Date: August 27, 2018
Author: Mark Hayes

Davis wraps up US PGA Tour card

Cameron Davis has secured a US PGA Tour card.

After frenetic fourth-round action in the first week of Web.Com Tour’s finals series, Davis, of Sydney finished third, ensuring his 2018-19 card on the main American tour.

Davis, along with fellow Australians Curtis Luck and Matt Jones, was in a six-way tie for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship lead shortly after he eagled the 12th hole at OSU’s Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

But try as he might for the extra birdie that would ultimately have taken him to the playoff, Davis completed his round of five-under-par 66 with six straight pars to finish at -11.

Americans Robert Streb and Peter Malnati eventually reached 12 under, before the former won with a par on the first playoff hole.

Luck, of Perth, had earlier led at 12 under, but three bogeys on 11, 14 and 15 dropped him to nine under and a share of fifth, agonisingly one stroke below banking enough cash to guarantee a spot in the top 25 at the end of the month-long Web.Com playoffs.

Jones, of Sydney, had joined that leading logjam briefly with a birdie on 12, but bogeys on 14, 15 and 18 dropped him to eight under and share of 10th.

Both Luck and Jones are well placed to cash in on their form and finish during the upcoming trio of tournaments that complete the finals series with the top 25 earning their cards.

And another Aussie, Aaron Baddeley, stormed home with a 67 to earn some important dollars and finish -4 and 24th , while Rhein Gibson was the fifth and last of the nine Aussies to make the cut, finishing in a share of 58th at one over.

But the headlines belonged to New South Welshman Davis, the reigning Australian Open champion at just 23.

Davis, also the winner of the Nashville Open in May completed his rise with weekend rounds of 67-66 with just one bogey to pocket the $US68,000 that means he cannot finish outside the advancing 25.

“I just kept on telling myself, 'You don't have to rush and do it all now, but if you play really well, take what you get',” Davis told the tour’s website.

"So I did end up playing really well over the last couple of days and it's nice to be where I am."

Luck was philosophical, knowing that without his grand T6 finish in Portland a week earlier, he’d have been cleaning his clubs for an extended off-season.

“The week was good, it was nice to be in contention,” the West Australian said.

“I’ve already put that in the books and I’m really focused on another good finish, hopefully a win, next week in Cleveland … because I know what that will bring me.”

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