Lyle wins Knoxville Open in playoff
IN: News | Nationwide | Knoxville Open (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 23 Jun 2008
Jarrod Lyle has won his second Nationwide Tour event of the season after defeating American Chris Kirk in a playoff for the Knoxville Open at the Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Lyle took a two shot lead into today’s final round but was forced into a playoff when he bogeyed the 72nd hole and Kirk, who was playing in the group ahead, birdied the last just a few minutes earlier.
A birdie at the first extra hole was good enough for Lyle reclaim the top position on the Nationwide Tour money list. He now has earnings of US$282,000 and is assured of a return to the USPGA Tour in 2009. It also opens the door for him to be back on the US Tour earlier, should he win again in 2008, as three victories in any one season ensures a “Battlefield Promotion” to the holy grail of tournament golf.
Lyle won earlier in the season in Mexico but in recent weeks he had been struggling with his form. A late decision to pre-qualify for the US Open has paid dividends as a very creditable 48th place finish at Torrey Pines helped build some momentum for this week.
Greg Chalmers continued his very impressive season with yet another top ten, his 7th in 13 starts this season. Chalmers finished in a share of 9th position and with US$223,000 is also guaranteed of one of the 25 PGA Tour cards to be handed out later this year.
South Australian Wade Ormsby, playing in his first full season on the Nationwide Tour, put together his best week for quite some time when 14th, New Zealander Bradley Iles was 24th, Won Joon Lee 42nd, while Scott Gardiner and David McKenzie were 60th.
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