Stallings leads the pack, earns spot in Travelers field

Carl Adamec, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·1 min read

Jun. 21—ELLINGTON — Stephen Stallings knew his solid front nine had put him in position to earn a spot in the Travelers Championship field during Monday's qualifier at Ellington Ridge Country Club.

But he knew he still had to be better down the stretch.

"I made the turn at 4-under and I knew I had to do something on the back," said Stallings, the 26-year-old University of Kentucky graduate. "You can never settle on Mondays. I knew I needed to put together another 3-under."

Stallings' 9-under-par 63, the lowest he's shot in competitive play, topped the qualifier field and he will make his fifth PGA Tour appearance starting Thursday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

"The last Mondays I had it in my hands but made bogeys late," Stallings said. "It feels good to break through this time. I didn't want to settle for 66 or 67."

Seamus Power (7-under 65), who was in Stallings' group, and Lucas Herbert (6-under 66), who was in the first group to tee off No. 1 at 8 a.m. also earned Travelers spots. The final berth went to Andrew Svoboda (5-under 67), as the St. John's University graduate survived a four-man playoff.

Ben Taylor (4-under 68) missed the playoff by one shot while Olin Browne Jr., the son of the 1998 Canon Greater Hartford Open winner in Cromwell, was among three at 3-under 69.

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