Cinderella? Stewart Leads in Seattle
By Associated Press - August 25, 2007

Boeing Classic
SNOQUALMIE, Washington --

The scoreboards around the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge continued to list Ray Stewart's full name on Saturday, an appreciative gesture for spectators who know nothing about the Boeing Classic leader.

The names of those set to chase Stewart in the final round are much more familiar.

Stewart, who only made this week's tournament by surviving a 10-man playoff in a Monday qualifier, shot a 4-under 68 and will take a surprising four-shot lead into Sunday's final round.

"Who's to say he's not supposed to be up there?" said Scott Hoch, who will be in the final group with Stewart on Sunday, four shots back.

"We have a lot of good players who have to qualify, and it's not surprising to me at all that we have a guy who is qualifying and playing this well."

Stewart wasn't rattled playing in the last group, making 12 pars and taking advantage of his birdie opportunities. His only hiccup came on the par-3 17th, when a poor tee shot led to Stewart's first bogey of the tournament.

Stewart started with a long birdie putt on the par-5 first hole, then added birdies at Nos. 8, 10 and 14. He rebounded from his only bogey, with a delicate pitch from the rough to 2 feet on No. 18 and his fifth birdie.

The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, is playing in his first tournament since the 2006 Senior British Open and trying to become the first qualifier to win a Champions Tour event since Pete Oakley at the 2004 Senior British Open. Ten players in tour history have qualified that week and then won an event.

While Stewart is a relatively unknown, the group set to try and chase him down on Sunday is full of marquee players with experience closing out victories. Seventeen players are within six shots of the lead.

Hoch made six birdies and one bogey en route to a 5-under 67, on a day when his ball striking was inconsistent and he let out an "ouch" after miss-hitting his tee-shot on the 18th. But Hoch took advantage of a handful of strong approach shots, making four birdie putts inside 10-feet.

After a warm, sun-filled first round on Friday, Hoch knew some weather was on its way Saturday, when both he and his wife had arthritic aches in their hands. The cool, cloudy Saturday afternoon didn't squeeze out much rain until after Hoch finished. "I played much better yesterday and shot 1 under. Today, nothing great, but just didn't get myself in trouble," Hoch said. Denis Watson, Bruce Vaughn and Gil Morgan all joined Hoch at 6 under. Vaughn also played in the Monday qualifier and didn't gain an automatic spot in the field, but was the first alternate and got in the field when Jim Dent withdrew.

Craig Stadler shot the lowest round of the day, firing a 7-under 65 to get to 5 under for the tournament. After making just two birdies in his first round, Stadler made seven on Saturday and eagled the 590-yard, par-5 15th.

The group at 5 under also includes Mark O'Meara, who shot 68, making just one bogey a day after bogeying three of his last four holes.

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Ray Stewart - 18 Holes Away From A Spectacular Season
(August 25/07)

From: The BC Golf News

Abbotsford's Ray Stewart survived a 10-player playoff during Monday qualifying just to get into the Champions Tour Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, WA. Sunday he'll begin the final round leading by four shots, shooting for the biggest payday in his golfing career and a free pass to play the senior tour in 2008.

The 53-year-old Stewart has led the Boeing Classic since Friday's first round of 6-under par 66 put him in front by two and after Saturday's 68 in the rain he's now 10-under par with a four-shot cushion to begin with on Sunday.

"I'm certainly not going to predict I'm going to win the golf tournament but it's nice I have to screw up four times before anybody catches me," said the veteran member of Abbotsford, British Columbia's LEDGEVIEW GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

With a first prize of $240,000 up for grabs and a full exemption for the 2008 season, the easy going Stewart is taking nothing for granted as he prepares to hopefully join BC's Dave Barr (2003) as the only other Canadian with a victory on the Champions Tour.

"All I have on my mind is hitting my first tee shot."

Stewart, who operates a private independent company serving the medical industry, is a two-time winner on the Canadian Tour (1999 Telus Edmonton Open and Canadian Masters) and a co-winner (with Barr and Rick Gibson) of the 1995 DunHill Cup.

Sterwart is playing in his first tournament since the 2006 Senior British Open and trying to become the first qualifier to win a Champions Tour event since Pete Oakley at the 2004 Senior British Open.

Ten players in Champions tour history have won tournaments they had to qualify to get into but none has ever led wire-to-wire, as Stewart is trying to accomplish.

While Stewart is a relatively unknown, the group set to try and chase him down on Sunday is full of marquee players with experience closing out victories. Seventeen players are within six shots of the lead.

Denis Watson, Bruce Vaughn, Gil Morgan and Scott Hoch are all at 6 under. Vaughn also played in the Monday qualifier and didn't gain an automatic spot in the field, but was the first alternate and got in the field when Jim Dent withdrew.

Statistically speaking, Stewart has managed 11 birdies over 36 holes. His only error came on the par-3 17th, when a poor tee shot led to his only bogey of the tournament. He began Saturday with a long birdie putt on the par-5 first hole, added birdies at Nos. 8, 10 and 14 and rebounded from the bogey at 17 with a delicate pitch from the rough to 2 feet on No. 18 and his fifth birdie.

"Not totally comfortable out there, but I survived," said the popular Canadian Tour veteran. "Went in with a two-shot lead and now I lead by four, I must be doing something different than the other guys."

Sunday's final round will be telecast on the Golf Channel.

Best of luck Ray, our fingers are all crossed for one more round under par.