Coceres continues run of Argentinean wins of late
IN: News | US PGA | National Car Rental Golf Classic (2001) | Wrap | 22 Oct 2001
The amazing run for Argentineans in the year 2001 continued this weekend with Jose Coceres winning his second event of the season on the USPGA Tour. Coceres, who won earlier in the year at the World Com Heritage Classic, has continued on from the debut win last week in France of Jorge Berendt and the debut wins of Angel Cabrera and Ricardo Gonzalez earlier in the season on the European Tour.
Argentina has also produced such players as Edwardo Romero and Vincente Fernandez, who has had a successful career on the US Seniors Tour but it would be the grandfather of Argentinean golf, Roberto De Vincenzo, who can likely take the most credit for the development of a game in that country.
Argentina has a population of 37 million but 37% live below the poverty line so that they are able to produce so many good players is quite amazing. Many of their successful golfers have started their careers as caddies and have come from large families so golf has been the only salvation for most of those that have succeeded in the pro ranks.
Coceres stamped his authority on the event with a second round 65 and then never let go of the lead despite the best efforts and attentions of Davis Love III. Love birdied the last to close the gap to one but Coceres had looked rock solid throughout the last round with only a bogey at the sixth providing any concern although he did provide interest with a shaky first putt from 25 feet at the last which left him a five footer he had to make to win.
Love finished alone in second with Jerry Smith, who had been flirting with the top 125 coming into this event, producing a last round of 63 to eliminate any concerns for his playing security next year by finishing in a tie for third with David Peoples. Smith's cheque for $US230,000 is by far the biggest in his career.
Probably an even more relieved man is the New Zealander Craig Perks, who coming into this event had slipped to 131st on the money list and needed around $US 60,000 out of the last two events of the season to get inside the top 125. His last round of 64 has done more than that as the $US95,000 will have him enjoying next week at the Buick Challenge rather than the threat of losing his card hanging over his head. Perks has made only nine cuts in 28 starts this season but his second at the Honda and now this week have done the trick.
Stuart Appleby got lost in the wash on the last day with so many players going past him despite a last round 70. He finished 13th and $US65,000, Allenby was 36th and Mattie Goggin 59th. The USPGA Tour now heads to Georgia for the Buick Challenge the final full field event of the year and make or break for those close to the top 125.
