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The 2009 Travelers Championship is now over and done with. Forty-eight year old Kenny Perry is the champion shooting a record score of 258, or 22-under par. Perry’s 22-under score is the fourth lowest score in PGA Tour history, and this is his second win of the year and his fifth win in the last two. David Toms shot a 5-under-par 65 to finish in a tie for second place with Paul Goydos. They each finished three shots back at 19-under.

J.J. Watch

Read tomorrow’s edition of the Fairfield Citizen for the full wrap-up on J.J. Henry’s final three rounds, Henry birdied four of his final six holes to finish -10 and in a tie for 23rd. Henry shot bookend 66′s with a 70 and 68 sandwiched in between.

“I hit the ball well enough to win this week, but for some reason just didn’t convert when I needed to,” Henry said. “I had some pretty good chances to get the momentum for the week. I started the week with a hole-out. All-in all, I can’t complain.”

Henry always enjoys coming back to Connecticut, and was a swell ambassador for the weekend. He thinks that he shot the ball well enough to win, but his putter and some bad luck got him. Either way, Henry’s schedule lines up nicely that he’ll get some off time in the next month.

“I’m going to play next week and I believe the following week at the John Deere,” Henry said. “I’m not in the British Open, but if I could play there I’d like to. If I’m not in there, I’ll take a few weeks off to relax a little bit.”

Henry currently sits in 61st place in the FedEx Cup Standings.

Verplank rides hot wave

Forty-nine year old Scott Verplank shot the low round of the day yesterday, firing an 8-under 62. Verplank finished in a tie for ninth at -15. He had glowing things to say about the course in Cromwell.

“This golf course, if you hit the shots you can shoot scores,” he said. “I can get it going on this golf course… I think I’ll probably keep this on my schedule longer. I’d like to, because this golf course suits me really good.”

Odds and ends

The PGA Tour will move to Washington D.C. for the AT&T National. The tournament is known as “Tiger’s event” and will be played at the Congressional Course… Bubba Watson shot 63 on Sunday to finish 13-under-par and in a tie for 14 “I’ve been playing good all year, been pretty consistent all year and just looking forward to the rest of the year doing that.”… Henry was in Fairfield for a First-Tee event at Fairchild Wheeler Country Club “It’s always nice to give something back to the town I’m from,” he said.

Quick Hits

Can anyone really take the Mets seriously as a contender right now? Injuries or no, they look pitiful. Which was more embarrassing, the 3 error inning on Friday night? Or the “great K-Rod” walking Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded last night… The Yankees have now won five straight and look like they could get rolling. They have the Mariners tomorrow at the Stadium… Good to see that Tommie Hanson is an equal opportunity stopper. He shut down the Red Sox yesterday, the same way he shut down the Yankees next week. If only the Braves had a few other starters to build around him… Is anyone in either league really afraid of the Dodgers?… Check out tomorrow’s Citizen for more about the Stratton-Faxon Fairfield Half-Marathon. Tim Parry wrote a good piece for us.

Reader Poll

This is a little bit of fun I’m going to have to gauge if there is anyone out there actually reading, and see what everyone thinks. Who is the most famous athlete in the world? Either respond or e-mail me your answers. As always you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pickensp.

Until soon, take good care.

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Weather came to visit again at the third round of the Travelers Championship. Fortunately for all parties involved, it didn’t make itself at home today.

Play was suspended at 5:44 p.m., but resumed at 6:50, just in time for the final groups to finish their third rounds. Paul Goydos is -16 for the weekend and holds a one shot lead on Kenny Perry and is two shots ahead of David Toms.

J.J. Watch

J.J. Henry of Fairfield shot a 68 for his third round at TPC River Highlands. Henry made four birdies and two bogeys, but could have scored much lower than 68. He had two putts rim out on his back-nine and was not exactly pleased despite shooting 68.

“I feel like I left some shots out there on my front-nine,” Henry said. “I probably should’ve shot better than 68…Hopefully I have a low one in me tomorrow.”

Henry had to finish his second round at 8 a.m.. He made par on each of the final three holes before sitting in the clubhouse for about three and a half hours between when his second round ended and his noon third round tee time.

“I’m a little tired for sure,” Henry said. “I’m going to go relax and hopefully play well tomorrow.”

