Date: August 21, 2007
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Aussies Around The World: Weekend Review

PGA TOUR Nathan Green was the best of the Aussies at the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. The New South Welshman posted a final round 69 to finish one stroke clear of compatriot Peter Lonard who had a superb final 36 holes. Mark Hensby impressed at 11-under while Jarrod Lyle and Matthew Goggin were in equal-49th position at 10-under the card. Australians at the Wyndham Championship at Forest Oaks Country Club, North Carolina Nathan Green -15 (T13) Peter Lonard -14 (T20) Mark Hensby -11 (T37) Jarrod Lyle -10 (T49) Matthew Goggin -10 (T49) John Senden -9 (T57) Stephen Leaney -5 (T74) Paul Gow -5 (T74) Steve Allan +4 (86) Andrew Buckle 69 71 (MC) Gavin Coles 73 70 (MC) Michael Sim 74 72 (MC) NATIONWIDE TOUR Australian Nick Flanagan realised a boyhood dream when he secured his US Tour card with a brilliant final-round 63 to win the Xerox Classic. By claiming his third title this year on the Nationwide Tour, Flanagan, 23, became just the eighth player in the tour&aposs history to earn an automatic promotion to the US PGA Tour. “It&aposs a dream come through to come out here and win three,” Flanagan said. Despite now being eligible to play events on the main circuit for the remainder of 2007 as well as 2008, Flanagan has no plans to leave the Nationwide Tour just yet. Now second on the Money List, Flanagan can win a berth in the 2008 Players Championship if he can overtake American Roland Thatcher, who holds a $US16,303 advantage over him. He will play this week&aposs National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic. Flanagan&aposs stellar accomplishment somewhat overshadowed other dominant performances by Australians as Jason Day and David McKenzie posted scores of seven and six-under to finish in the top four. Australians at the Xerox Classic at Irondequoit Country Club, New York Nick Flanagan -10 (1) Jason Day -7 (3) David McKenzie -6 (T4) Matthew Jones +3 (T40) Scott Gardiner 71 74 (MC) Marc Leishman 73 72 (MC) Greg Chalmers 73 74 (MC) Richard Swift 76 72 (MC) Kim Felton 72 77 (MC) Aron Price 70 83 (MC) EUROPEAN TOUR Australian Scott Strange&aposs roller-coaster Scandinavian Masters continued on the final day when he shot a one-over-par 71 to finish tied for 12th behind Finn Mikko Ilonen in Stockholm on Sunday. Strange, who started the tournament in a blaze of glory with a six-under-par 64 then undid all his good work with a 75 on the second day, began the final round five shots off the pace but cost himself any chance of victory with double bogies on the third and 13th Australians at the Scandinavian Masters at Arlandastad Golf Club, Sweden Scott Strange -1 (T12) Andrew Tampion +3 (T32) Brett Rumford +4 (T36) Wade Ormsby +6 (T49) Terry Pilkadaris +7 (T55) David Bransdon +9 (T61) Terry Price 74 73 (MC) Matthew Zions 74 75 (MC) Matthew Millar 71 78 (MC) LPGA TOUR Karrie Webb was the best of a solid Aussie contingent at the CN Canadian Women&aposs Open in Edmonton. Webb shot rounds of 72 64 73 and 71 to finish four under the card, one stroke ahead of Rachel Hetherington. Wendy Doolan also had a respectable score of two-under while Lindsey Wright posted a two-over, recovering from a disappointing start with a 68 on Sunday. Australians at the CN Canadian Women&aposs Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club, Edmonton Karrie Webb -4 (T18) Rachel Hetherington -3 (T26) Wendy Doolan -2 (T34) Lindsey Wright +2 (T58) Katherine Hull 77 73 (MC) LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR Joanne Mills has broken through for her LET victory at the Wales Ladies Championship. Mills battled strong winds and rain on the final day to pip German Bettina Hauert and Georgina Simpson of England by one shot. Mills posted scores of 70 68 71 73 to win her first title in over a decade and was thrilled at the outcome. “I can t believe it. It&aposs taken me ten years to have another win on the LET. I never thought it would take this long, but it has,” she told the LET website. “I&aposve played well all year and came close in Northern Ireland. I had a good chance in Portugal but I&aposm just so pleased to finally get it under my belt again.” “To tell you the truth I was nervous all day. From the very first tee shot to the last putt. I tried to grind my pars out, which I did and I had to get up and down a couple of times. I had a good few birdie chances but couldn’t seem to make them. Fortunately everyone was falling away and I just had to hold it together. I did that well enough. It came together at the end.” Karen Lunn was the second-best Aussie at four over along with two-time LET winner Nikki Garrett. Australians at the Wales Ladies Championship at Machynys Peninsula Golf Club, Wales Joanne Mills -6 (1) Karen Lunn +4 (T24) Nikki Garrett +4 (T24) Anna Rawson +7 (T35) Leah Hart +7 (T35) Rebecca Stevenson +15 (T65) Cherie Byrnes +17 (T68) Carlie Butler +18 (T70) Lisa Jean 79 70 (MC) Bree Turnbull 80 70 (MC) Sarah Kemp 78 73 (MC) Shani Waugh 79 75 (MC)