Marathon Mark

***I apologize I have been sick all week and have not been able to update until now***

It was a long Sunday for the players that made Saturday’s cut in the 2011 Sony Open from Waialea Country Club in Maui. After heavy rains battered the islands on Thursday soaking any chance for the field to play its opening round, the skies cleared and made it beautiful Friday through Sunday. The first two rounds were played on Friday and Saturday, where the cut was made, and most of the field was relegated to wait until Sunday for a 36 hole final day.

Japanese throwback Shigeki Maruyama fired back to back 65’s and was tied for the lead with fan-fav Aussie Stuart Applby who shot 64 – 66. But close on their heels were Englishman Justin Rose, lesser known Americans Jimmy Walker, Roland Thatcher, and Matt Bettencourt; along with heavy-hitting Steve Marino and the consistent Matt Kutchar.

When push came to shove the final 36 holes belonged to Mark Wilson who matched his 65 –67 opening two rounds, with the same on Sunday. He was able to hold off the hard charging reigning Player’s Champion Tim Clark by two strokes, who fired a blistering 66 – 64 on Sunday to tie for 2nd with Marino. Wilson was able to close out his 3rd career tour victory (’07 Honda Classic and ’09 Mayacoba Classic) and wrap up his first ever trip to Augusta National in April.

With this victory Wilson will only tee it up for the fourth time in a major championship. He has only made three prior appearances in the ’98 US Open, the ’07 PGA Championship and the ’09 PGA Championship. In those prior three events he failed to make the cut! But he will get a shot at redemption and glory at the most famous course in the world and a tradition unlike any other.