Flanagan wins on Nationwide in style
IN: News | Nationwide | Henrico County Open (2007) | Wrap | by Anthony Powter | 30 Apr 2007
If you’re going to do something special you might as well do it in style. That’s exactly what Nick Flanagan has done in winning the Henrico Country Open with victory coming on the 3rd sudden death playoff hole with a birdie. It was his maiden Nationwide Tour Victory and it could not have come at a better time.
Flanagan outlasted and outplayed Chris Baryla, Roland Thatcher and Bryn Parry after the four players finished tied at 13 under at The Dominion Club. It was a steely resolve of determination and pure guts that got Flanagan across the line and to claim victory in the fashion he did with a birdie 4 to edge Chris Baryla.
This season in the US for Flanagan has not been all plain sailing in fact it’s been slightly patchy. Sure he’d made some cuts, only to finish middle pack.
Earlier in the week when we spoke he commented that he was beginning to hit the ball straighter and longer, having recently changed to another Nike driver as well as employing a new Nike ball. A new putter had also been added to the bag.
During the last six months he’d not been feeling totally comfortable about his game, especially his short game. He was looking forward to returning home for a break knowing the Henrico County Open would be his last event. Little did we know that it would become something special.
What unfolded this morning in Virginia, Richmond certainly will make the 23-hour flight home to Australia more enjoyable, but more importantly it signifies an important milestone in any players career. Flanagan now can enjoy a deserved break; celebrate his girlfriend’s 21st birthday in style and return back to the US full of confidence having secured a Nationwide Tour victory.
“I don’t know who wanted the victory more, my caddie Scotty [McGuinness] or me. I got the job done without putting well. It’s great to get over the hurdle of winning a Nationwide. Two more this season would be good!”
“I’ve come close a few times before and even with the start I’ve had this year when I got off well back home, I kind of felt it was going to happen, it was just going to be a matter when.”
“To tell you the truth, I really looking forward to going back home and spending some time with my girlfriend and family. We’ll be having a few parties now in Noosa, that’s for sure.”
Winning the Henrico County Open, not only signifies a return to form for Flanagan, but consolidates his place on the Nationwide Tour for the season. Securing an early victory enables a player to remain focussed and committed to finishing inside the season ending top 25, but more importantly gives them the prospect of finishing the top 10 on the Nationwide money list. Finish there and you have a better schedule upon graduation to the USPGA Tour and that’s a big difference for young emerging professionals.
Whilst Flanagan will skip the Fort Smith Classic this week, he’s scheduled to return the week commencing 14 May for the BMW Charity, an event carrying one of the larger purses on the Nationwide Tour. The 2003 US Amateur champion has purposely structured his schedule that allows every six to eight weeks “mini-breaks” to return to Australia. The ability to return to familiar surroundings is important for Flanangan as he misses living in Australia.
At only 22 we be seeing a lot more about Flanagan, he simply performs well under pressure and gets the job done. Today’s win also puts to rest all earlier and unjustified criticism that Flanagan in 2003 turned pro too early. The experiences of playing the British Open and seven USPGA Tour events that came with the US Amateur clearly provided the foundation for Flanagan to mix it in professional golf.
Next month he be playing in the US Open Qualifying and as the US Open is at Oakmont, the site of his US Amateur victory in 2003, Flanagan is very keen to get there. In fact there are a number of places Flanagan is keen to get to, in particular the USPGA Tour.
Like this morning’s break through victory on the Nationwide Tour, it seems it’s not a matter of “if”, but “when” this will occur.
Photo – Anthony Powter
