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 Jim Herman has capitalised on two late stumbles from Chris Kirk to win the Moonah Classic, the American making a birdie at the first playoff hole to beat his compatriot at Moonah Links on Sunday.
Having led the tournament after every round following his brilliant course-record 62 on the opening day, with Kirk joining him at the top after 54 holes, Herman made the most of Kirk's faltering finish to take out the Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned event.
With the pair returning to the 18th for the playoff a poor second shot from Kirk meant he came up short of the green with his third while Herman hit his approach to within six feet and then holed his birdie putt after Kirk had pitched to within 10 feet for his par.
Coming into the event with little to be enthusiastic about having missed his past seven cuts dating back to last September, Herman ended that run of outs in emphatic fashion while Kirk has now lost twice in playoffs after also going down to Aussie Jarrod Lyle two years ago.
Earlier, the title looked to be Kirk's to lose when he led by two shots with three holes to play and that's how it played out as back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes, his first blemishes since dropping shots at the final two holes on Friday, opened the door for Herman.
But even after those mistakes and several birdie putts earlier in the day that he left just short, Kirk had the chance to grab the trophy at the 72nd hole after Herman had two-putted for par but from eight feet he too missed his birdie putt.
Having stormed into contention on Saturday with a superb 65 in the toughest winds of the week, Kirk eventually finished at 11 under thanks to a two-under 70 on the final day, with Herman's matching score forcing them to sudden death.
Robert Gates, who made an impressive Nationwide Tour debut a week ago when he won the New Zealand Open, came close to forcing a playoff when he came home with a eight birdies in a 66 before having to settle for third on 10 under.
And Lyle, who beat Kirk in sudden death at the Nationwide Tour Knoxville Open in 2008, closed to within a shot of the lead a couple of times during the round, firstly when he picked up four shots in the first four holes and then again on the back nine.
But pressing to try and draw level Lyle made costly bogeys and eventually carded a 68 to share fourth place on nine under with American Tag Ridings, who threatened to make a run at the lead on the back nine but lost momentum over the closing holes en route to a 67.
The strong south-easterly winds that troubled the field on Saturday didn't return on the final day and the players appreciated the much gentler easterly breezes even though the temperature climbed into the high 20s.
Having started the final round level at nine under after Herman had lost his way with a 75 on Saturday just two days after setting a new course record with a 62, Kirk drew clear when he birdied the 2nd.
And while Lyle was making his presence known with two birdies and an eagle in the first four holes, Kirk picked up another shot at the 4th to increase his lead, with Herman dropping a shot at the 5th hole.
But Herman responded immediately with a birdie at the next hole and when he added another at the 9th he was back within a stroke, with the margin staying at one shot until Kirk finally holed another birdie putt at the 14th after several near misses.
Kirk made it successive birdies when he repeated the effort at 15 but Herman matched him to stay in touch and after going 34 holes without any blemishes Kirk's consecutive bogeys at 16 and 17 brought Herman back into it.
Colombian Manny Villegas also carded a 67 that included six birdies to claim outright sixth place on minus eight, one clear of Australian Andrew Dodt (70), who backed up his second at the NZ Open with another top-10 finish and two ahead of Americans Jeff Brehaut (68) and Martin Piller (68).
The top 10 was rounded out by Victorians Steve Allan (67) and Steve Jones (71), Americans Trevor Murphy (67) and Jin Park (67) and Kiwi Martin Hendry at five under, with Hendry's 66 including a hole in one at the par-three 5th.
Defending champion Alistair Presnell (73) had a disappointing final round and shared 15th place on minus four with fellow Aussies Scott Laycock (72) and Anthony Brown (72), Americans Scott Stallings (71) and Doug LaBelle (72) and Canadian David Hearn, another who shot 66.
2010 Moonah Classic - Final Standings  top
Kirk, Herman tied for lead in Moonah Classic6 Feb 2010
 Americans Chris Kirk and Jim Herman will head into the final round of the Moonah Classic locked together and four shots clear of the field after Kirk vaulted into contention with a superb seven-under 65 in the toughest conditions of the event so far at Moonah Links.
Kirk began his third round tied 27th, 10 strokes adrift of Herman at two-under, but a bogey-free display that included four birdies in five holes on the front nine saw him rocket up the leaderboard to nine-under at the Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned tournament.
The Knoxville native led outright a couple of times late in the afternoon after a faltering Herman leaked three shots on the front nine but Herman largely held it together after the turn and his birdie at the 15th saw him eventually finish with a 75 that drew him level with Kirk.
The southeast winds blew much harder on Saturday at the Mornington Peninsula layout, gusting at least 40kmh with temperatures in the low 20s but the forecast for Sunday is for the wind to ease on the way to a top of 28 degrees.
Jarrod Lyle (72), who beat Kirk in a playoff to win the Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open in 2008, defending champion Alistair Presnell (70) and last-start New Zealand Open runner-up Andrew Dodt (68) are the nearest challengers to the leaders, along with American Scott Gutschewski (71).
But locals Scott Laycock (71), Anthony Brown (71), Andre Stolz (74), Andrew Buckle (75) and Steve Jones (77), Kiwi Phil Tataurangi (70), Argentine Fabian Gomez (75) and Americans Joe Affrunti (70), Tag Ridings (71), Doug Labelle (74) and NZ Open winner Robert Gates (69) are tied for seventh place on four-under.
Kirk, who started with a 70 and could then only add a 72 on Friday as he bogeyed the final two holes, missed an early putt for birdie before grabbing three-straight birdies and four in five holes from the 2nd.
And when he birdied the 10th and 12th holes he was briefly threatening Herman's course-record 62 from Thursday before settling for his 65 with a seventh birdie at 15, although it could have even been one better with a long birdie putt at the 18th hitting the cup but bouncing out.
"I was lucky to have a real good feel for it all day, how much the wind was going to affect it and hit a lot of solid shots," Kirk said.
"I think the key for me (is) I always try to tell myself when it's a really windy day like that is to never hit one hard."
"It (the wind) was just blowing that much harder (today), I don't know if it was 10mph harder or something like that but it was just to the point where it was affecting the putts and it was really just affecting everything."
Having set a new course record with a 10-under 62 on Thursday that didn't include any bogeys, and gone another 18 holes on Friday with a solid 70 that likewise contained no blemishes as he moved to 12-under, Herman finally dropped a shot at the 1st on Saturday.
