Enloe wins Fort Smith Classic
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Fort Smith Classic | Round Four | 22 Jun 2009
Jason Enloe has parred the first extra hole of a playoff against Chris Tidland to win the Fort Smith Classic at the Hardscrabble Golf Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In doing so, Enloe won his second Nationwide Tour event three years after his victory at the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic.
35-year-old Enloe started the final day three behind the leader but by the time he reached the turn he was ahead of the man he would eventually beat in extra time. Tidland came back after a slow start to his round and drew level with Enloe when he birdied the 14th.
The playoff was over after just one hole, Enloe’s victory moving him 117th to 14th on the money list and on track for a place on the USPGA Tour for the first time in 2010.
A group of four shared third place just one shot behind the playoff, that group including Australian Gavin Coles who, despite a closing round of 67, was unable to secure the one extra birdie he needed over the final few holes to force his way into the playoff.
Coles has however moved to 31st on the money list as he looks to play his way into the top 25 at season’s end and earn a return to the PGA Tour.
New Zealand’s Phil Tataurangi opened with an encouraging round of 62 and after missing his last nine cuts will be buoyed by his much improved effort. Tataurangi served notice with a second round of 66 in last week’s Knoxville Open that things were about to get better.
Andrew Buckle also had a better week finishing 10th, Scott Gardiner was 12th, David McKenzie and Bradley Iles 31st, Paul Gow 44th and Alistair Presnell 70th.
The Nationwide Tour moves to Bridgeport in West Virginia for next week’s Nationwide Tour Players Cup.
