Week 30 Approach Shots: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

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Parker McLachlin became a PGA TOUR winner for the first time in record-breaking fashion when he won the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open by seven strokes. McLachlin took a four-stroke lead into the weekend, improved his lead to six strokes through 54 holes and cruised to victory Sunday despite a final-round, 2-over 74.

Quick Facts

WHAT: 35th of 37 Regular Season events WHEN: Aug. 6-Aug. 9 WHERE: Reno, Nev. COURSE: Montreux Golf and Country Club FEDEXCUP POINTS: 250 for winner Round 1 TV: GOLF 6:30-8:30 p.m./1:30-3:30 a.m. ET Round 2 TV: 6:30-8:30 p.m./1:30-3:30 a.m. ET Round 3 TV: 6:30-8:30 p.m./midnight-2 a.m. ET Round 4 TV: 7-9 p.m./midnight-2 a.m. ET Key Links: Tee times | Leaderboard | Tournament page VIDEO: Opening Shot

McLachlin returns to Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno, Nev, this week for the 11th playing of this event on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course. Outside the top 125 in the FedExCup standings this year, McLachlin needs a big push in his final two events before the Playoffs to qualify. Joining McLachlin as past Legends Reno-Tahoe Open champions in the field this week are Chris Riley, Kirk Triplett, Vaughn Taylor, Will MacKenzie and Steve Flesch.

HIGH SCORES, HIGH FINISH: By shooting a Sunday 74 in 2008, Parker McLachlin became the fifth consecutive winner who didn't break 70 in the final round. In 2004, Vaughn Taylor shot a 75, followed by his 72 in defense of his title. Will MacKenzie shot a 71 in 2006, while Steve Flesch fired a 72 on his way to victory in 2007. Ironically, from 2000 to 2003, the winners all shot final rounds in the 60s.

BIG WIN: While Parker McLachlin's 2-over 74 was the second-highest finish by a winner in 2008 (Trevor Immelman fired a 3-over 75 in winning the Masters), McLachlin's seven-stroke victory was not only the largest in Legends Reno-Tahoe Open history, it was the second-largest last season. Tiger Woods won the Buick Invitational by eight strokes.

TAYLOR'S TOURNAMENT: Vaughn Taylor is the tournament's all-time leading money-winner, taking home $1,080,000 in two tournaments -- both victories. Second on the list is 2007 champ Steve Flesch ($809,006). The remainder of the top five are 2001 winner John Cook ($784,046), Jonathan Kaye ($728,540) and 2002 champion Chris Riley ($632,073). While Kaye has never won the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, he is a two-time runner-up, losing to Riley in a playoff in 2002 and falling by three strokes to Taylor in 2005.

GOING LOW AT MONTREUX: Jonathan Kaye is a combined 42-under in his six appearances in Reno. He's made the cut five times. His lowest 18-hole round at Montreux is a 66, something he's done three times (1999, 2001 and 2005) -- all coming in the second round.

ROLLING IN RENO: Scott McCarron has played in seven Legends Reno-Tahoe Opens. His best finishes came in 2004, when he tied for second, and in 2000, when he tied for fourth. His other top-10 performance was in 2003. That year he tied for 10th. In 24 rounds at Montreux Golf and Country Club, McCarron has 17 under-par rounds, 20 rounds at par or better and six rounds in the 60s. He has earned $449,015 at the tournament.

EAGLES GALORE: Steve Flesch and Harrison Frazar both have five eagles at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open to lead in that category. Flesch is in the field this year. Flesch has eagled the fourth hole three times, as well as the 11th and 14th holes. In 2007's first round, Flesch eagled the fourth and the 11th on his way to a 63 that led to his wire-to-wire victory.

WOLF PACK-ED FIELD: Three former University of Nevada golfers are in the field this week, led by 2003 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open champion Kirk Triplett, who graduated in 1985. Michael Allen is a 1982 graduate, and Rich Barcelo, playing this year on a sponsor's exemption, graduated in 1998.

Also playing are former Reno resident Scott McCarron and Todd Fischer, who lives on the course at Montreux Golf and Country Club. Fischer is also playing on a sponsor's exemption. Barcelo enters the tournament on a hot streak, having won on the Nationwide Tour two weeks ago. He came from behind on the final day to win the Cox Classic in Omaha, Neb. It was his first Tour title.

Weather forecast for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

THURSDAY, Rd. 1 FRIDAY, Rd. 2 SATURDAY, Rd. 3 SUNDAY, Rd. 4 Sunny Temp: 75 high/50 low Sunny Temp: 80 high/56 low Sunny Temp: 87 high/60 low Sunny Temp: 90 high/60 low

DTN/Meteorlogix is the official weather provider of the PGA TOUR. For more information, click here

Legends Reno-Tahoe Open snippets

THIRD TRY FOR TAYLOR: Vaughn Taylor will be in Reno this week looking to become the first player in the modern era to claim his first three PGA TOUR titles in the same event. Taylor won the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open in 2004 and 2005. Leonard Gallett won the Wisconsin PGA Championship in 1929, 1933 and 1934 for his only three PGA TOUR wins. NEARING THE $2 MILLION MARK: Since 1999 northern Nevada charities have benefited to the tune of more than $1.8 million thanks to the goodwill and community outreach of the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation. For a full list of the charities that benefit from the tournamment, click here.

A victory this week earns you ...

• Fully Exempt for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010-11 • 250 FedExCup points: A win could create additional opportunities to play in the 2009 PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup • A spot in the following events in order of play: 2010 SBS Championship, 2010 PLAYERS Championship

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-3, 163-yard 16th at Montreux DESCRIPTION: This tricky par 3 is the shortest hole on the course, but club selection here is critical. You're faced with a long carry over water to a narrow, shallow green that is divided in the middle by a large ridge. You've got more room on the right half of this green, but the toughest hole location will be tucked into the left-hand corner, underneath the huge pines. Hopefully, you'll avoid the pot bunker that protects the left-hand side as well. (Click here for tour)