But further dropped shots at the 6th, 7th and 11th holes threatened to send Herman right back into the pack with Gomez and Herman's playing partner Jones others who had closed to within a shot of the lead at one stage.
His first birdie at the 12th stemmed the tide only for him to bogey 13 but playing the final five holes one-under thanks to a second birdie at the 15th has at least given Herman the chance to start the final round level with Kirk.
Herman lamented that after landing his approach to the 1st on the green only for it to spin back off the cut surface and then missing birdie putts at the next three holes he began to press a little harder which led to the further dropped shots but he was pleased to arrest the slide coming home.
Of the New Zealanders to make the cut Phil Tataurangi (71, 71, 70) is sitting in a tie for seventh on four under, five back from the leaders. Tataurangi is closely followed by fellow kiwis Gareth Paddison (68, 71, 74) on three under and Bradley Iles (68, 74, 72) two under.
Moonah Classic - Round Three Scores top
Herman leads Moonah Classic by three5 Feb 2010
 American Jim Herman has followed up his opening-round, course record-breaking 62 with a flawless 70 on Friday, giving him a three-stroke lead heading into the final 36 holes of the Moonah Classic at Moonah Links.
The Ohio native has moved to 12 under overall at the Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned tournament, just a week after missing the cut at the New Zealand Open, to lead from local Steve Jones who backed up his own opening 68 with a five-under 67.
After patchy rain fell in the morning on a day when the wind troubled the players more than it had on Thursday, Australian Andrew Buckle (68) and Argentine Fabian Gomez (68) finished tied together in third place on seven under.
After opening with a 66 that had looked set to give him the 18-hole lead before Herman's heroics, Andre Stolz was unable to maintain the early momentum that took him to eight under, finishing with a 72 and level with Steven Bowditch (68), American Doug LaBelle (69) and Canadian Jon Mills (70) on minus six.
Rounding out the top 10 on five under are Australian quartet Craig Scott (69), Jarrod Lyle (70), Mitchell Brown (70) and Aaron Townsend (71) and Kiwi Gareth Paddison (71) while Americans Skip Kendall (70), Scott Gutschewski (71) and Ryan Armour (72) are 14th on minus four.
A day after shooting 71, defending champion Alistair Presnell got to four under on the front nine but late bogeys left him with a 70 and at minus three, while Craig Parry (70) and last-start NZ Open winner Robert Gates (72) are among those tied for 38th on one under.
While Steve Allan (76), Bobby MacWhinnie (78) and Bob May (73) were among those who made the cut at plus one with nothing to spare, Peter O'Malley (74 for four over), Nick Flanagan (77 for plus six) and 2008 winner Ewan Porter (79 for nine over) weren't as fortunate.
Having reeled off five birdies each on the front and back nines on Thursday, Herman had a slower start on Friday as three times he found trouble with approach shots and on each occasion got up and down for par.
From there he managed to pick up his first birdie at the 6th to increase his lead to five strokes, before another birdie at the 14th restored his advantage to four shots and while Jones closed to within three it could easily have been two had he not recovered from a stray approach at the last.
"It was a quick turnaround which is nice, I seem to like (playing) late (and then) early," Herman said.
"I can just keep the momentum going so that was a good thing for me, I didn't have to sit around and wait til the afternoon round today."
"I think that's the high point right now, staying bogey free. There's plenty of birdie opportunities but to not give any back so far is fulfilling for me so I' m going to try and keep that going this weekend."
A winner in Arizona on the Gateway Tour in the United States two years ago, 26-year-old Jones has put himself into contention with the best round of the day, atoning for a bogey at the 1st with a pair of birdies to the turn and four more coming home.
"I started off fairly poorly actually (and) bogeyed the first hole and then parred the par-five so I wasn't feeling overly good this morning before I played," Jones said.
"But my caddy got me out of that little slump and I had a couple of birdies ... so it's been good."
"It was windier and it was a different direction, (the) opposite direction to yesterday so it takes a bit of adapting to some of the holes. It just blew a bit more consistently today."
"But it was definitely easier yesterday than today I think."
Moonah Classic - Round Two Standings top
Herman scorches Moonah4 Feb 2010
 Jim Herman has broken Robert Allenby's 2005 Moonah Links course record by a stroke, the American carding a brilliant 10-under 62 late on Thursday to lead the Moonah Classic by four shots after 18 holes.
Herman didn't start his first round until nearly 2pm and while conditions were at their toughest then with the wind up and rain falling things began to ease again within a couple of hours, leaving the course open to be plundered with the greens softened.
And plunder it Herman did just a week after he missed the cut at the New Zealand Open, the 32-year-old from Cincinnati putting together matching 31s that included five birdies each in a flawless display.
Local Andre Stolz carded the best score of the morning, a 66 that had for much of the day looked set to leave him atop the leaderboard heading into Friday morning, while Australian Paul Sheehan and American duo Jim Carter and Bobby MacWhinnie share third place on minus five.
On a day when close to half the 156-man field finished at better than even par, 12 players occupy sixth place on four under including Australians Jarrod Lyle and Aaron Townsend, Kiwi Gareth Paddison, American Darron Stiles and Canadian Jon Mills.
New Zealand Open runner-up Andrew Dodt and his fellow Australians Scott Laycock and Steve Allan are among those at three under while local veterans Mark Hensby and Stephen Leaney both carded 70s to be tied for 32nd on two under.
Dual Australian Open champion Peter Lonard, making his second start since returning from a two-month injury layoff at the course where he won the first of those two Stonehaven Cups in 2003, shot 71 to be level with defending champ Alistair Presnell and last-start NZ Open winner Bob Gates.
American journeyman Bob May carded a 72 along with Australian Gavin Coles while 2008 champion Ewan Porter, who won that year by a staggering seven shots, had a day to forget as he shot 74 to sit alongside Peter O'Malley and Steve Alker.
After a solid start that included a birdie at the 11th hole Herman exploded with four more in five holes to suddenly threaten the lead Stolz had held for several hours and he kept running hot coming home by picking up five more shots in seven holes from the 2nd.
Allenby's amazing 63 came in the opening round of the Australian Open in late 2005 and having gone on to win the tournament Herman will be hoping he can do likewise, with his best finish since turning pro in 2005 a tie for third at last year's New Zealand Open.
Stolz, who won the 2004 Michelin Championship in Las Vegas but whose career has been affected in recent years by a chronic wrist injury, peeled off four birdies in seven holes from the 12th tee but said after his round that he could have birdied every hole to the turn if his putting had been better.
