Troppo Tour to Deutsche Bank C'ship for Kiwi Tim Wilkinson

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship | Round Two | 31 Aug 2003

Not only has New Zealander Tim Wilkinson achieved a significant milestone this week by qualifying for the USPGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship, he has further distinguished himself by making the cut.

Wilkinson made the field for the tournament by grabbing one of the four qualifying spots available on Monday and following his first round 74 yesterday the chances of him making the cut seemed slim. An eagle at the par four fourth today however, gave him a slim hope of getting through and when he birdied the par five last, to give him a two round total of even par, he was in for the final 36 holes.

It is the second time in two years that a young left handed New Zealander has made the cut in a USPGA Tour event. At the Canadian Open in 2001, Gareth Paddison, an amateur at the time, also made the cut.

It is a long way from the Queensland Troppo Tour where Wilkinson was playing a month or so ago to the big time of the USPGA Tour, but Wilkinson showed that he has what it takes by performing well above expectation here.

Irrespective of what happens over the final two days, this has been a significant step in the golfing career of Tim Wilkinson.