Paul Gow returns to form at Pennsylvania Classic
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2003 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic | Wrap | 16 Jun 2003
It may not have been the US Open, which he narrowly missed qualifying for last week and where his good friend Peter Lonard was doing such a good job, but for Paul Gow his sixth placing at this week’s Northeast Pennsylvania Classic may turn out to be a significant week in his career.
Gow’s form over the last eighteen months has been well below that which he produced to gain his card for the USPGA Tour and had seen him win on the ex-Buy.Com Tour and finish runner-up in an event on the PGA Tour. Gow’s year has been scattered with missed cuts and a lack of starts on the USPGA Tour.
Something has clicked in the last few weeks however, that has him back on track. After a period of indecision with his golf game and his swing, he has now recommitted himself to how he was playing previously and he now seems to be regaining the form he displayed two years ago. He openly admits he tried to make changes to increase his length, but now realises that he is better to run with what got him there in the first place rather than to make drastic changes.
Things started to show a sign for the better a month ago at the VB Open on the Nationwide Tour where he safely made the cut. He was then 21st at the SAS Carolina Classic and then went on to produce a second round 67 to miss the US Open qualifying by just two strokes.
Last week at the FRB Capital Open on the USPGA Tour he again missed the cut but only by one. He headed for Pennsylvania for the Nationwide Tour’s Pennsylvania Classic and with a first round 75, he was looking like things had taken a backward step. From then on however, it was all about to break loose. A second round 65 had him safely inside the cut mark and then through eleven holes of his third round he was eight under and perhaps heading for a repeat of his 60 he shot at Castle Hill two years ago. It was at that point play was halted and he returned early on Sunday morning to finish his round with two more birdies for 61. He then started his final round with two more early birdies to be at fourteen under for the tournament and when he reached the thirteenth hole he stood at fifteen under, tied in second place, three behind Blaine McCallister. A double bogey was to follow soon after eliminating his chances of winning but Gow has shown that things are improving rapidly now.
“The 61 really helped my confidence,” said Gow today en route to New York. “Although I made a couple of mistakes today at crucial times, I am really pleased the way it is coming along. I have switched to a belly putter much to the amusement of some of my colleagues but it is working. It is like cheating from about four feet and in, as I just could not miss this week. I picked it up last week at the Capital tournament. I have used one briefly last year and after putting so badly in the first round this week I decided to give it a go.”
Gow eventually finished sixth, five behind the winner McCallister, but it was the form he showed and that it was sustained over such a long period throughout the week, that has him with genuine cause for satisfaction.
Gow has the possibility of a start at the Buick Classic at Westchester this week where he is currently sixth alternate. “If I don’t get a start there I will head back to Florida rather than playing the Nationwide event in New York State this week as I am looking good for a few starts on the PGA Tour from this point on” he said.
For the record Blaine McAllister won the event from Bill Glasson, both ex-0USPGA Tour players.
Gavin Coles also showed some signs of improvement for 26th, last week’s winner Andre Stolz was 46th, Anthony Painter 53rd, Shane Tait 59th, Chris Downes 63rd and Mark Hensby 69th.
