Badds Too Good at Verizon Heritage

Excerpts from the Associated Press - April 16, 2006

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Aaron Baddeley won the Verizon Heritage for his first PGA Tour title, rallying with two late birdies and finishing off Jim Furyk with a scrambling par on Harbour Town's lighthouse closing hole.

Baddeley was tied with Furyk entering the round, had a two-shot lead by the fifth hole, then was down by that many to Furyk after No. 11.

Aaron Baddeley became the second straight Aussie to win the Heritage (Peter Lonard).But the 25-year-old Australian proved unflappable, birdieing two of the hardest holes on the PGA Tour -- the 14th was statistically the hardest par 3 on tour last year and the 15th was the hardest par 5 -- to move in front for good.

Baddeley shot a 1-under 70 to finish at 15 under, a stroke ahead of Furyk (71) and two ahead of Vaughn Taylor (66) and Billy Mayfair (69).

Golf fans might best know Baddeley as the young hotshot in the golf commercial, driving a convertible with young female fans yelling his nickname, "Badds." It's an image the first-time winner says he's not fully comfortable with and one he expects will change over time.

He's a devout Christian who aspires to the ministry when he's through with golf. He celebrated his one-year anniversary this past Saturday. Hours before his final round tee-time, Baddeley spoke at Harbour Town's Easter Sunrise Service by the 18th green. Two days earlier, Baddeley closed his second round with an unlikely eagle at the famous lighthouse hole.
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Congratulations Badds! Keep up the good fight and thank you for sharing your testimony of how Jesus Christ saved you.

In Him,

Eye