Mixed fortunes at Tour Championship
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Nationwide Tour Championship | Round Four | 26 Oct 2009
At the end of a long and demanding season on the Nationwide Tour, Michael Sim and Cameron Percy are the only two Australasians to earn PGA Tour status for 2010 via their exploits in 2009.
At the season ending Nationwide Tour Championship this week, Sim finished runner up, three shots behind the winner, Matt Every, and in doing so consolidated his position at the top of the money list, a massive US$230,000 ahead of the second placed Chad Collins. Sim became the highest ever money earner on the Nationwide Tour by some US$197,000.
The only other player this week besides Every to move from outside the top 25 to claim a Tour Card was Steve Whitecroft, while Brian Stuard and Alistair Presnell went the other way.
The 25-year-old Every took the lead with his second round of 63 at the Ralston Creek course at Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, and would go on to win by three over Sim. The victory moved Every from 49th to 10th on the money list and earned him the right to play on the PGA Tour for the first time in 2010.
Victorian Percy put together his 8th top ten of the season to finish in a share of 5th position this week and in 8th position for the season. Percy has not won but consistency has been the key for him and, like Every, he will play the PGA Tour for the first time in 2010.
For the other Australasians who were in contention today for a place in the big league next year, all went backwards. They missed their opportunity although for Alistair Presnell, Gavin Coles, Scott Gardiner, Andrew Buckle and Adam Bland, they will at least have the knowledge that they will not be required at Stage Two of the Tour School and can begin preparations prepare for the Final stage in early December.
Bradley Iles 45th, Won Joon Lee 47th, Steve Alker 48th and David McKenzie 50th will all try their luck in Stage Two of PGA Tour School beginning.
For the record Alistair Presnell (19th) in this event and Won Joon Lee (21st) were the next best Australsians behind Sim and Percy.
