Collins wins Miccosukee Championship
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Miccosukee Championship | Round Four | 19 Oct 2009
Chad Collins enhanced what has already been a fine season on the Nationwide Tour when he birdied the final hole of the Miccosukee Championship in Miami to win by two over Australian Won Joon Lee, Brian Smock and Monday qualifier Justin Smith.
Collins had been a three time runner up in his previous seven starts in season 2009 and when he bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes today it appeared that the elusive victory might just escape him once again. A birdie at the last and mistakes at the final hole by joint runners up Smock and Smith got the job done for Collins who in taking the title won his second Nationwide Tour tournament, more than four years after his first.
Collins, who moves to second on the Nationwide Tour money list with just the Tour Championship to play, will return to the PGA Tour in 2010 where he was a rookie in 2008
Lee birdied the 72nd hole to join the share of second, an important week for him in that he has fought his way into the top 60 from his previous 73rd place on the money list, gaining a start in the final event of the year next week. Lee is now in 47th position and now a top three in next week’s Tour Championship will earn him a PGA Tour card.
New Zealander Bradley Iles improved his chances of PGA Tour play in 2010 with a share of 5th position moving him to 40th on the money list and not only setting up the possibility of a big finish next week earning him a Tour card but even a solid week would avoid him having to attend Stage Two of the Tour School.
Gavin Coles finished 12th this week, Michael Sim 17th, Cameron Percy 21st, Andrew Buckle 32nd, Alistair Presnell 57th and Phil Tataurangi 61st.
Buckle shared the lead into the final round but faltered with a final round of 80 to finish 32nd but despite his battles today he has improved one place to 27th on the money list.
With just next week’s Tour Championship to play only Michael Sim and Cameron Percy amongst the Australasians are guaranteed a card on the PGA Tour next year but Alistair Presnell 25th, Scott Gardiner (26th), Andrew Buckle (27th) and Gavin Coles (28th) are on the bubble.
A win next week for any of the 60 players in the Tour Championship in South Carolina however would be good enough to earn their way to the PGA Tour. As always the final event of the year promises a lot of drama.
