Pate becomes oldest Nationwide winner
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2010 Bogota Open | Round Four | 08 Mar 2010
Six times PGA Tour winner, Steve Pate, has today won the Bogota Open in Colombia, his first victory on either the PGA or Nationwide Tours since 1998.
Pate won a playoff against Aaron Watkins after both finished 72 holes tied at 11 under par.
Pate began the final day with the lead but four bogeys in his first six holes saw him slip behind. He staged a big finish however with an eagle at the 13th and an all important birdie at the 17th. Neither Pate nor Watkins was able to birdie the par five 72nd hole and so they headed to the playoff where Pate would win at the second extra hole.
The 48 year old Pate becomes the oldest player to have won on the Nationwide Tour, taking over that mantle from Dick Mast who was 48 years and six months when he won the 1999 New Mexico Open. Pate is 48 years and 8 months.
Pate has never finished better than 23rd in his last two years in Nationwide Tour events but he is a player of some credential despite having much of his earlier PGA Tour career curtailed by injury.
Newcomer and bright young star, Jamie Lovemark, finished in third after a brilliant final round of 65, sharing that position with William McGirt and Tag Ridings.
Andrew Buckle was the best of the Australians finishing in a share of 6th position, recovering from two early bogeys on day four for a round of 66.
Won Joon Lee was 45th, Phil Tataurangi 40th, Scott Gardiner and Alistair Presnell 49th, Nick Flanagan 58th and Mark Hensby 63rd.