The 39-year-old, who also missed the cut at The Hills last week, added three more birdies on the front nine with only a lone bogey at the 3rd when he drove his tee shot into a bunker costing him a 65 but overall he was well pleased with his day's work.
"I hit my drive good, I just hit it too good and it just got to the bunker through the fairway on the 3rd there," Stolz said. "It's always an awkward tee shot."
"I actually had a three wood out and I thought 'no I'll just hit a little nice smooth driver' and I just hit it too good."
"I ended up coming up just around the front there and I had about a six-footer for par which I missed (but) other than that it was pretty solid."
Sheehan and Carter both got to six under at one point - the latter playing alongside Stolz - but with the wind picking up around midday both dropped late shots while MacWhinnie closed with five successive pars after making four-straight birdies from the 1st.
Mills had recovered from an early bogey at the 11th with four birdies to the turn and an eagle and two more birdies on the front nine but consecutive bogeys at the 6th and 7th saw him slip from level with Stolz and in the lead to well back.
2010 Moonah Classic - 1st Round Scores top
Gates wins NZ Open in a thiller31 Jan 2010
 Robert Gates survived a late run of bogeys to claim the New Zealand Open title at The Hills near Queenstown by one shot after finishing the tournament at 14-under-par.
The big American, in his first Nationwide Tour event, led the tournament from the first round and coasted to a six shot lead by the 8th hole today but some wayward shots combined with birdies from his closest rival playing partner Australian Andrew Dodt saw the pair equal at 14 under with two holes to play.
The 24-year-old had a two-shot lead going into the 16th hole but hit his tee shot into the hazard, forcing him to take a drop that resulted in a double bogey and allowed Dodt to join him in a share of the lead.
Both players then sent their tee-shots on the 17th into the sand, with Dodt having to settle for a double bogey, dropping him back to 12-under to be tied with American Jamie Lovemark in second place.
The pressure was on Gates to sink a difficult par-putt in the strong wind, but the unflappable American stayed true to stay at 14-under and a two-shot advantage moving into the final hole.
An up-and-down on the final hole was enough to hand Gates the much-deserved win to end the tournament on a score of 274 with Dodt nailing a birdie on the 18th to claim outright second place at 13-under and the hefty cheque that comes with it.
The win hands Gates $USD108,000 of the $USD600,000 prize purse, a three-year exemption onto the Australasian Tour through 2012 and a two-year exemption on the Nationwide Tour through 2011.
Lovemark was the best performer of the round, hitting a four-under 68 on the final day to end his tournament in outright third at 12-under-par.
Victorian Michael Curtain, winner of the 2009 WA Open shot a roller coaster final round of even par that included four bogeys and two birdies with the highlight, an eagle on the par five 17th to finish in outright fourth place on 11 under.
Just one shot behind him in fifth place was fellow Victorian Mark Hensby. Hensby, returning from injury and a tough two years in the US, shot a final round one under 71 to close out fifth spot and start the year on a positive note.
Josh Geary was New Zealand's best performer for the second year running and was pushing for another top-placing at one stage to reach 10-under-par through his first 16 holes.
However a wayward drive on the 17th kicked off what was the most disappointing hole of his tournament to hit a triple bogey on the par five.
Geary said after his drive found the water he struggled to get a break and had to play his ball from near unplayable lies as his hopes of a second or third placing slipped from grasp and he had to settle for a share on ninth place at seven-under.
"It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth that's for sure," he said.
"It was a comedy of bad lies to be honest. It was a bad shot off the tee but it probably didn't deserve an eight."
"That's just golf, you never know what's going to happen obviously and it's just one of those things you've got to take on the chin."
"I played pretty well though and all-in-all two-under was pretty solid today and it's definitely pretty hard out there."
New Zealand's best player moving into the final round, Phil Tataurangi, was disappointing and hit a two-over-par to end the tournament at six-under in a tie for 16th.
The Hills, Queenstown - NZ Open Final Standings top
Gates leads NZ Open by Three30 Jan 2010
 Nationwide Tour rookie Robert Gates showed no signs of pressure as the 24-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday to up his lead in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open to three shots after three rounds.
Andrew Dodt of Australia, who was Thursday's co-leader with Gates and New Zealand's David Smail, is in second position after posting a 70.
A shot back of Dodt in third place is fellow Aussie Michael Curtain, who shot 68 to move three spots up the leaderboard.
Making his first Nationwide Tour start, Gates was unflappable, recording six birdies and two bogeys. After three trips around the 7,243-yard The Hills golf course, he has an eagle, 19 birdies and only five bogeys.
"This is my first event, and I didn't know what to expect," Gates said. "I'm playing great. I just hope to keep it going. I might sleep a little later, but it's just golf with a different scenario and different situation.
"I'm going to go out and play the best I can tomorrow," he added. "If it's good enough, it's good enough. If it's not, someone had to play good to beat me."
Were Gates to win tomorrow, he would be the 13th player to win in his Nationwide Tour debut, joining Australians Stuart Appleby and Gavin Coles, among others. Miguel Angel Carballo of Argentina, who is in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open field, was the last to do so in 2007 at the Movistar Panama Championship.
A native of Gainesville, Fla., and 2008 graduate of Texas A&M University, Gates was a first-round co-leader and held a one-shot lead over Dodt at yesterday's midway point. The affable Aggie has demonstrated a relaxed air about himself while walking the fairways with his caddie and girlfriend, Lauren Johnson of Houston, by his side.
Leading by one over Dodt and Curtain standing on the 12th tee, Gates pulled away from the duo with consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 15.
Like Gates, Dodt is 24 and seeking his first professional victory.
"It was disappointing to bogey the last hole but I had a lot of good stuff going on and hopefully tomorrow a few more putts can go my way,'' he said.
"Bobby (Gates) is a great guy," Dodt continued. "We talked the whole way round so it's good we both played well and enjoyed ourselves at the same time. I feel I'm in with a chance. I've stuck to the game plan for three rounds so I'll be doing the same tomorrow -- holing more putts is the key.''
Mark Hensby of Australia turned in the day's best round, a 6-under 66, to move into a tie for fourth with countryman Matthew Griffin and Californian Kevin Chappell.
D.J. Brigman, who played in the final group with Gates and Dodt, did not feed off the good play of his fellow competitors. A 74 dropped him from third place into a tie for seventh.
