Drop Zone: Drop Score Week 4 Recap / Week 5 Preview

Week 4 Recap

The Pauma Valley and Linger Longer Invitational saw some strong performances by top teams. Pauma Valley in particular had six of the top 7 ranked teams in the field and, per my calculation, was the strongest WAGR Power ranked tournament so far this season.  LSU and Georgia were the team champions, respectively, with Christiaan Maas winning the individual title at Pauma Valley and Shubham Jaglan of South Florida scoring an impressive win at Reynolds Plantation.

With many of the top teams and best golfers in college golf at the Valspar, picks tended to focus on many of amateur golf's household names.  Number one ranked player David Ford was the most popular pick, and he came through with a -18 performance and individual trophy (and a spot into next year's Valspar, though if he remains No. 1 in PGA Tour University he may not need the exemption). Most of the popular picks came through and counted for all three rounds.  81% of users made it through the Valspar unscathed.

DRVN.Golf favorite Matthew Diehl was also a popular pick amongst Drop Score users, driven by some great play year-to-date from the freshman at Grand Canyon University.  Unfortunately one of his rounds was a dropped score, wiping out a handful of previously perfect users. There was a relatively wide-range of picks with some new teams to the Drop Score game.  Overall, 65% of users made it through the Duck Invitational unscathed. Only one user picked individual champ Christoph Bleier from Colorado State (impressive!)

All in all, 51% of users picked players that counted for all six rounds of Week 4. That leaves us with only 8% of the user community that are 24 out of 24 to start the Drop Score season.

Obviously a bit late to jump in now and compete for one of the prizes, but if you're looking for a good excuse to follow the college golf season closely, feel free to sign-up and join for Week 5 and beyond.  We're also planning a consolation contest for regionals and NCAA's down the road. New users can signed up for a Drvn.Golf account here. 

Leaderboard for Week 4 & Overall

Pour out a little liquor for Sue Colton, who picked Matthew Diehl for her first dropped score of the season. My Jackson Van Paris/Greyson Leach picks didn't score well but survived, so I now have the bragging rights in the Colton household.  However, the Super Producer Joseph Kay might need to be called the Super Predictor as he's moved into a tie for third.

Note: We'll look to build out the user pick-history and leaderboard functionality in the weeks to come.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or clarifications about your picks and current standings.

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Week 5 Preview (Entries Open) - TBD

Drop Score now turn its attention to the Mason Rudolph Championship and the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational. I can't think of a better run-up to Masters week than some Drop Score action.

Mason Rudolph Championship

April 4-6, 2025
Vanderbilt Legends Club - Franklin, TN

The Mason Rudolph is Vanderbilt's home event, which was won by Vanderbilt last year.  Wells Willams and Jackson Van Paris look like good options here, but I've already burned picks on them this year. Five returnees from last year's top 10 are here, including last year's individual champion Gordon Sargent.  It remains to be seen if Sargent will be in Vandy's lineup.  Seven golfers in the field come in with perfect seasons to date, including the aforementioned Williams.

My pick: Dylan McDermott, Colorado / Ike Joy, Liberty

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Augusta Haskins Award Invitational

April 5-6, 2025
Forest Hills GC - Augusta, GA

The Haskins Award Invitational leads right up to Masters week and golfers will be out at ANGC for one of the practice round days (no threat of Rory taking anyone's phone away since the patrons can't have the phones).  Texas is blazing hot this spring and looks to be a popular source for picks this week. David Ford also comes off a win at the Valspar and was a top ten finisher here last year.

My pick: David Ford, North Carolina / Kieron Van Wyk, Charleston

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Note the deadline for Week 5 is the start of the Mason Rudolph on Friday April 4th.  See Entry Form here.

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