Plenty still at stake after Miccosukee Championship
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2004 Miccosukee Championship | Wrap | 25 Oct 2004
With the Miccosukee Championship the last full field event on the Nationwide Tour for the 2004 season, the event held much interest but not nearly as much as this week’s Nationwide Tour Championship in Alabama.
The winner in Miami this week was D.J. Trahan, moving him from 70th on the money list to 26th and in doing so earning himself a shot at the PGA Tour in 2005 if he is able to finish inside the top four next week. It was the first win since turning professional for the highly talented Clemson University graduate.
Nick Watney was second, but will still need a solid finish next week if he is to hold off those behind him, grasping for a ticket to the USPGA Tour. He is now in 19th place on the money list.
New Zealander, Tim Wilkinson was in contention for much of the tournament, perhaps his inexperience counting against him down the stretch, but his fifth placing was very creditable and will be a boost as he heads into stage one USPGA Tour qualifying this week in Florida.
Mathew Goggin was headed for a top five finish until two late bogeys would cost him. He finished 10th but needed every cent to edge closer to a top twenty placing at the completion of the Tour Championship.
Steve Alker was 23rd, his last round 67 ensuring he will get a start next week in Alabama and therefore keep alive remote hopes of a USPGA Tour card in 2005. He would need to win next week however. If not then he will be at stage two at the Tour School.
Anthony Painter and Nathan Green were 45th and Gavin Coles 57th.
As it stands right now for the Australasians, Brendan Jones, Paul Gow, Bradley Hughes and Euan Walters are on their way to the 2005 USPGA Tour, but Michael Long (17th), Gavin Coles (18th), and David McKenzie (20th), will have to watch their backs in next weeks Tour Championship. Mathew Goggin will need at worst a top four to get through.
It is shaping yet again as an agonising, career breaking or making week coming up for many.
