Sutton, Morgan & Paulson named golfers of the month

PGA Tour star Hal Sutton, Senior Tour star Gil Morgan and Nike Tour member Carl Paulson have been named Players of the Month for September.

Sutton, who won the Bell Canadian Open, also led the United States to a dramatic win in the Ryder Cup last month. He took the championship at the Bell Canadian Open by shooting a final-day 3- under-par 69, one of only seven players who shot in the 60s in the final round at Bell Abbey Golf Club. Sutton also finished with a 3-1-1 record at the Country Club at Brookline, leading the U.S. to the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

This is the second time Sutton has been honoured in the past 12 months as PGA Player of the Month. He previously won the honour in October 1998. Sutton's $450,000 payday at Bell Abbey Golf Club lifted the Louisiana native to fifth place on the circuit's money list.

Morgan, the Senior Tour Player of the Month, shot in the 60s during 11 of his 12 rounds, earning his 14th and 15th career titles. The 53-year-old finished first at the Comfort Classic and Kroger Senior Classic and took third place at the TD Waterhouse and Bank One Championships. He became the year's seventh multiple winner, shooting a combined 56-under-par for a 66.80 scoring average during his four starts.

With combined earnings of $126,000 during September, Paulson earned his first two Nike Tour titles at the Utah Classic and Boise Open. His two victories thrust him into the race for a "battlefield promotion" to the PGA Tour. If Paulson wins one more Nike event, he will automatically be eligible for the PGA Tour next season.

Paulson also set a Nike Tour record with 83 consecutive starts and his $67,000 payday at the Utah Classic was the largest in tour history. The 28-year-old Paulson is now atop the Nike Tour money list, with $221,771.