Out of the hospital, Charlie Beljan maintains lead at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
BY Associated Press
Sunday, November 11, 2012
11/11/12 at 6:52 AM
Doctors told Charlie Beljan he was in good enough health to leave the hospital Saturday morning, but perhaps not to play golf. With his job on the line and his name atop the leaderboard for the first time, Beljan ignored the recommendation and was glad he did.
One day after a panic attack so severe that he struggled to breathe and feared for his life, Beljan managed just fine in the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Despite a pair of early bogeys, and one nervous moment when he felt his chest tighten, he had a 1-under 71 that gave him a two-shot lead going into the final round at Disney.
Suddenly, the 28-year-old rookie has a chance to do more than just keep his card. He's one round away from winning on the PGA Tour.
"I honestly didn't think I was going to get through it," Beljan said. "I just stayed strong."
He stayed overnight in the hospital - with his shoes on for most of the night - and only got about an hour of sleep. This is the final PGA Tour event of the year, and Beljan is at No. 139 on the money list. Only the top 125 keep their cards, and Beljan likely would need to finish around 10th.
Beljan said he started to feel some of the same symptoms from Friday as he approached the turn. He ate a sandwich, tried to calm himself, and back-to-back birdies to start the back nine certainly helped. He closed with six straight pars to reach 13-under 203.
That gave him a two-shot lead over Brian Gay (67), Josh Teater (67) and Charlie Wi, who was tied with Beljan until two sloppy bogeys at the end for a 70.
"It's nice to be able to walk around and smile," Beljan said. "Yesterday, I was hanging on for my life."
When last seen at Disney, Beljan was gasping to draw a big breath and sitting in the fairway to wait his turn to hit. Paramedics followed him around the back nine after a spike in his blood pressure. After signing for a 64, Beljan emerged from the scoring room strapped into a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance.
For most of the night, he felt 99 percent sure he wouldn't be playing.
But with the comfort of knowing that he was physically fine, he went back to his hotel for a shower and breakfast, and headed to the golf course. Despite being nervous that another episode could strike again, he was steady for so much of the day.
Now comes the hard work.
Beljan's wife, 7-week-old son and mother-in-law were flying in from Phoenix for the final round. He has long dreamed of how cool it would be to have his family come onto the green to celebrate his first PGA Tour win.
But there's a long way to go.
Beljan had a three-shot lead - he wasn't aware of this until late Friday night in the hospital - going into the third round, and that was gone before he stepped onto the fourth tee. Sunday will get under way with 11 players separated by three shots.
That included Sea Island winner Tommy Gainey and Camilo Villegas, winless in four years, along with Robert Garrigus, who won at Disney two years ago. The group at 205 included Vaughn Taylor, who like Beljan is making a last-ditch effort to keep his card.
Inbee Park takes LPGA Tour lead in Mexico: In Guadalajara, Mexico, Inbee Park moved into position for her third victory of the year, shooting a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
The South Korean player had a 15-under 201 total at Guadalajara Country Club. She won the Evian Masters in France in July and the LPGA Malaysia last month and leads the LPGA Tour money list.
Park also is trying to catch Stacy Lewis in the player of the year points race, but has to win Sunday and next week in the season-ending Titleholders to have any chance to pass Lewis.
Cristie Kerr was second after a 67.
So Yeon Ryu was third at 12 under after a 67. Second-round leader Angela Stanford was another stroke back after a 72, and Karine Icher had a 69 to reach 9 under.
The second-ranked Lewis, coming off her tour-leading fourth victory of the year last week in Japan, was tied for sixth at 8 under with Michelle Wie, Candie Kung and Hee Kyung Seo. Trying to become the first U.S. player of the year since Beth Daniel in 1994, Lewis shot a 71. Wie followed her second-round 75 with a 67, Kung had a 71, and Seo shot 69.
Bjorn leads Singapore Open: In Singapore, Thomas Bjorn took a one-stroke lead over England's Chris Wood before play was halted during the third round of the rain-delayed Singapore Open.
Tropical downpours have caused havoc with the schedule this week, forcing golfers to finish the second round early Saturday and then hurriedly start the third round hours later. Officials are still planning to play 72 holes unless storms cause more delays on Sunday.
Original Print Headline: Out of hospital, Beljan keeps lead
Associated Images:
Charlie Beljan hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the third round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Saturday. REINHOLD MATAY / Associated Press
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