The Hills, Queenstown - NZ Open Round Three Scores
Third-Round Notes:
- Phil Tataurangi remains the top Kiwi. He is tied for seventh. First-round co-leader and fellow Kiwi David Smail is two strokes back in a tie for 16th.
- A pair of former NCAA Championship individual winners (and members of championship teams), Kevin Chappell (UCLA) and Jamie Lovemark (USC), are lurking inside the top 10. Chappell is tied for fourth after shooting 71. Lovemark is tied for seventh following a second straight 69. Lovemark flew straight from the Bob Hope Classic in California, arriving here on Wednesday afternoon.
- Last year's runner-up, Martin Piller, is among those tied for 11th. He was the third-round leader in 2009, only to be caught by champion Alex Prugh, who shot a final-round 64.
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AMERICAN ROOKIE HOLDS HALFWAY NZ OPEN LEAD30 Jan 2010
 A little more than 10 months ago, Robert Gates was home in the United States cheering on his high school buddy and college companion Martin Piller as the Nationwide Tour rookie searched for his maiden tour win in New Zealand.
Piller took a one-shot lead into the third round of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open near Queenstown and eventually finished runner-up to countryman Alex Prugh. Piller had gained his tour card by progressing through three stages at Q School; Gates missed his chance at the second stage, missing the cut by a shot.
Gates, however, emulated Piller’s feat in 2009, moving through the three stages and last December earning the Nationwide tour ticket which has brought him to Queenstown, along with Piller, for this week’s New Zealand Open at The Hills course.
After 36 holes both are very much in contention, especially Gates, who backed up his opening round of 65 with a five-under 67 today to be 12-under par and leading by a shot from Australian Andrew Dodt, who had shared the overnight lead with Gates and New Zealand’s David Smail.
The pair has established a little break halfway through the $US600,000 tournament with American D J Brigman firing five birdies in a round of 69 which left him nine-under and alone in third place three behind Gates.
Equal fourth on eight-under were Americans, Darron Stiles and Kevin Chappell.
Among the group of eight on seven-under were Piller, who had six birdies in a flawless 66, and the leading Kiwis, seasoned United States PGA player, Phil Tataurangi, who had five birdies in his 68 before dropping a shot at the 18th.
Considering it is his first Nationwide event, Gates, 24, has held his nerve remarkably well, although he admitted to a few jitters around the holes where the bigger galleries were gathered.
He is excited at being in New Zealand, also at leading the country’s premier championship and with the chance of being grouped with Piller for the final round.
`We’ve known each other since high school and were freshman roommates in college (Texas A&M University) and have been really good friends since. He had a great season last year and it was a lot of fun to watch him do what he did,’’ Gates said.
`It was really good motivation for me because he (Piller) came through Q School after almost giving up earlier. Now I get to compete against him – I’m still cheering for him but I still want to win.
`I’ve made the cut at my first tournament and that is one of my goals every week. I’m excited that I’ve put myself into a position where I can have a good weekend and see what happens.’’
Gates dwarfs Piller by 23cm, but golf is a game where size doesn’t count and Piller, said smilingly, he was up for the challenge: ``I’ll be trying the catch the big guy.’’
Tataurangi looked at home on a course that he walked several years ago when it was a deer farm with owner Micahel Hill and golf designer John Darby.
'Today is the best I have played here. I started nicely and had a couple of birdies early on.” After going through the turn two under, Tataurangi had consecutive birides at 10, 11 and 12 after sinking two putts from five metres and a tap in on 12. He could has easily notched four more birdies after missing putts from four metres, two metres, four metres and three metres on holes 13 through 16. His only blemish was a hooked drive on 18 into deep rough which resulted in a bogey.
Josh Geary (69-69) and Bradley Iles (71-67) are the best of the remaining New Zealanders at six under, with first round joint leader David Smail a shot further back (65-74). Noted Kiwis Grant Waite, Steve Alker, Mahal Pearce and Michael Long all missed the cut.
Western Australian Matt Jager became the first Australian to win the Bledisloe Cup for the leading amateur since Adam Groom in 2002. Jager, the New Zealand amateur champion, finished at three under (68-73).
The cut was at two under 142 with 66 profesionals and one amateur to play the weekend’s rounds. top
Smail in three-way tie at Michael Hill New Zealand Open29 Jan 2010
 Two whirlwind finishes late in the day by Australian Andrew Dodt and American Robert Gates has resulted in a three-way tie with New Zealander David Smail at seven under at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open in Queenstown this afternoon.
Playing in two of the last groups of the day, Gates, who started his round with an eagle, finished with three consecutive birdies while Dodt was even more impressive with birdies on his last four holes.
Conditions were nearly perfect throughout round one, with only a slight breeze offering any challenge as evidenced by the fact more than half the field were under par.
New Zealander David Smail backed up a superb putting performance with precision accuracy from both tee and fairway in his 65. Smail hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens on his way to a seven under 67 in the $US600,000 Nationwide co-sanctioned event.
Professing to have no confidence in his game leading into the tournament, Smail started with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th, rattled off two more over the back nine to turn in 32.
“After those two birdies I certainly got my confidence back. I’m still not 100% happy with the way I hit it today, but I putted superbly. Even the putts I missed were right on the line I wanted to hit them. It’s almost a year since I have putted that well.”
Smail took 27 putts and apart from a good up-and-down from the deep green-side bunker on 18 and a topped three wood on the first, was seldom in trouble.
Normally a slow starter, Smail was delighted both with the way he started the round and also the fact he had shot such a low round at the beginning of the tournament.
“It’s good to be able to jump out of the gates so quickly.”
Gates, 24, was playing his first Nationwide Tour event after qualifying through three stages last year. He said he learnt a lot from that experience and he put it to good use today, an eagle at the par-5 first after a 7-iron to three feet being an ideal start.
He mixed four birdies with two bogeys over the next 14 holes before charging up the leaderboard with birdies at 16, 17 and 18. He almost holed in one on the par-3 16th, finishing six inches away, before two-putting the par-5 17th and ramming hole a 30-foot putt at the last.
`Being my first event I tried to stay calm beforehand and the eagle was a nice way to get going. I was picking the targets and getting the yardage right,’’ said Gates, a graduate from Texas A and M University.
