MacKenzie outlasts veteran Estes in Reno
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2006 Reno-Tahoe Open | Wrap | 28 Aug 2006
Will MacKenzie today won his first USPGA Tour event when he birdied the last hole to win the Reno Tahoe Open by a narrow one shot margin over the vastly more experienced Bob Estes.
MacKenzie is into his second season on the USPGA Tour having initially gained his card at the USPGA Tour School late in 2004. He was forced to return to qualifying again late last year and finished 9th but even with the benefit of that year of experience behind him things had not improved in 2006, until this week that is.
He had made ten cuts in twenty one starts in 2006 but he had hardly capitalised even when he had made the weekend and things were beginning to look as if it would be back to Q School once again.
The 31-year-old from North Carolina jumped out of the blocks quickly this week however when he opened with 63 on Thursday. He added a 67 on Friday to be just one back of the second round leader Bob Estes but he caught Estes on Saturday and the pair led by four heading into the final day.
Two early birdies to Estes double bogey start, gave MacKenzie the lead but as could be expected from a player of his limited experience and with the prospect of such a significant win in sight, he faltered in the middle of the round. When he bogeyed the par five 17th, after being long with his third, he was back on level terms with his playing partner, Estes.
At the last MacKenzie smashed a drive nearly 330 yards and followed up with a delightful pitch from 80 yards to 10 feet. Estes had also hit a good approach but was unable to make his from 15 feet and so MacKenzie had his putt to win. He made it and any concerns regarding Tour School are now well and truly over.
Joe Ogilvie finished third after a remarkable final nine holes of 28 had seen him shoot 62 to finish just two behind after starting eleven back. Ogilvie birdied ten of his last twelve holes.
Jason Day was the best of the Australasians in the field and once again he has shown just how much of a talent he is.
Day started the final day in fifth place at 13 under but, after a shaky start, he had dropped three shots by the 8th hole where he took double bogey after finding the water. The 18-year-old then proceeded to birdie five of his next six holes and had recovered to be in 6th position at that time. He missed reasonable chances at the 15th and 16th but at the par five 17th, after finding the green in two, he three putted from long range to drop a shot. He needed a par at the last for a top ten finish and a start at next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship but he found the rough from the tee and took five. He finished 11th and earned US$66,000 but he will be annoyed at his stumbling finish.
David McKenzie finished 23rd, Grant Waite 36th, Steve Elkington 63rd, Phil Tataurangi 68th and Steve Bowditch 76th. Bowditch’s finish should not be overlooked. It is the first cut he has made as a PGA Tour card holder and after such a horror start to his PGA Tour career and his recent self confessed battle with depression, this was a significant milestone.
The PGA Tour now heads to Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship.
