Andrew's Albertsons Boise Open (KFT) Preview

A couple of weeks’ of KFT events to reflect on, beginning with the Utah Championship that is probably forgotten by most. Derek Hitchner and his fans will remember it for his breakthrough win, taken in a five-way playoff in which he was probably fifth favourite behind Tommy Morrison (coming off a win at the Glen Club,) Travis Trace, Cole Hammer and Mason Andersen. We had Barend Botha, Filip Jakubcik and Petr Hruby in the hunt but none really scored heavily enough to threaten fully. Hitchner, mentioned at the start of the year here as a potential name to note coming up from the Tour of the Americas, is another talented youngster but this win comes at the end of an inconsistent season and he still has work to do to secure a card. A 28^th at Pinnacle was good backing up.

As I posted from holidays last week, Alistair Docherty nearly gave us a very sweet return to normal life with a playoff against Frankie Harris. However, he lost that on the second hole. It was a tough loss on a 50/1 shot (some of you, I know, got even bigger prices) and a frustrating one, but Docherty will get his card and Harris, who shot a 59 with a sensational closing nine on Sunday to make the playoff is definitely a man to watch. 

I should also take this opportunity to mention that Harris, like Morrison, is part of the crew of PGA Tour U grads that I can’t say enough about. In fact, let’s update that table from last time we looked (there’ve been two more starts since.)

Player	Previous KFT Ranking	Previous Best Result	Current KFT Ranking	Best Result
Christiaan Maas	94	T5	94	T5
Jase Summy	97	T3	108	T3
Filip Jakubcik	153	T28	121	T9
Luke Potter	100	4	98	4
Tommy Morrison	8	1st	6	1st
William Sides	104	T10	76	8
Mahanth Chirravuri	175	T29	150	T19
Frankie Harris	147	T13	29	1st
Wells Williams	219	T64	211	T64

So, a second outright winner, and eight-of-the-nine now have top twenty finishes. I don’t know how often I have to say this, but keep your eye on this crew. Anyway, that’s enough looking back. The show carries on this week, so let’s join the boys in Boise.

The Tournament

It is probably a good thing that we’ve spent a long time looking backwards because I don’t have much to say about this event, which I didn’t preview last year but which has been carrying on since the inception of the Ben Hogan Tour back in 1990. This is a venerable old event and it is clearly well-run, well-attended (by KFT standards, at least) and popular with players and locals. The course makes a bit of a change, but is far from challenging. As we’ve been at Hillcrest County Club every year this has run, we know what we’re getting.

What we’re getting, ladies and gentlemen, is wedges. This is a short course, just 6,880 yards for a par-71, and given that we’re at altitude, it’ll play shorter. There’s a bit of elevation change, a lot of trees, some water, reasonably tough rough and smallish greens, but there’s nothing to challenge players at this level. With weather unlikely to be a factor I’m looking for accurate players from the tee who can hit good approach shots and make putts in bunches. Having reviewed the winners' list and gone through the leaderboards, this is definitely an event that throws up surprises, so I’m keen to take on the market leaders in what might be a bit of a lottery.

The Selections

My desire to take on the top of the market was increased when I saw the prices, particularly for Ben Kohles. I admit that he was my first thought for this sort of challenge, but I want a totally bomb-proof set of statistics to be backing anyone at 11/1 at the KFT level. Kohles is certainly playing well this year, and he was fourth here last time he played it, but the rest of his course record is alarming – MC, 54, 48, MC, 72 (it was a playoff year with no cut,) MC. That’s a lot of events for one placed return. I’m happy to pass. On, then, to the lottery tickets.

First of them is SY Noh, who is a longish price based on recent form, which is admittedly weak. He’s missed the last couple of cuts but was previously 48^th on the PGA Tour at Puntacana, an unsuitably long venue, suggesting his game isn’t far away. Earlier this season he was a runner-up at a similar course in Argentina, and he’s a wily veteran who knows one or two good results will get him a PGA card back. I clearly have more patience than the bookmakers that a return to his best is coming, but I retain that faith, and at a course that will suit his best will be more than good enough to challenge this field.

Second on my list is Alvaro Ortiz, who is picked because I simply don’t understand his price. He's 16^th in the points race, he’s well-positioned to grab a PGA card and is only eight starts since winning on this tour (incidentally, that was a short par-70 shoot-out and highly relevant form.). With a 19^th last week, it isn’t like his form has totally abandoned him, either. This is an ideal test for this accurate future PGA player and I’m delighted to take a triple-digit price.

Finally, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t pick one of the PGA Tour U graduates, and Pepperdine grad Mahanth Chirravuri has played plenty of golf in and around Idaho and will know these conditions well. A shorter hitter than most emerging talents, he ranks sixth in putting and fifth in driving accuracy, and is coming here off a best-yet performance of 19^th. On a course that puts a premium on his accuracy and putting he can certainly spring a surprise and add a third name to the list of winning stars from this years’ class.

• SY Noh, 150/1

• Alvaro Ortiz, 100/1

• Mahanth Chirravuri, 150/1

  All 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365