It’s been a very comfortable week for Billy Andrade.
He’s staying at his home in Brookhaven, which he opened to his caddie and fellow Wake Forest alum Gary Hallberg. He even hosted a cookout for some of his buddies who are competing in this week’s Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf.
Andrade’s gallery included some members of the Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, where his wife, Jody, is an associate pastor, and his son, Cameron, who surprised him with a visit from college.
“This is just a fun week for me,” Andrade said. “It’s been a relaxing week, not having to get on an airplane.”
The scoreboard reflects his relaxation. Andrade shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday, leaving him at 8-under 136 after two rounds. He’ll begin the final round Sunday one shot behind leader Stephen Ames.
“I’ve been playing really solid golf,” Andrade said. “I’m shooting good scores. (On Friday) I had two birdies, didn’t make a bogey, and it could have been a lot better. I feel great about the way I’m competing. So far, it’s been a good year, but you want to win. I’ve put myself in a nice position here.”
Andrade has not finished outside the top 25 this season and finished fourth in Tucson. He’s been under par in 15 of his 16 competitive rounds — and even par on the other. He is in position to win his fourth event on the Champions tour and end a one-year winless streak.
“I’m pretty relaxed,” he said. “There’s no point at our age to sweat the small stuff, so just enjoy yourself. That’s been my mindset, and it’s helped me.”
Andrade had seven birdies and no bogeys on his card Saturday. He managed to navigate around a couple of loose shots. His tee shot on the fourth hole landed in the creek, but Andrade was able to make a 12-footer for par. His drive at No. 14 hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway, leaving him with a 225-yard approach. Andrade used a utility club and put it on the right fringe, leaving him 20 feet away and able to make par.
Andrade finished eighth at the Mitsubushi Electric Classic last year. He held the lead late in the final round, only to have Woody Austin close with a 64 and eventually win the event in a playoff.
“I made a couple bogeys and Woody went crazy and posted early,” Andrade said. “Maybe I can go crazy this year.”
Crowd chops for celebrities: The gallery at the 18th hole broke out into an impromptu tomahawk chop when the celebrity group of former Braves John Smoltz and Tom Glavine (along with ex-Georgia great Kevin Butler) finished their round. The trio was part of the Celebrity Challenge to raise money for local charities.
Smoltz shot even par and won the Cooper Cup, named in honor of the late Cooper O’Brien, who died after a battle with a rare form of cancer. Glavine and Butler each finished 4 over.
Glavine was a shot ahead of his former teammate until the 13th hole. “Then I ran out of gas or strokes,” he said.
Smoltz finished the round with a birdie after hitting the 18th green in two shots.
“I hit it really good,” Smoltz said. “I didn’t make any putts. That (18th hole) was the only putt I think I made all day. Pleasantly surprised, traveled as much as I have.”
Smoltz still has the notion of playing on the Champions Tour.
“I selfishly think of what it would be like when I turn 50 in May to actually do it for real,” Smoltz said. “These guys out here are so good. You see the scores? You shoot a 64 on this golf course … they’re very good, obviously.”
Daly matches best senior score: Fan favorite John Daly shot a 7-under 65, matching his best score on the PGA Tour Championship circuit. Daly is tied for ninth at 6-under 138, three shots off the lead. Daly had seven birdies and did not make a bogey. Daly's best showing this year was a tie for 23rd at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, where he shot his previous 65.
