Frank

Lickliter II

The 33-year-old Taylor finished T-16 last weekend at the Honda Classic after carding a 67 on Sunday at PGA National. It marked a solid rebound performance after Taylor missed the cut in his previous start at the Phoenix Open. In 11 events this season, he’s made eight cuts with his best finish being a T-14 at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. In four previous starts at the Arnold Palmer, he’s 2-for-2 in cuts made. For 52-year-old Lickliter, this week will mark his eighth start at the Puerto Rico Open, where he’s made the cut twice (2011. 2016). In 21 PGA Tour starts since the 2013-14 season, however, Lickliter has made just two cuts (both during the 2015-16 season). He played 17 PGA Tour Champions events last season and notched just one top-25 finish, a T-13 at the Constellation Furyk & Friends.

Lickliter’s 68 on Sunday moved him up adn got him his four Top of 2004 and his best finish since the Booz Allen back in June (T9).

FL2 carded 17 pars and a double bogey to finish in a share of 33rd place at LaTour Golf Club in Mathews, La. He was gunning to Monday qualify for the second straight week. He then missed a top 10 at the Valero Texas Open by two strokes, settling for a T13. Other notables that failed to qualify for the Zurich Classic include: 69--Shane Bertsch; Lee Janzen ... 70--Will MacKenzie; Craig Barlow; Mathias Gronberg ... 72--Dicky Pride ... 73--Clark Dennis ... 74--Chris Smith; Brad Adamonis; Craig Kanada ... 75--Ted Purdy ... 78--Mike Heinen ... 79--Robert Gamez.

He is now 3-under 141 for the tournament and has cashed for the first time in four events on the PGA TOUR this year. Lickliter’s round saw him land 13 GIR and putt to a 1.615 average, leading to six birdies and four bogeys. He heads into into the third round trailing Ben Curtis by seven strokes.

FL2 shot 3-under-par 35-34=69 with five birdies at two bogeys. He and Paul Norris (34-35=69; 1 eagle, 3 birdies, 2 bogeys) survived a 5-man playoff for the final two berths. Will Osborne was the medalist at 6-under 32-34=66 with an eagle and five birdies; he incurred only one bogey during his round. Casey DeVoll circled seven birdies and swallowed two bogeys to finish as the runner-up at 5-under 35-32=67. All but Lickliter II will be making their PGA TOUR debuts on Thursday.

Lickliter II was the first alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry when two golfers were removed from the field this morning. His only payday among five starts on the PGA TOUR this year was a T13 at the Valero Texas Open. He’s made the cut in his last two appearances at TPC Deere Run but didn’t crack the top 30 in either.

Lickliter II has been a somewhat of a fixture on the four-spotter circuit this year. He got through at the Transitions Championship and Valero Texas Open, but his T13 in San Antonio is his only payday in five starts on the PGA TOUR. Other notables that failed to qualify for the Travelers today include: 70--David Morland IV ... 73--David Branshaw ... 74--Chris Smith ... 76--Mike Hulbert; Todd Demsey ... 78--Robert Gamez.

The PGA TOUR’s media department released the information. Lickliter II fell short at the open qualifier on Sunday. He started the week as low as the 13th alternate for the tournament proper until D.A. Points withdrew today. He’s competed nine times at TPC Southwind but hasn’t cracked the top 70 in his last six appearances. He’s 1-for-4 on Past Champion status on the PGA TOUR this year with a T13 at the Valero Texas Open.

Lickliter II started the week as the sixth alternate. He earned a tee time when Fredrik Jacobson withdrew and Michael Allen elected not to remain committed as an alternate. FL2’s inclusion is reflected only in the live scoring page at PGATOUR.com where he’s scheduled to begin on the 10th tee at 12:20 p.m. PT. The veteran has cashed in only one of eight starts this season.

First, consider that this is Lickliter II’s first sub-70 in 18 stroke-play rounds all year. This will also be just his second payday in nine starts, and nothing was going to stand in his way. He hit 14 greens and took a tidy 24 putts. Seven of his birdies measured greater than 10 feet; the most notable dropped in from 33'1" at the third hole, six yards from off the green at 13 and 22'7" at the 18th. At 7-under 135, he’s just two strokes adrift of the 36-hole clubhouse lead.