The Bear Trap
- Original South Florida Sun-Sentinel article: The Bear Trap
Camilo Villegas and Daniel Chopra were co-winners of the inaugural Bear Trap Trophy last year.
OK, there isn't actually a trophy, but it's worth noting that Villegas and Chopra claimed the distinction of having played the Bear Trap holes better than anyone else when the Honda Classic was played for the first time at PGA National Resort & Spa last year.
There's no prize with this distinction, but it's a victory of sorts. The devilish trio of holes designed by Jack Nicklaus on the back nine of the Champion Course offered a unique and almost separate challenge within the event.
The holes lived up to their reputation as the most treacherous passage on the course.
The 15th, 16th and 17th holes provided countless thrills with disaster or delight hanging on practically every swing there.
Villegas and Chopra played those three holes in 4 under par over four rounds.
Davis Love III , Padraig Harrington and Jason Dufner navigated them next best at 3-under.
The Bear Trap proved pivotal in the outcome.
Mark Wilson , who won the Honda Classic in a four-way playoff, navigated the Bear Trap in even par in regulation, but he landed the final, decisive blow there. He won the playoff on the third extra hole, rolling in a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 17.
Steady through the Bear Trap, Wilson made 10 pars, one birdie and one bogey in regulation there.
Villegas, Frank Lickliter and Rich Barcelo were the only players to navigate those holes without a bogey through four rounds.
Who fared the worst on the Bear Trap?
That dubious distinction doesn't go to Gavin Coles despite the fact that he hit four balls in the water Saturday at the 15th hole. He made an 11 at the 179-yard par 3. It was the highest score recorded on any hole in the tournament. Coles, however, made three birdies through the Bear Trap on the weekend and cumulatively played the trio of holes in 5 over.
Robert Garrigus made the second highest score through the Bear Trap with a sextuple-bogey 9 on the 15th. Even his 6-over total through the Bear Trap wasn't high for the week. Anthony Kim finished at 7 over through the Bear Trap.
Randall Mell can be reached at rmell@sun-sentinel.com
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