Krantz getting new grip on game

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This article was published 18/07/2010 (5863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Starting over appears not be bothering Jordan Krantz in the least.

“I feel like I have a home now,” he said Saturday night after matching the round of the day at the $300,000 Players Cup at Pine Ridge, a five-under 66.

The 29-year-old from Vermilion Bay, Ont., was referring to the end of his border-crossing nightmare while his application for a U.S. green card was in progress. He couldn’t, and that seriously limited his competitive opportunities, not to mention the time with his U.S.-born wife.

The affair of almost three years came to a successful conclusion in April and now the former University of Texas at Arlington star has taken up residence in the Phoenix area.

Settled in that way, Krantz has embarked on a season designed to work his way back up the golf ladder. He’s a regular on the Dakotas Tour this summer and detoured this week to accept an invitation to the Players Cup.

Making only three cuts on the Canadian Tour last season, he earned only $4,048 and needed about double that to retain his card.

Saturday’s excellent effort sent him up the charts, jumping from a share of 40th spot and into a share of 13th in the $300,000 event, where first prize is $48,000 and the top six paycheques are all more than $10,000.

Krantz’s game Saturday included seven birdies and two bogeys. There was a highlight on each side.

“I short-sided myself on (the par-3) 14, hit a great bunker shot that rolled out into the other bunker and hit that to 12 feet and made it for bogey,” Krantz said. “That was a great bogey, as good a four as you’re going to find with where I put myself.”

On the final hole, his eight-iron from the centre of the fairway nearly knocked over the flag, and the 15-foot birdie putt went dead centre.

“I’m thinking more clearly, visualizing where I want my ball to go and simplifying some thoughts in my head,” Krantz said about his re-start year. “I’m really committing and trusting myself, trusting everything Derek (Ingram) and I have been working on for a long time.”

Saturday’s five-plus-hour weather delay stopped Krantz on the 11th fairway at four-under for the day.

“It would have been great to keep going because I had some great vibes out there,” said the 2004 and 2005 Manitoba Amateur champ.

Still, he got restarted with game, equaling his best score all of last season on the Canadian Tour.

NOTES: Winnipeg’s Adam Speirs could only tread water on Saturday, shooting even-par 71 to remain at two-over for the tournament…Should there be a playoff today, it will be the first in 21 years at the Manitoba event and it will start on No. 18.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca