Camilo Villegas heading for greater things
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2005 Permian Basin Charity Golf Classic | Round Three | 16 Oct 2005
The possibility of a win by Camilo Villegas in tomorrow’s final round of the Permian Basin Charity Classic in Midland, Texas, further highlights the potential of the 23-year-old Colombian.
Villegas takes a two shot lead into the final round of this event and although his Nationwide Tour’s deeds in 2005 have already assured him of his 2006 USPGA Tour card, a win here would elevate him nearer to the top of the money list and therefore greater chances of early season USPGA Tour starts in 2006.
Villegas has played superbly in 2005 in his Nationwide Tour campaign, especially given that he did not have full status to play that Tour at the beginning of the season. He secured a start at the first event of the season in Panama and after finishing second there he was on his way. Leading into this week’s event he had assured himself of 2006 USPGA Tour status by finishing 4th last week at the Gila River event in Arizona, which is his 8th top ten in 24 starts.
Villegas has developed into one of the most consistent players on the Nationwide Tour in 2005 but he has also shown a capacity to shoot some very low scores. He has recorded more than twenty rounds of 67 or better in that time.
Villegas strikes me as an instinctive player, typical of the increasing number of quality South Americans who have the capacity to play the game naturally. His is not the classical golf swing but one that suits him and clearly works well for him.
Villegas has yet to win on the Nationwide Tour but did manage to win a Hooters Tour event earlier this year which will stand him in good stead as he heads out in the final round of the Permian Basin event.
Villegas played here in Australia and New Zealand last year, finishing 8th at the New Zealand PGA and inside the top twenty at the Australian Open and the MasterCard Masters. We will see him again later this year at the three end of season events in Australia and as a player with a great future in the game, his performance here will be watched with interest.
Photo – Anthony Powter
