Danny Lee breaks through for maiden win
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2011 WNB Golf Classic | Wrap | 03 Oct 2011
New Zealander Danny Lee has won his first tournament in the US and in the process has guaranteed himself a PGA Tour card in 2012 by taking out the Nationwide Tour’s WNB Classic in Midland in Texas.
The victory, which came at the first hole of a playoff over American Harris English, continues a great season for Lee during which he had all but assured himself of PGA Tour status in 2012 irrespective of this week’s result.
A week ago the 2008 US Amateur Champion was disqualified from the Soboba Golf Classic after what was deemed an inappropriate withdrawal from that event. He had incurred a wrist injury during his second round and withdrew after failing to follow proper procedures. It then became a disqualification but he has bounced back in the best possible manner today.
The victory takes Lee inside the top five on the money list for the season.
Lee has played in both Europe and the US this season but once he began to focus on the Nationwide Tour he began to make progress in his chase for one of the top 25 positions that are rewarded with 2012 PGA Tour cards. His form in recent weeks has not been great but several good finishes earlier and this great win set him up for the position he now holds.
Lee’s final round of 66 was highlighted by an eagle at the 4th hole of the day and without a blemish on his card for the remainder of the round he was able to add four extra birdies to be first in the clubhouse at 18 under par.
English won as an amateur earlier in the season on the Nationwide Tour but now as a professional he is making a late bid for PGA Tour status. The round of 62 on Saturday moved him into contention and after an early bogey today he made further progress with a final round of 69.
The 22 year old former University of Georgia player appears headed for big things in professional golf and if he doesn’t make it to the PGA Tour in 2012 he will enjoy full status on the Nationwide Tour at worst.
South African Garth Mulroy produced a final round of 64 to finish 3rd while the three way tie for 4th included Australian Gavin Coles who led the event through eight holes before dropping three shots over the closing stages.
A victory for Coles would have had him back on the PGA Tour next season but he will improve from his current 51st on the money list.
David Lutterus was the next best of the Australasians in 14th position, Jake Younan-Wise was 18th, James Nitties was 21st and Alistair Presnell was next best in 29th.
The Nationwide Tour now heads to Chattanooga in Tennessee for this week’s Children’s Hospital Classic, the fourth to last event of the season.
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