Henry’s playing partner Chris Stroud shot 68 as well and will play his fourth round with J.J. The pair will tee off at 10:59 a.m. The third member of their pairing, Nick O’Hern, shot 67.

Mahan Hunting the lead

Hunter Mahan started his third round at 4-under-par, but that changed drastically. Mahan birdied two of his first four holes, and then five in a row between holes 16-2. Mahan started on the 10th tee. He birdied the par-5 sixth hole, which was his eighth birdie of the day. He bogeyed the ninth to shoot 63. He and Goydos tied for lowest round of the day.

“It’s a fun course, you can make a lot of birdies here,” Mahan said. “I have a lot of confidence here.”

Mahan is at -11 and is five shots behind Goydos. He’ll tee off his fourth round at 1:20 p.m. with Anthony Kim.

Odds and Ends

Stratford’s John Bushka shot 79 in his second round after shooting a 75 on the front nine. Bushka missed the cut, but his 75 in round one was the lowest that he had shot at River Highlands. Bushka qualified for the tournament on Monday, and he finished +14 overall. “It was great to be back here,” Bushka said. “I felt more comfortable here than the first time.” Bushka is the assistant pro at Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk… Goydos and Perry will tee off at 2 p.m. in the final group, Goydos has two career wins, his last was at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii… Bo Van Pelt shot a 64 on Saturday afternoon, including a 30 on the back nine to get to 12-under-par “I like the way I’m playing,” he said. “You never know what will happen tomorrow.”… Because more than 70 players made the cut after the second round, a second cut was made. Eight golfers were cut and 72 remain… For updates on the fourth round at the Travelers Championship, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pickensp.

Half-Marathon

The Stratton-Faxon Half Marathon will run tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. at Jennings Beach in Fairfield. We’ll run a story chronicling the half marathon in Wednesday’s edition of the Fairfield Citizen. The race is full and will not accept race-day entries.

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Welcome faithful followers of Fairfield, and beyond. This is the first posting of many (hopefully) at this site, and I hope you are ready for fun. I’m ready to have some fun doing this.

For those of you who may not know me, I’m Pat Pickens and I’m the sports editor at the Fairfield Citizen. My main objective is to follow sports in the town of Fairfield, but I may drift to the pro and college ranks beyond Fairfield. Plus any breaking news that I may hear may end up on here from around the area. After all, the aim of journalism is to get the story out, no matter who publishes it.

Without further ado…

Friday at the Travelers

The story of the day at the TPC at River Highlands was the weather. Rain engulfed the area early on and then suspended the second round late. At 4:25 p.m., the second round was officially suspended and at 6 p.m. the play for the day was called. Fairfield’s J.J. Henry had his drive in the fairway on the par-4 7th hole, his 16th hole of the day. Henry was -4 for the tournament and even par on the day.

Henry had a consistent start to the round, as he made par on each of the first 6 holes. Henry birdied the par-4 15th, which was his eighth hole. Henry hit a booming drive and then hit his second shot to within eight feet. Henry sunk the putt.

He continued his weekly success at the par-4 1st hole, as he went to 2-under-par on the day with a birdie. J.J. again drove his drive into the fairway, hit his second shot to within six feet and made the putt to improve to -6.

Henry struggled after that though, as he failed to get a rhythm going. Henry bogied the par-4 4th after a three-putt, and then hit an atrocious drive off of a tree on the par-5 6th. Henry had a terrible lie and took 2 shots to get out of the rough and had to lay-up far short of the green, in the right rough. Henry’s approach fell short of the green and he chipped up and one-putted to save bogey. Henry’s play was suspended on the next hole and will resume at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Henry’s playing partner, Ricky Barnes, had an up and down round, but when play was suspended he was at -5, even for the day. Henry’s other partner, Corey Pavin, was even par through 8 holes today, but rallied to get to 3-under-par with just three holes to play. The cut line was -3 when play was suspended.

Sights and sounds from around Cromwell

The volunteers at the Travelers handed out green ribbons in honor of Ken Green. Green was injured in an RV accident earlier in the week and the players are all wearing them as well…Kenny Perry shot a 2-under-par 68 on his second round and he leads the tournament at -11…All groups will resume their second rounds at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The third round will start shortly after…For live updates on J.J. Henry’s second and third round, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pickensp.

I’ll chime in at some point tomorrow. Post your comments, suggestions and questions. Thanks for your time.