Jonathan Kaye further confirms his potential at FBR Open
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 FBR Open | Wrap | 02 Feb 2004
Third round leader Jonathon Kaye withstood the challenges of his more experienced and tournament hardened opponents to claim his second tour title at the FBR Open in Scottsdale today.
Kaye joined the USPGA Tour in 1995 and although he retained his card that year, both 1996 and 1997 were virtually golf free due to rotator cuff shoulder surgery. Since his return to regular golf in 1998 however, he has successfully retained his card each year and been slowly but surely improving. Last year he won for the first time when he took out the Buick Classic with an eagle at the first extra hole to beat John Rollins.
Today’s win and the subsequent US$720,000 first prize cheque followed a 4th placing at last week’s Bob Hope and now sees him atop the 2004 USPGA Tour money list after just four events.
To win he was forced to watch firstly Mickelson then DiMarco challenge and head him. Mickelson got ahead early but Kaye would come back strongly with four consecutive birdies from the 12th although he needed to as DiMarco, playing with both he and Mickelson, was letting loose with a string of six birdies from the 10th.
DiMarco, who had won here two years ago, would stumble however with bogeys at the 16th and 17th leaving the 33-year-old Kaye the luxury of playing the last with a two shot lead over DiMarco, with the faltering Mickelson bogeying four of the last five holes to slip to a share of 7th.
Steve Flesch and defending champion Vijay Singh would both shoot last round 66’s to share third ahead of Mike Weir and Duffy Waldorf.
Rod Pampling, as he was last week, was the leading Australian although this time he shared that honour with Robert Allenby who, in his first start of the 2004 season, showed that his game is not far away from its peak.
Steve Elkington, after a good start to the week, slipped over the weekend to finish 49th with John Senden 54th.
The USPGA Tour now heads to the Monterey Peninsula in California for the $US5.3 million AT&T Pebble Beach event played over three courses.
