For the first time since Corey Pavin won back-to-back titles in ’84/’85, an American golfer has claimed victory at the New Zealand Open, played at The Hills Golf Club in Queenstown, the adventure capital of NZ.
Alex Prugh won his first Nationwide tournament yesterday by absolutely destroying his competition with a final round 64 which included 2 eagles, to put him three shots clear of his nearest rival at 19 under par. It was his chip in eagle at the par 4 eighth that got the momentum going for the former University of Washington player.
“That one really kick-started my round,” Prugh said about the unexpected eagle on No. 8. “I thought, now we can really go.”
And go he did, playing the last 10 holes in 8 under par, with his second eagle on the par 5 17th effectively closing the tournament out for him. Filling out the minor placings were fellow Americans Martin Piller and Jim Henman leaving the locals in their wake. It’s a long way to come for a Nationwide tournament, but for these three players it is a great start to their campaign that I’m sure they will benefit from in the coming months.
The much heralded amateur Danny Lee missed the cut in his last tournament on home soil as an amateur, with a disappointing second round of 77 forcing him to take the weekend off. He has played well in all the other tournaments Down Under this summer, and can now head to the U.S to prepare for the U.S Masters where he will be paired with Tiger in the first two rounds.
In other golfing results from the weekend
WGC-CA at Doral
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