Christian last man standing at NE Penn
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic | Round Four | 31 Aug 2009
England’s Gary Christian was literally the last man standing at the Nationwide Tour’s North East Pennsylvania Classic when he edged out Mathias Grönberg at the 9th extra hole to win the event in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
A birdie by Christian at the par four 18th was the straw that broke Grönberg’s back, the 38-year-old winning his first Nationwide Tour event in the process. Born in Carsharlton, England but a collegiate golfer at Auburn University in Massachusetts, Christian has been rewarded for patience and perseverance with this victory which moves him to 23rd on the money list.
Neither Christian nor Grönberg could break the deadlock over the closing few holes of regulation play and it was beginning to look as if they would not be able to do it in the playoff either. Their nine hole battle equals the longest playoff in the history of the Nationwide Tour, the other coming in 1998 when Eric Booker defeated Notah Begay to win the 1998 Lehigh Open.
David McKenzie finished as the leading Australasian in a share of 5th position. Cameron Percy moves past the $US200,000 mark with his share of 13th, recording a final round of 65 despite an early double bogey.
Paul Gow’s recent improvement continued with a pair of 66s’ over the weekend to finish 20th, with Won Joon Lee and New Zealander Brad Iles 46th,