Gates played the Canadian Tour in 2009 where he made the cut in eight of his 10 starts with his best finish being third in the Costa Rica Classic. His one start on the US PGA Tour resulted in a share of 47th at the 2009 Valero Texas Open.
Dodt, a beaten finalist in the 2005 New Zealand amateur championship, felt that it was his mental strength that was a feature of his game today.
“I started practising three weeks ago but have not been hitting the ball all that well, but I sunk some great putts and was mentally strong.” His four birdie run at the end of his round included putts from six feet, five feet, 20 feet and 10 feet.
Fifteenth on the Asian Order of Merit in 2009, Dodt had top 10 finishes at the Singapore Open and at Macau.
One shot behind Smail and Gates are American D J Brigman and Australian Andrew Bonhomme. Brigman, who warmed for the event by going hang-gliding, took a while to get his equilibrium back, bogeying his second hole, the 11th, before two birdies had him turning in 35. He then reeled off five birdies in seven holes on the front nine for a 66.
`We had a really good group – David Smail played really well and we had momentum going as a group and carried it through the round. I don’t know what our best-ball would have been but I think we birdied every hole.
`I went hang-gliding yesterday hoping that would free me and up and take a bit of fear out of me. I putted fearlessly today, rolled it extremely well, and made a ton of putts. The greens are rolling well, they’re not super-fast so you can be aggressive.’’
Bonhomme, who tied for sixth in the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater last Sunday, continued his good form at The Hills, firing a flawless 66 with three birdies on each half.
He tied for fourth at The Hills last year and said it was course he enjoyed. He was three-under after 12 than had three straight birdies, two-putting the par-5 13th, holing an 8-footer at 14 and a 6-footer at 15.
Bonhomme has played the Nationwide Tour for the last two years but both times suffered injuries – a wrist in 2008 and tennis elbow in 2009 – that handicapped him. Unless he wins in the next fortnight he intends playing the burgeoning One-Asia Tour this year.
There are a group of eight players on 68. Behind Smail, the best of the New Zealanders were Josh Geary and Phil Tataurangi (69) followed by Steve Alker and Grant Waite (70) and Mahal Pearce, Doug Batty and Bradley Iles.
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New Zealand Legends Tour Goes South28 Jan 2010
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Sir Bob Charles | Some big names from the past are about to line up in events throughout both Islands as the 2010 PGA Senior Pro-Am Tour is about to get under way next month.
Know known as the PGA Legends Tour, the series will begin with a one day pro-am sponsored by ClubCar at the new Pegasus course just north of Christchurch. This will be the first professional tournament to be held at this venue and the course is well and truly ready for play. Sir Bob Charles is the notable player in the field, but will be joined by other well known players such as Australians Rodger Davis, Randall Vines, Noel Ratcliffe, Mike Ferguson, and well known New Zealanders Jim Lapsley, Simon Owen, Craig Owen, Stuart Reese, Garth Domigan and many others.
The players will then move on down to Arrowtown where they will compete in the Handa New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook, a major event offering $200,000 in prize money, to be held from 19 to 21 February. There are a number of highly ranked players joining in for this event, such as USPGA winner Wayne Grady, and European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year Mike Harwood.
Another one day ClubCar sponsored $10,000 pro-am will follow at the Queenstown Golf Club on 23 February, before the players head to Dunedin for the City of Dunedin Legends $30,000 Pro-Am over two rounds at the legendary Balmacewan course.
Heading North on 28 February, some of the professionals will be stopping off at Treasure Island Adventure Mini Golf near Auckland Airport for what will be a New Zealand first. The John Walker Field of Dreams Charity Pro-Am will be contested from 6.00pm, over 18 very difficult mini-holes (unless you are a 10 year old), with all proceeds going to Sir John Walker’s Foundation, a charitable trust aimed at encouraging the young people of Manukau to pursue a more active lifestyle through sport and physical recreation that would lead to a fitter, healthier and more caring community.
This is certain to be a fun-filled evening with proceeds going to a very worthwhile cause, and entries are still open for amateurs. You can find our more by going to www.adventuregolf.co.nz
Monday 1st March will see the PAK’nSAVE North Shore Legends Pro-Am under way at the North Shore Golf Club. Through the generosity of John Street the prize money for this event has just been increased to $15,000 and will also include a very generous prize table for the amateur participants.
The Professionals will back up the next day at the SAS International Gulf Harbour $10,000 Pro-Am, a new event to the Tour but already creating strong interest on the Whangaparaoa peninsula.
Then it is off to Taranaki for a two round event on Thursday and Friday 4 & 5 March, one at the New Plymouth Golf Club and the other at the Westown Golf Club. An interesting and welcome addition to the field here is that of John Garner, an Englishman living in Taranaki with an impressive history in the game. Garner was in two Ryder Cup teams (1971 and 1973), won on both the European Tour and the European Senior Tour, and competed in 29 British Opens.
The Tour then moves on to its final NZ event, the TV3 Rebel Sports Lakes Resort Legends, a three round event from 9 to 11 March for a purse of $30,000.
However on the Sunday prior to this event an International match between the best of New Zealand and Australia will be played, also at Lakes Resort. It will be 12 man teams, with both team number ones being Major winners in their day, Sir Bob Charles the British Open and Wayne Grady the US PGA Championship. One can expect a lot of warm discussion to take place during the events leading up to this day.
This Tour has grown dramatically this year, double the number of events from 2009, and with some very positive talk it would seem that it will be even bigger and better in the future. If you are involved in a golf club that could be interested in staging a pro-am tournament, don’t hesitate to call Jim Clelland, National Events Manager of the NZ PGA on 0274 432589 or email jim.clelland@pga.org.nz top
BROWN TAKES NZ PGA AFTER PLAY OFF24 Jan 2010
Sydneysider Mitchell Brown beat good friend and former roommate, Ashley Hall, from Victoria, at the first hole of sudden-death to claim the New Zealand PGA Championship title at Clearwater today.
Brown started the final round tied for fifth and five shots behind overnight leader, Hall, but when his travelling companion bogeyed the 72nd hole, chipping and two-putting from the front fringe, a play off was required for a third time in the last six years.
The 18th again proved Hall’s downfall. On the 72th hole he had left a chip well short and his putt to win stopped a half roll short. This time he charged his first putt from 70 feet and went 8 feet by, his par return again stopping a half roll short whereas Brown chipped to within two feet and safely made his par.
