Date: May 07, 2007
Author: Alistair Hogg

Aussies Around The World: Weekend Review

By Alistair Hogg John Senden shot a solid five-under to finish equal-10th in the Wahcovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. The MFS Australian Open Champion found it tough to make inroads as he carded an even par final round of 72 on the back of a third round 69. Queenslander Rod Pampling was two strokes back, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy finished at one-under and the trio of Nathan Green, Matthew Goggin and Robert Allenby were even with the card. Tiger Woods streaked home with three consecutive sub-70 rounds to take the championship ahead of countryman Steve Stricker. Woods fired a final round 69 to run out victorious by two strokes. Phil Mickelson was equal third with South African Rory Sabbatini who started the day one shot in front of Woods Australian results from the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow GC, North Carolina Robert Allenby (T34) Stuart Appleby 75 77 (DQ) Aaron Baddeley +1 (T43) Gavin Coles +8 (T77) Matthew Goggin (T34) Nathan Green E (T34) Stephen Leaney +9 (T79) Peter Lonard 73 80 (MC) Nick O&aposHern E (T34) Geoff Ogilvy -1 (T24) Rod Pampling -3 (T16) Adam Scott -1 (T24) John Senden -5 (T10) Although nine of 11 Australians missed the cut in the Fort Smith Nationwide Tour event, Jason Day gave us something to smile about down under with a superb score of 14-under to finish equal-fourth. The two-time Australian Junior of Merit Champion shot a scintillating eight-under 62 in the final round to draw level with American Tee McCabe, just two strokes behind winner Jay Williamson. All four of Day&aposs rounds were under-par and he was within a shot of the lead after rattling off six birdies in seven holes following the turn on Sunday. A 20-foot putt on the final hole would have given him a share of the course record but a resulting three-putt was his only blemish on an otherwise outstanding day. His score still shaved two strokes off his previous best round of 64 in a PGA Tour sponsored event. “I had nothing to lose today and everything to gain,” Day said. “I wanted to win this one bad. The Nationwide Tour teaches you how to win and I feel like I have the game to win out here soon. But this week I made too many mistakes. The best players in the world aren&apost making as many mistakes as I am right now.” If Day&aposs four sub-par rounds at Arkansas in the last week have been riddled with mistakes, Australia can&apost wait to see him play when he is on top of his game. Australian results from the Fort Smith Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club, Arkansas Steven Bowditch 72 71 (MC) Greg Chalmers 71 70 (MC) Jason Day -14 (T4) Kim Felton 76 73 (MC) Scott Gardiner 70 69 (MC) Paul Gow 70 71 (MC) Bradley Hughes 72 69 (MC) Matthew Jones -10 (T17) David McKenzie 68 70 (MC) James Nitties 67 72 (MC) Richard Swift 67 72 (MC) Just three Aussies took to the fairways at Castello di Tolcinasco Country Club but all performed admirably. Marcus Fraser was the pick of the bunch with a superb 14-under for the tournament but even those numbers couldn&apost lift him above seventh position. Brett Rumford finished on nine-under in a share of 22nd and Andrew Tampion was six under the card in a share of 58th. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano won the rain shortened event on the second playoff hole over Austrian Marcus Brier. The Spaniard drained a five-foot birdie putt to claim the title after finishing on 16-under. Australian results from the Italian Open at Castello di Tolcinasco CC, Milan Marcus Fraser -14 (T7) Brett Rumford -9 (T22) Andrew Tampion -6 (T58) The Ladies European Tour resumed on the weekend with the Tenerife Open off the Spanish Island off the coast of Africa. It proved a memorable event for Australian Nikki Garrett who broke through to record her first ever LET win. The 23-year old from New South Wales was the only player under par for the event, winning by two strokes from Brit Trish Johnson and Spaniard Tania Elosegui. The 2006 LET Rookie Of The Year started well carding an opening round 69 but fell back with a second round 75. A third round of one-under put her in the box seat going into the final day and Garrett didn&apost disappoint, delivering her maiden LET title in the first European event of the year. Lisa Jean was the next best Aussie finishing equal-16th with a score of seven over. Unfortunately eight of the 11 Australian starters missed the cut. Australian results from the Tenerife Ladies Open at Golf de Sur, Tenerife Carlie Butler 78 78 (MC) Cherie Byrnes 75 79 (MC) Leah Hart 73 78 (MC) Lisa Jean +7 (T16) Sarah Kemp 72 79 (MC) Karen Lunn +8 (T22) Joanne Mills +9 (T25) Anna Rawson 76 76 (MC) Rebecca Stevenson 83 76 (MC) Bree Turnbull 78 82 (MC) Shani Waugh 82 80 (MC)