Date: July 09, 2012 Author: James Willoughby, Omnisport
Aussies Abroad Weekly Wrap: Solid week for Pampling
Star of the show: Rod Pampling finished inside the top 30 on the PGA Tour for the second successive week as he tied for 27th at The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. He did not shoot more than 70 in his four rounds, finishing with a three-under 67 as he followed up a good effort at The AT&T National with an overall score of seven-under par. The 42-year-old picked up more than US$42,000 for his performance. Breakout of the week: Veteran Gavin Coles recorded his best result of the season as he also tied for 27th at The Greenbrier Classic. The 43-year-old was consistent throughout the tournament, shooting rounds of 68, 68, 69 and 68. It was Coles&apos best finish on the PGA Tour since he tied for 11th at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in August 2008. Steve Conran tied for 26th at the Sega Sammy Cup on the Japanese Tour. The 46-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season in Asia, with four top-20 finishes so far in 2012. At the third major of the year on the women&aposs tour, Karrie Webb (tied for 50th) and Katherine Hull (tied for 57th) failed to cause problems at the U.S. Women&aposs Open in Wisconsin. Both players shot rounds of 81 on Saturday in high winds and never recovered. At the Open de France in Paris, all six Aussies competing failed to make the cut after poor performances or withdrawals in a disappointing week for our golfers abroad. Shot of the week: Stuart Appleby won The Greenbrier Classic in 2010 after shooting a last-day 59. And while he was one of seven Australians who did not make the cut in the 2012 event, he still provided the odd highlight. On hole 14 of his second round, Appleby hit a nice approach shot before sinking a seven-foot putt for birdie. Tweet of the week: James Nitties – @Nitties23 “What a great game… Glad I got up at 4:30am to watch my first state of origin in Dallas.. Welldone QLD.. Footy+Sunrise=perfect July 4th” What lies ahead: Pampling will look to continue his good form when he contests the John Deere Classic in Illinois in the latest PGA Tour event. He is one of eight Aussies contesting the event including Appleby, Coles and John Senden. On the men&aposs European Tour, Aaron Baddeley and Marcus Fraser head the list of six Australians competing in the Scottish Open in Inverness while Lindsey Wright, Stacey Keating and three more compatriots will play the South African Women&aposs Open on the ladies European Tour. After last week&aposs major, the LPGA Tour takes a break and resumes on July 26. From the Couch: Golf fans can watch live coverage of the John Deere Classic from 5-8am from Friday through to Monday on Fox Sports. Action from the Scottish Open starts at 11.30pm on Thursday and Friday and 10pm over the final two days with 17 hours of live action.