Bowditch through but agony for Gardiner
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship | Round Four | 01 Nov 2010
Scott Gardiner has missed his PGA Tour card by two shots and one player after the final round of the Nationwide Tour Championship was completed this morning at Daniel Island in South Carolina.
Gardiner, who started the week in 22nd position on the money list, finished just $2,010 behind the 25th ranked player Justin Hicks. Gardiner has also been close on two other occasions when finishing 30th in 2007 and 2009.
Gardiner actually finished 24th in this week’s event, a double bogey at the 12th today perhaps the difference between heading to the PGA Tour or returning to the Nationwide Tour next season. Gardiner will still have another shot at PGA Tour glory when he gets to tee it up at the Final Stage of PGA Tour qualifying and hopefully he can rebound from what has no doubt been a tough day.
On the other hand Steve Bowditch has made it through when he finished in 17th position on the money list despite a rollercoaster ride this week. Bowditch improved 14 shots on yesterday’s round of 79 to record a final round of 65 and finish 46th in this event.
Bowditch returns to the PGA Tour having previously played there in 2006. It has been quite a year for the New South Welshman after starting the year with only limited status on the Nationwide Tour.
The tournament was won by Brendan Steele who defeated Colt Knost in a playoff, both coming from outside the top 25 on the money-list to secure their cards for next year.
Gavin Coles finished as the leading Australian this week when 11th.
Gardiner finished 26th on the money-list, Won Joon Lee 36th, Alistair Presnell 37th, Gavin Coles 38th, Bradley Iles 45th and Ewan Porter 54th.
Gardiner, Lee, Presnell and Coles all get direct access to the Final Stage of Tour School in a month’s time.
