Bettencourt breaks through in Reno
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open | Round Four | 19 Jul 2010
35-year-old Matt Bettencourt has won his first PGA Tour title with a one shot victory over Bob Heintz at the Reno Tahoe Open in Reno, Nevada.
A former two time winner of events on the Nationwide Tour including the Nationwide Tour Championship in 2008, Bettencourt had struggled for much of this year, in fact 40th had been his best finish in 21 starts in 2010.
He was in danger of losing his status on the PGA Tour but he has avoided any concerns in that regard as a result of his win.
Bettencourt appeared to have cost himself a chance of winning with a third round of 75 yesterday but on the demanding Montreaux Country Club layout he bounced back today with the equal best round of the day (68).
John Merrick and Sweden’s Mathias Gronberg finished in a share of third.
The leading Australian was Mark Hensby who made his 7th cut in eight PGA Tour starts this season. Hensby finished in a share of 16th and is slowly working his way back to the sort of form that saw him win on the PGA Tour in 2004, on the European Tour in 2005 and earn a place on the Presidents Cup Team in 2005.
Steve Allan and Stuart Appleby were 18th with Steve Elkington and Rod Pampling the next best in 21st position.
The PGA Tour will have many of its stars back for the Canadian open next week in Toronto where Nathan Green defends his 2009 title.
