January 21, 2009
Peoria (AZ)


After beginning the final round at Vistancia trailing last week’s winner and 36-hole leader, Ben Kern (65/65/71-201, 3rd), by five strokes, Steven Taylor (67/68/64-199, 17-under par) bogeyed three of his first four holes of the day to make any chance at winning the Desert Winter Series’ 3rd event seem like an impossibility.

After two-straight birdies on the 5th & 6th holes, then two more on the 8th & the 9th, however, Taylor turned the front side at 1-under par and then made five more birdies on the back, including an eagle – 2 on the par-4, 15th, to shoot 29 and post an 8-under par 64 on the day.

That’s 11-under par in his final 14 holes.

And that was enough to overtake Kern, who bogeyed his last hole, as well as 2009 conditional member of the PGA TOUR, Kevin Stadler (63/70/67-200, 2nd) – a buy-in player this week, who three-putted the par-5, 18th from about fifty feet for bogey as well.

“I don’t really even know what to say,” said Taylor. “After missing my first two cuts this year, I suppose I was kind of anxious starting out today, but after that bad start I just kind of settled down a little bit and then really got it going.”

“I saw the leaderboards on the back nine, but just thought to put something good up to make ‘em nervous,” he said. “I thought I had somewhat of a chance, but never thought this would happen…This is really something else right now. I just wasn’t expecting to be in this position.”

A 23 year-old, second-year pro from Canton, IL, Taylor played The Desert Series in ’08 to the tune of $41,390.84, with three Top 5’s to his credit.

Never securing that elusive victory though, after making it to Q-School Finals in December and garnering an ’09 conditional card on the Nationwide Tour, he feels the experience in La Quinta taught him a lot about himself and his golf game.

“It was a great experience for me,” said Taylor of Finals. “It’s just grueling. I never really thought about how much it could take out of you, but through that week, I learned a lot about myself and my game.”

“It’s just nice to think that when I’m playing well, I can hit it as well as a lot of guys out there, and that gives me a lot of confidence,” he added. “I’d say that probably helped me today to be able to keep it going out there."

Taylor’s win, worth $24,000, also made him reflect upon those who've enabled him to play professional golf to even have the opportunity to win tournaments, like today's at Vistancia, in the first place.

“I’d really just like to thank my family, my sponsor, Mr. Peterson, and the Weematuk Country Club family back in Illinois, for all the help and support they all have given me,” said Taylor. “Without their help, I wouldn’t be here doing what I’ve dreamed to do, and I just can’t thank them enough.”

This week’s event at Trilogy at Vistancia completes The Desert Winter Series’ 3rd of 7 Series events preceding the 2009 Winter Series Championship at Encanterra. The Desert Series will take an off week before resuming again February 3-5, at Palm Valley & The Wigwam - Gold, in Litchfield Park, AZ. Stay tuned for results…


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