A split in the field makes selection at the top easy, but how about some local flavor?
March 14, 2017 by Alex Colucci and Steve Hill in Fantasy with 0 comments
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Waco Annual Charity Open Outlook
From a fantasy perspective, the field split that we’re seeing throughout the sport this weekend makes picking top players at the Waco Annual Charity Open a bit easier. Labored the past couple weeks between choosing Paul McBeth or Ricky Wysocki to anchor your lineup? That’s no longer an issue with McBeth not taking part in the event. Fire up Wysocki and use him to anchor your lineup as he looks to bounce back from the Memorial. Of note: McBeth is taking Nate Sexton with him to the Throwdown the Mountain in Florida, which takes another top-rated player out of the mix, too.
At that point, then, you’re looking at a solid core of players in the 1020s that you can use to build a competitive lineup. You shouldn’t need to mine for many deep plays this week, but can look to differentiate your roster by being a bit contrarian.
But before we do that, get a refresher on how the Pro Tour league points are awarded by heading here.
Lineup Building Strategies
1) The Local Route
It’s easy, even in 6,000 point leagues, to build a strong lineup of chalk players by replacing one of your picks with a lower rated local player. By stacking the top end of your lineup, and hitting on a player who not many people might have in their lineups, you can set yourself apart to maximize points. Here are two options, one with a Texas-based player from each division:
| Men's Local | Women's Local | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rating | Player | Rating | |
| Ricky Wysocki | 1049 | Ricky Wysocki | 1049 | |
| Dave Feldberg | 1031 | Dave Feldberg | 1031 | |
| Simon Lizotte | 1028 | Simon Lizotte | 1028 | |
| Addison Collins | 966 | Eagle McMahon | 1024 | |
| Catrina Allen | 966 | Paige Pierce | 958 | |
| Paige Pierce | 958 | Stephanie Vincent | 910 | |
| Total | 5,998 | Total | 5,999 |
In both cases, you’re taking a bit of risk at the bottom of your lineup, with that risk being offset by each player’s local knowledge and experience.
2) Contrarian Plays
The easy money this weekend is on Eagle McMahon, who took second place at the 2016 Texas States Championship on the same course last year, to place well. But, everyone is going to have him in their lineup, thus negating a lot of the good he’ll do. In a strategy that is a cousin to the Local Route idea, you can take a bigger risk – but possibly reap a larger reward – by employing a contrarian play. Take McMahon out of your lineup and plug in someone like Drew Gibson — who finished the Memorial with a scorching 14-under par round and has plenty of power to handle the front half of the Beast — or Devan Owens, who should have a handle on the Midwest wind we’re likely to see this weekend.
Optimal Lineups
6,000 point leagues
| Steve's Picks | Alex's Picks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rating | Player | Rating | |
| Ricky Wysocki | 1049 | Ricky Wysocki | 1049 | |
| Dave Feldberg | 1031 | Eagle McMahon | 1024 | |
| Eagle McMahon | 1024 | Jeremy Koling | 1023 | |
| Philo Brathwaite | 1020 | James Conrad | 1017 | |
| Paige Pierce | 958 | Paige Pierce | 958 | |
| Madison Walker | 918 | Madison Walker | 918 | |
| Total | 6,000 | Total | 5,989 |
While we’ve chosen identical players in the women’s division, a couple men’s players will make the difference. Feldberg seems to be in fine form and has history in Waco, but Koling gets a chance to test his new Innova plastic on a mixed track that plays to his strengths.
6,025 point/DGPT leagues
Steve's Picks Alex's Picks
Player Rating Player Rating
Ricky Wysocki 1049 Ricky Wysocki 1049
Dave Feldberg 1031 Eagle McMahon 1024
Simon Lizotte 1028 Jeremy Koling 1023
Philo Brathwaite 1020 James Conrad 1017
Catrina Allen 966 Paige Pierce 958
Des Reading 930 Sarah Hokom 952
Total 6,024 Total 6,023
The extra points afford upgrades in the women’s division. Des Reading is a home state play here, and Sarah Hokom won the 2016 Texas States Championship on the same course.
Value Plays
James Conrad (1017) – It feels odd choosing a player rated at 1017 as a value pick, but as you’re probably noticing, even in more restrictive points leagues you can get away with choosing most of your MPO lineup from the 1020s. We feel like Conrad has a good shot at a top 10 or better this weekend—he excels in the woods, and that’s the name of the game on this back nine.
Miles Seaborn (1017) – Highly-rated? Check. Texas native? Check. Seaborn is generally a lock for a top 20 performance in a bigger event like this, with top 10 upside at a relatively low price.
Stephanie Vincent (909) – The Texas pro doesn’t tour that often but is always competitive when the larger events hit her state. She’s had strong rounds at Brazos East Park before and there’s a good chance she’ll be at it again this weekend.
Deep Sleepers
Nate Perkins (993) – He stays on our list of deep sleepers for the second tournament in a row. He had a quality showing at the GCC and two solid rounds at the Memorial. Now back in his home state and playing a course where he finished sixth at during last year’s Texas States Championship, he could be a good choice to round out your lineup.
Maria Oliva (873) – If you’re looking to allocate some more points towards your earlier selections, Oliva could be a good choice in the second women’s spot. She is very capable of out-performing her rating. She was in fourth place heading into the final round of last year’s Texas States Championship at this course, before a final round replete with rain dampened her finish.
Shy Away From
Cam Todd (1019) – We would like to go with the veteran who’s finished well at this course before and won an NT just last year, but he’s missed the cut at both the GCC and Memorial to start the season. Hopefully there’s no lingering elbow injuries, like he’s had in the past, and he’ll be back in fantasy lineups and at the top of leaderboards soon.
Zackeriath Johnson (999) – Some might be thinking about giving him a shot here because of his high finish on this course at least year’s Texas State Championship. But he missed the cut at the Memorial after some subpar rounds, so maybe hold off this week.
Final Thoughts
Why not have a little fun this week? Try something new with your lineups, and see how the strategy goes. With the fields being a little less deep than usual, take the opportunity to switch things up and keep the play fresh.
