Oct. 19, 2009

By Jeff Black
Athletic Media Relations

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In triple playoff fashion former Colorado State golfer Martin Laird claimed a victory at the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The victory on Sunday doubled Laird’s season earnings, moving him up to 62nd on the PGA Tour money list.

Laird shot a 3-under-par 68, adding to his previous rounds of 63, 67 and 67, to tie with Chad Campbell and George McNeill at TPC Summerlin Sunday. Campbell, a former UNLV golfer, was eliminated on the second playoff hole. Laird finally claimed the victory by sinking an 11-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole.

Laird, who tied for second earlier this season in Reno, believed that his time at CSU gave him experience in the altitudes of Nevada.

“I don’t know why that is,” Laird said. “I guess the tournaments we play in Reno are at altitude. I went to college at Colorado State I don’t mind the ball playing 10 or 15 percent extra. I lived in Scottsdale, very similar to here. I play about five or six percent farther here. When it warms up, I go farther. It’s probably more than coincidence. I’m comfortable in the altitude and the temperatures here.”

Laird, a 26-year-old from Scotland, went on to talk about how he came to Fort Collins.

“Good recruiting. I like the coach. I’d never been to America before. I said I’m going to go over and try it out and see what it’s like. If I like it I can stay.” Laird continued, “In the end, a lot of it was money. A good scholarship offer from Colorado State. That was kind of what took me there.”

Laird still holds many records at CSU, including career top-10 and top-20 finishes, single-season stroke average, and the most individual tournaments won in a career (4).