Gavin Coles confirms 2007 PGA Tour status
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2006 Utah Energy Solutions Championship | Wrap | 11 Sep 2006
Just in case there was any doubt following his win last week at the Legend Group Classic in Ohio, Gavin Coles confirmed today that he will be heading back to the USPGA Tour in 2007.
Coles added a joint runner up placing at this week’s Utah Energy Solutions Championship in Sandy, Utah, and the resulting US$31,500 has taken his earnings on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 to US$216,000 a figure that appears likely to have him inside the top twenty at the completion of this year’s Nationwide Tour.
His task from this point on however is to move as far up the Nationwide moneylist so he can gain as many PGA Tour starts as possible in the early part of 2007.
Coles finished the tournament one shot behind Craig Kanada, who won for the first time in a lengthy career between the Nationwide and PGA Tours.
Coles was rock solid today recording four birdies and no bogeys as he tried to chase down the tearaway leader, Bryce Molder, who had opened up a huge lead after 36 holes and had retained it by three heading into today’s round.
Molder dropped three shots before the turn and although he managed to hold on for second his chance at winning his first event was gone.
Kanada had started the last round in second place, three back of Molder and as the leader began to falter he became a likely winner. Many had chances over the closing holes as the five way tie for second would indicate but the final nine of 29 by Michael Putnam was perhaps the standout performance of the day.
Coles is a story so typical of many who go backwards and forwards between the Nationwide and the PGA Tours before finally making it in the big time. He now has another chance to do just that.
Of the other Australians, Matthew Jones finished in a share of sixth for his best finish of the season. The Arizona State graduate from New South Wales seems to be finding his feet on the Nationwide Tour. Scott Gardiner was 13th, Paul Gow 18th, Scott Hend 27th and Jarrod Lyle 43rd.
The Nationwide Tour is in Idaho next week for the Albertsons Boise Open.
