Vegas which is located just down the road from where this Las Vegas golf event is being played. TPC Las Vegas is a Las Vegas resort golf course, and has hosted several events on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.
For those heading out to the event, be sure to check out the Kodak activities at TPC Summerlin. Kodak Activities Offer J.T. Shriners Fans a Piece of the Action including The Kodak Fan Photo Zone, located on hole #16 that provides fans the opportunity to have their picture taken at the golf course – a free photo when cameras are generally not allowed. And a unique “Smile & Win” spotter promotion awards instant prizes to fans wearing Kodak lanyards throughout the course at J.T. Shriners. The free lanyards can be picked up at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone on hole #16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the tournament. Contributing to this article was PGA Tour Media Official Mark Stevens.