Matteson another first time USPGA Tour winner
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2006 Frys.com Open | Wrap | 16 Oct 2006
The 2006 USPGA Tour has produced yet another first time winner in with Troy Matterson a graduate from last year’s Nationwide Tour holding off challenges from Ben Crane, Daniel Chopra and Frank Lickliter to win the Frys.com Open in Las Vegas.
Matteson, who had found form leading into this week with two consecutive top tens at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic and the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro was in need of one further good finish to be assured of full status again in 2007. This will solve all those concerns as his win now offers two years exemption from qualifying, not to mention a very healthy US$720,000 cheque. The NCAA Champion in 2002 now appears set to become a significant force on the USPGA Tour.
Matteson graduated to the PGA Tour following a brilliant season on last year’s Nationwide Tour where he set a money earning record for any one season. Two wins and three runner up placings gave him the number one position at the end of the year and assured him of plenty of opportunities early in 2006.
Despite many starts, it has taken Matteson until the last month or so to really find his feet but now that he has, he might just finish off the season with the sort of run he had in various stages last year.
Both Ben Crane and Daniel Chopra did their best to close the gap with big finishes to their day but the lead Matteson established over them heading into the final day was just enough to keep them at bay.
The best of the Australians was Mathew Goggin, who took his earnings for the season beyond US$1 million for the first time with a brilliant back nine of 31 to share 11th place. While still without a win on the USPGA Tour, 2006 has been a breakthrough season for Goggin, who returned to the main tour this year following a good season on the Nationwide Tour in 2005.
Aaron Baddeley did not make the best of a good start to the week and finished 24th, Craig Parry was 39th, Mark Hensby and David McKenzie 68th while Nathan Green had a poor weekend to finish 83rd.
Hensby has struggled for much of the season but it was heartening for him and his fans to see improved form in rounds two and three.
The PGA Tour now heads to Florida for this week’s Funai Classic at Disney World Resort.
