Sleeper Picks: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

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May. 20, 2008

Editor's note: PGATOUR.COM has tried to make our experts work a little harder when they make their picks each week. The favorite can be anyone in the field, although Tiger Woods can only be used seven times during the year. Sleepers can't have won in 2008 or had a top-10 in their last five starts. A sleeper can't be ranked in the top 30 in the field, either.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Harrison Frazar
A resident of nearby Dallas, Frazar needs to get things going considering his slow start to the 2008 season where he's missed the cut four times in eight starts and his best finish is a tie for 57th at the Shell Houston Open. In 2007, Frazar tied for seventh at Colonial -- his best finish of the year. He has three top-10 finishes at Colonial, and those experiences should serve him well this week.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Jerry Kelly
This year has been a roller-coaster ride for Kelly. He's only made six cuts out of 14 starts but at least he's been productive in those six -- he was runner-up one week, finished third in another and tied for 32nd at THE PLAYERS Championship in his last start. In fact, Kelly is 52nd in the FedExCup standings with just those six events. Last year he tied for seventh at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and he tied for 12th the year before.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Justin Leonard
It's not easy to overlook Nathan Green's record here but . . . just a feeling. Leonard's got five career top-10s here, and it's a home game. Dallas, Fort Worth... it's all the Metroplex, which means sleeping in his own bed. Has won three times in San Antonio, contended for a while this year in both Houston and Dallas. He'd like a Texas Slam eventually. And, a note: as a kid, he chipped in his grandparents yard not too far from here.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Tim Clark
Hard to believe this solid ballstriker and tough competitor doesn't have a top-10 this season. Also has missed his last three cuts, but if there is a sleeper this week, Clark might be the man on this track where ball control is a must.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Corey Pavin
Corey Pavin probably can't win on some of the TOUR's more monsterous courses, but there are some stops where he can thrive. Colonial is certainly one golf course that is tailor-made for a ballstriker like Corey. There is still some firepower in that old Bulls-Eye of Corey's and we just might see it this week.

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Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Nathan Green
With two top-fives in the last two years, Nathan Green is fond of Colonial Country Club. Australians have had success in the Lone Star State in the past. Although his performance in recent events has not been up to par, look for this sleeper to wake up this week.

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Scott Pianowski
PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Insider
Pick: Justin Leonard

The steady Texan has never missed a cut in 14 starts here, including nine top-20 finishes. Leonard didn't score for us at The Players, but given that he's made every other cut this season, I'll gladly get him on my club again.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Justin Leonard
He's never missed a cut in 14 appearances at Colonial -- and he has a quintet of top-five finishes, including second to Kenny Perry in 2003. If he can regain the form he had early in the year, Leonard could be a threat, and Colonial certainly fits his eye.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Scott Verplank
A win by this native Texan would break a drought at Colonial for Texans dating back to Ben Crenshaw in 1990. Verplank isn't quite as good a putter as the incomparable Crenshaw, but he's darn close. Struggled last year before winning EDS Byron Nelson Championship, so recent form isn't a factor in gauging his prospects.

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John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Corey Pavin
There are very few courses where a guy ranked 192nd in driving distance average can compete, but Hogan's alley is right up Pavin's alley. At only 7,000 yards, he won't have to pump fairway metals into long par-4s. Instead, just let the trusty Bulls-Eye putter do the heavy lifting. Let's turn back the clock with the 1996 Colonial champion, minus the Hall and Oates mustache and hairstyle that Corey used to rock.

Expert Standings
Following the EDS Byron Nelson Championship
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top-10s Missed Cuts FedExCup Points
Win McMurry 5 3 3 13 9 39,180
Dave Shedloski 2 5 1 13 7 33,440
Scott Pianowski 2 4 2 13 12 30,360
Helen Ross 2 4 - 12 13 30,474
Lauren Deason 2 5 1 11 9 29,915
Melanie Hauser 2 2 - 11 9 28,328
T.J. Auclair 3 1 - 8 8 24,765
John Swantek 2 3 1 9 9 22,091
John Maginnes 1 3 2 8 13 19,597
Dave Lagarde 1 1 - 9 7 16,139
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