The two Australians had finished on seven-under par, Brown firing a final round 68 and Hall, a one-over 73 his worst round of the tournament. A stroke back and alone in third place was the best of the New Zealanders, Grant Moorhead, who was sharing the lead with Hall after 70 holes before bogeying the last two holes.
Former Australian Open champion, Stephen Allan (Victoria) and American Joe Affunti were tied fourth on five-under with the second-best Kiwi, Mahal Pearce, on four-under tied for sixth with Australians, Scott Arnold, Andrew Bonhomme and Adam Crawford.
New Zealand left-hander, Gareth Paddison, who was just a shot off the lead after 70 holes, had a disastrous triple-bogey, double-bogey finish, losing a ball off the tee on the 71st hole and finding the water down the last.
Brown, who finished about 40 minutes before the final group with Hall, Moorhead and Paddison, felt he had a chance of being in a play-off because the final trio faced a fierce southerly over the last four holes.
``They played the last four in the wind and we played only the last hole. If it hadn’t been for the wind they probably wouldn’t have dropped shots. It’s always good when you’re in the clubhouse and guys are coming in for it’s easier to drop shots than make them.’’
For the 24-year-old New South Welshman, it was his first professional win since he turned pro a little more than three years ago, but he was sympathetic that it came at the expense of his mate.
``He was my roommate for about two years on the Asian Tour and we play practice rounds together.’’
The victory also continued Brown’s love affair with New Zealand courses. ``I’ve played pretty well here – I won the New Zealand amateur once and was beaten in the final once. Now I’ve come back and won again – I think I should keep coming back,’’ he laughed.
Brown’s final round of 68 included seven birdies, a bogey at the first and a double-bogey at the 13th when his drive bounced off a cart path and found the water. After 66 holes he shared the lead at seven-under with Hall, Moorhead and Paddison.
Hall, who had led the tournament by seven shots during the third round, said it had been a battle towards the end, especially as the wind hit near the end, but he added that he hadn’t played well enough and he made the cardinal sin of leaving vital putts at the 72nd and play-off hole a half roll short.
Moorhead had four birdies and three bogeys, the ones at 17th and 18th most costly. His par putt at 17 grazed the hole and he found a fairway bunker at the last, his explosion shot catching the lip and making little progress. His third was on the green and his 20-foot par putt to make it a three-way play-off just slid by.
``That’s the sort of course it is. You don’t have to do a lot wrong to make bogeys but I’m pleased I had no double-bogeys on the card all week.’’
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HALL KEEPS THREE-SHOT LEAD IN NZ PGA 23 Jan 2010
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Grant Moorhead Tied for Second |
Australian Ashley Hall will carry the three-shot lead he held after 36 holes of the New Zealand PGA Championship into the final round at Clearwater tomorrow, but midway through the third round he was in a far more commanding position.
With eight holes to play, the sturdy 26-year-old Victorian was seven shots clear, four-under through 10 holes and feeling completely at easy and in control. One hole later his lead was cut by three shots when he double-bogeyed the par-3 174m 11th hole and playing partner, New Zealand left-hander Gareth Paddison, birdied it.
When Hall bogeyed the par-13th his lead was reduced to three over Paddison and the third member of the final group, Canterbury’s Anthony Doyle, who had birdied the 12th. The gap stayed the same with Hall and Paddison finishing with five pars, but Doyle lost contact on the last with a horrendous triple-bogey.
Hall finished on one-under 71 to back up sub-par rounds of 68 and 69 on the first two days and at eight-under par he leads Paddison and fellow Kiwi Grant Moorhead by three shots with former Australian Open champion, Stephen Allan, alone in fourth place on four-under.
American Joe Affrunti, who had the day’s best score of three-under 69 along with New Zealand’s Mahal Pearce, was at three-under along with New South Welshman, Mitchell Brown.
Hall, who turned professional in 2006 and has won the 2007 Victorian PGA and last year’s Victorian Open titles, admits leading into the final day will be a first. ``I came from behind in horrendously windy conditions in the PGA – I was four-under in the last round and was nine shots down with nine to play but everyone else crumbled. Somehow I got into a play-off (and won).
``In the Victorian Open last year I was close to the lead all day, but not holding it so tomorrow will be a new experience.’’
Hall had no complaints about the double-bogey that took him out of his comfort zone. ``I was cruising along unbelievably well until the 11th tee. Possibly it was a bad club choice but it was a terrible shot, really fat and didn’t deserve to get over the water so I thoroughly deserved to take a double there.
``I was trying to get a few shots back towards the end to get a few more ahead but it doesn’t matter. The course isn’t playing easy again and I’m happy for a bit more wind to make it harder for the chasers.’’
Although three shots back, both Moorhead and Paddison believe the penal nature of the Clearwater course and the forecasted buffeting winds mean a deficit of this nature can evaporate very quickly, as happened on the 11th today.
Both are adept in windy conditions, and in Moorhead’s case, he feels very comfortable on the course having played there so many times.
“I hit the ball really well today and had a good feel for the pace of the greens. I lipped out on 17 and just missed on 16 and 18. It was a solid round of golf.”
Apart from three birdies, the only blemish on his card was at the Par 5 10th, a hole playing reasonably easily because of the strong tail wind.
“I was just short for two, hit a bad chip and then hit my putt about four feet past and missed the return. It really was a careless mistake,” he said.
Paddison was another to watch as putts shaved the hole or sat on the edge. His ball striking may not have been as solid as Moorhead’s but he scrambled well, and was bogey-free throughout.
With some of the tees being up because of the weather, Paddison used a variety of clubs off the tee – driver, three wood, two iron – “whatever went straightest.”
“ I have hit about five bad shots and it has not cost me. I was very happy with the way I scrambled the middle part of my round (13th, 14th, 15th). I also had a lot of chips and putts that just shaved the hole. You think they are going to drop and they just seem to miss. I’m hoping a few will drop tomorrow.
Paddison is looking for a good start tomorrow “-2 after five would be great, or even -1 if it is windy, just so long as Ash doesn’t start with four birdies.”
The 18th was a heartbreak hole for Doyle. Tied for second standing on the last, he put his first into a fairway bunker, pulled his second into the water, just caught the wrong wide of thee ridge with his approach and then three-putted for a seven.
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NZ PGA field chasing Australian Hall 22 Jan 2010
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Anthony Doyle in Contention | All the field were left chasing Australian golfer Ashley Hall after freezing winds and squally showers turned the second day of the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater, near Christchurch, into a procession.
