A number of New Zealanders were in action around the world last week, but the fragmented nature of their playing schedules showed through, with missed cuts for many. Included in that category were Cathryn Bristow in the ISPS Handa European Ladies Masters, and the four Kiwis who made the long trip to Korea for the Kolon Korean Open on the OneAsia circuit: Gareth Paddison, Brad Shilton, Harry Bateman and Mark Brown.
PGA China Tour
Meanwhile, there was better news for Mathew Perry in the latest PGA China event, with a T2 result and a cheque of nearly $NZ 20,000. After an opening round of 73, Mathew picked up the pace to finish -15, five shots behind the winner. Josh Munn also made the cut, with Campbell Rawson missing out. Of the four New Zealanders on this Tour, Daniel Pearce is currently the highest ranked at 14# on the OOM, with Perry moving up to 17#. Rawson (62#) and Munn (83#) are well back off the pace.
Europe
Ryan Fox saved his best effort for the last round in the Volopa Irish Challenge, closing with a 68 for a T15 finish on even par. He maintains his 5# ranking in the Race to Oman OOM, with a fortnight’s break before the Kazakhstan Open, one of the richest events on the Challenge Tour.
Kieran Muir, Shaun Jones and Tyler Hodge are trying another route to a European Card. All start Stage 1 qualifying tournaments this week. It’s a hard way to go, with over 1,000 players chasing 25 Tour cards at the end of three stages and 252 holes of golf……..good luck to our guys!
USA
Dustin Johnson’s comprehensive victory in the BMW Championship must install him as the overall favourite for the 2016 FedEx Cup, and the $US 10.0 million bonus to go to the winner this time next week. At this stage, at least 6 of the USA Ryder Cup team have made it through to the final 30 playing in the Tour Championship at East Lake; Rory McIlroy will be the only European team member.
On the Web.Com Tour, Tim Wilkinson went the wrong way on Moving Day with a 3rd round 78, but recovered well with a closing 66 to finish T33 on +1 in the DAP Championship at Canterbury Golf Club, and stay in the playoffs hunt. Steven Alker faded late in the 2nd round to miss the cut by two shots.
The course was clearly playing tougher than most Web.Com layouts, as the winning score of -7 illustrates. Bryson DeChambeau eventually prevailed on the 2nd hole in a four man playoff.
Finally, Pieter Zwart finished 2nd in the Vanuatu Open, one shot behind winner Aaron Cox of Australia.