Such were the treacherous conditions that the first six players at the tournament's midway point all had morning rounds today. Only one player managed to break par in the afternoon compared with five in the morning, attesting to the difficult and deteriorating weather.
Hall had five birdies and a double bogey in his early round, his three-under 69 being the joint best round of the day, alongside New Zealand's Anthony Doyle and Australian Stephen Allan.
Doyle sits alone in second place on four-under, three shots behind Hall and a stroke clear of a capable foursome tied for third - New Zealanders Grant Moorhead and Gareth Paddison, alongside Australians Mitchell Brown and Allan.
Hall's immediate form coming into the event had been poor, the baggage of having just missed out on his European Tour Card at qualifying school in November affecting his game. However, the winner of the 2007 Victorian Championships, the 2009 Victorian Open and 12th placegetter in the Australian Masters is back in the groove.
Christchurch Golf Club resident professional Doyle also thrived in the calm early conditions, emerging as the only player not to drop a shot today.
"The best thing about today was my putting, I've had no three-putts for the two rounds and I guess that's where you pick up your shots on the field," he said.
But it was not only his putting that was on song. He missed only two greens in regulation and "maybe one or two fairways".
"That's percentage play I guess and yesterday was the same. I actually hit it closer yesterday but the ball went in the hole today. I was on the practice green at about 6.30am and said to myself 'keep to the same routine, trust it', and it worked pretty well."
Doyle said his victory in the Charles Tour Shirley Open on his home course last November had given him belief he was at home in top company and he had found a game plan and routines which worked for him.
Fifty players made the cut, at three-over, a notable omission being New Zealand's defending champion Steve Alker, who bogeyed the last hole to miss by one. top
New Zealand PGA Championship21 Jan 2010
A week ago John Bae was an amateur golfer from Canterbury.
Last week he qualified second equal at the PGA of NZ Qualifying School in Taupo.
On Tuesday of this week he got a late call-up into the field of the PGA Championship of New Zealand.
He may not have slept too well the last couple of nights, but he certainly took his opportunity today with his first round of golf as a professional.
Starting off the first hole he made birdies on 2, 3, and 4, bogied 7 and 8, more birdies on 11, 14 and 17 before finishing with a bogey on the tough 18th hole. It added up to a 69, and he has to be happy with his start in the big game. top
New Event for Legends Tour19 Jan 2010
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Sir Bob Charles to spearhead NZ Team | The rapidly expanding New Zealand and Australia PGA Legends Tour will make history when it introduces another exciting event onto the New Zealand leg of the circuit, which tees off next month.
The PGA Legends Tour in March will launch the Nagle-Charles Trans-Tasman Legends Challenge, a Ryder Cup style event to be staged annually between Australia and New Zealand’s best pro golfers aged over 50.
It is the first time such an event has been held and it received a huge boost after two of the greatest golfers in Australasia’s history, Kel Nagle and Sir Bob Charles, agreed to the event carrying their names.
The first Nagle Charles Trans-Tasman Legends Challenge will be staged at the Lakes Resort Pauanui on Sunday 7th March .
It will consist of two 12-man teams with eight chosen from the Legends Tour Order of Merit plus four Captain’s Picks.
Jim Clelland has been appointed Captain of the New Zealand team and Kyle Francis the Aussie skipper.
Organisers are negotiating with sponsors for what should be a highlight of the Australasian Legends golf calendar. top
Shaw Wins Q-School, Retains Card15 Jan 2010
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Blair Shaw | Blair Shaw from Cape Kidnappers scored a superb two under par round of 70 in very strong winds to be the medallist at the PGA Qualifying School at Taupo today.
Together with his first day 71, a round in which he lost two balls, his total of 141 was three shots clear of joint second placed John Bae (Christchurch 69 75) and Shaun Richards (Wellington 69 75).
Shaw birdied the par five second hole, but back to back bogeys on 3 and 4 had him out in one over par 38. However he made four birdies on the back nine, 11 and 12, 17 and 18, with a bogey on 16 to be back in 32. The very strong south-easterly made the back nine extremely tough for the majority of the field, but no-one told Shaw!
David Klein (Te Anau 70 75) was alone in fourth place, Leighton James (Hastings 71 75) and Douglas Millington (Paeroa 69 77) were tied fifth, with Aaron Forsyth (Christchurch 70 78) seventh.
There was a three-way tie for eighth position, Ben Guilford (Rotorua 73 76), Jason McIntosh (Taupo 70 79) and Ilsuk Jung (North Harbour 73 76), but with both Shaw and Mcintosh already being professionals and playing to retain their cards this meant that all of those named above now have the opportunity to take up membership of the PGA of New Zealand.
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Aspiring Pros Score Well at Taupo14 Jan 2010
 The New Zealand PGA Q-School is at its half way stage at the Taupo Golf Club, and eleven players are under par as they search for one of the eight Cards that will be allocated at plays end tomorrow.
Shaun Richards (Wellington), Doug Millington (Paeroa) and John Bae (Christchurch) all scored three under par rounds of 69 on the demanding Centennial course.
They hold a one shot lead over another four players on 70, Aaron Forsyth (Christchurch), David Klein (Te Anau), Steven Han (Auckland) and Jason McIntosh (Taupo).
On 71 were four more, Dae Hun Kim (North Harbour), Blair Shaw (Cape Kidnappers), Brent La Franchie (North Harbour) and Leighton James (Hastings).
Millington was off to a flyer with early birdies on 4, 5, 6 before an eagle on 11 got him to five under par, but bogeys on 13, 15 and 18 mixed with another birdie on 17 had him back to three under par.
Bae was steady through his front nine with just the one birdie and one bogey, but coming home he was four under before a finishing bogey on the tough par three 18th hole.
Richards bogeyed the 4th, but birdies at 7 and 9 had him through the turn one under. He hit a five iron second to the par five 11th hole and made eagle, before another birdie on the short 17th before an inevitable bogey on 18.
The second round will be played on Friday morning. The draw and complete first round scores can be seen adjacent on this page.
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Major Senior Professional event at Millbrook13 Jan 2010
 Millbrook Country Club will conduct New Zealand's newest and richest Senior Golf Tournament on the challenging new Millbrook Golf Course in February 2010.
The Handa New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook will take place from 19-21 February 2010 with a record breaking NZ$150,000 total prize money on offer. The event is a welcome addition to the Southern Senior Golf Swing that brings Australia and New Zealand's best senior golfers to the New Zealand mainland.
The tournament will complement the grand opening of the newly structured Millbrook Golf Course set to be launched in January 2010.
"We are thrilled to showcase the new Coronet Nine," said Director of Sales and Marketing Kim Carpenter. "We believe that that this new addition along with our recently added covered driving range, walking paths and the renovated Village Inn and Villas will help reinforce Millbrook's reputation as one of the leading resort destinations in Australasia."
"With the recent additions and improvements at Millbrook and new courses in and around the Wakatipu, Queenstown now can rightfully claim to be a golf destination that is exciting, varied and spectacular," he said.
The tournament will not only attract some of New Zealand and Australia's top senior professional golfers, but will give local amateurs a chance to match their game against the best with a unique Dunhill Links-style format to the tournament.
Amateur golfers will have a unique opportunity to play side by side with a skilled and experienced golf professional in an exciting 36-hole golf tournament, a format similar to the famous Dunhill Links at St Andrews in Scotland.
"Having played in a number of Dunhill Links events, I can vouch for the success of the format," said Coronet Nine designer Greg Turner. "I think this event at Millbrook has the potential to be the most sought after participant golf event in the country."
Millbrook's Membership Services Manager Brian Spicer said Millbrook was excited to offer amateurs the opportunity to play with some of the legends of the game in Australasia.
"The unique format and Millbrook's outstanding facilities and service will truly make a memorable experience."
PGA National Events Manager Jim Clelland said the PGA of New Zealand welcomed Millbrook to the Legends Tour.
"This new event looks likely to become the flagship tournament of the eight to be played in New Zealand in 2010. We are pleased to be involved in bringing a quality field of well-known professionals to a golf course of such renown. What a wonderful opportunity for the amateurs who enter the event."
Tournament sponsor and patron Dr Haruhisa Handa is delighted to be involved in the newest Senior Men's tournament in the Australasian region and is looking forward to enjoying Millbrook Golf Club in the beautiful environment of the Wakatipu.
Dr Haruhisa Handa is a successful Japanese businessman, an academic, an accomplished artist and philanthropist, who believes that golf is the ideal forum to bring together people of all ages, abilities and cultures globally.
Dr Handa and Millbrook Golf Club are the driving forces behind the continuing growth of Senior Men's golf in the region with this addition of New Zealand's richest Senior Golf tournament.
Dr Handa's sponsorship of the Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook will also complement his ongoing passion for Blind Golf, with funds being donated to New Zealand and Australian Blind Golf charities. top
43 New Zealand Professionals in PGA Championship9 Jan 2010
Not since the days of when the event was held in the Bay of Plenty has there been this number of New Zealand professionals straight into the field of their own PGA Championship.
To some degree it has been brought about through the event not being co-sanctioned with the Nationwide Tour this year, but in saying this they all deserve to be there.
Steven Alker will be back to defend his 2009 title, and he will be joined by many other of his countrymen, Josh Geary (3rd in 09), Michael Hendry (09 Order of Merit winner), Phil Tataurangi Grant Waite and Bradley Iles off the Nationwide Tour, Mahal Pearce, and numerous others.
Click here for the full player list top
Top Two Tie Te Puke Pro-Am18 Dec 2009
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Mike Hendry and Richard Lee | Te Puke Golf Club hosted the final pro-am of the year on the PGA of New Zealand Tour last Friday, and it was fitting that the runaway winner of the Order of Merit, Michael Hendry tied for first place with Richard Lee, who was second on the Order of Merit. Both players scored four under par rounds of 68, closely followed by Troy Ropiha on 69.
Ropiha was in turn third on the OOM and needed to finish in front of Lee to pass him for the year. It was not to be, but he can be well satisfied with his year, without a victory but showing great consistency.
Hendry put his round together with three birdies, an eagle and a bogey, while Lee was a bit more adventuresome, scoring seven birdies, a bogey and a double. Ropiha had four birdies and a bogey.
Grant Moorhead and Alex Tait tied for fourth place on 70. There were another twelve players on par or better.
There was almost as much interest and drama in the event mid-field, with Clarke Osborne’s 2010 playing year dependant on him making at least $29 to move from 26th to 25th and thus secure his 2010 playing card.
Jim Cusdin was in Australia earning his Australasian Tour card along with Brenden Stuart and Josh Carmichael, but he had already done enough to be the Rookie of the Year from the 09 Q-School, finishing in 11th position. top
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Cusdin, Stuart Tied 3rd at Q-School 16 Dec 2009
New Zealanders Brenden Stuart (69 66) and Jim Cusdin (67 68) are in a tie for third place three shots off the pace at the half way stage of the 2009 Australasian Tour Qualifying School, being contested on the Champions Course at the Sandhurst Club in Melbourne.
Gary Simpson has climbed to the top of the leaderboard after the second round shooting a seven under par 65 to take a two shot lead from Mitchell Brown.
With temperatures topping 39 degress and winds up to 40 kilometres it was a grind for the competitors but Brown from New South Wales was impressive as he set the pace early. He fired an unblemished eight under 64 that included eight birdies to follow his first round 70 to move to the top of the leaderboard before Simpson came home in the afternoon session to bump Brown out of pole position.
114 players will play the first three days before a cut is made. The leading 75 players plus ties at the end of day three on Thursday will progress to the final round.
The leading 60 players (and ties) at the conclusion of Friday’s final round will be eligible to apply to become Full Members (Tournament) of the PGA of Australia for 2010.
Other New Zealand scores were John Bae (Amateur) 71 71 tied 27th, Josh Carmichael 74 70 tied 51st, Martin Pettigrew 71 78 tied 84th, Mark Boe 74 76 tied 90th with Todd Nicholson 75 75. top
Cusdin 3rd after first round Aussie Q-School15 Dec 2009
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Jim Cusdin | Waikato’s Jim Cusdin has fired a first round 67 to be only one shot back after the first round of the final stage Australasian Tour School today. 114 players will play the first three days before a cut is made.
The leading 75 players plus ties at the end of day three (Thursday) will progress to the final round.
The leading 60 players (and ties) at the conclusion of Friday’s final round will be eligible to apply to become Full Members (Tournament) of the PGA of Australia for 2010.
Other New Zealanders scores are Brenden Stuart 69, Martin Pettigrew, John Bae (Am) 71, Josh Carmichael 74 and Todd Nicholson 75.
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