Date: September 19, 2016
Author: Mark Hayes

Pamps’ charge puts card in sight

Queenslander Rod Pampling has one hand on a US PGA Tour card after another bold finish on the Web.Com Tour.

Pampling and fellow veterans Cam Percy and Stuart Appleby find themselves inside the top 25 who will earn cards after the feeder tour’s second of four finals events.

But it was Pampling who made the most of his opportunities today at the Boise Open, carving through the field with a fine closing six-under-par 65 to reach 11 under and a T24.

It was enough to keep the 2008 Australian Masters champion as the 11th ranked among those clambering for a card with two weeks to run until they’re decided.

Percy fired a closing 69 to finish at three under, a light year from winner Michael Thompson at -23, but still handy at 15th in the big picture.

Appleby was strangely inconsistent in his final-round 71, but his -2 finish left him in the hunt in 24th position in the playoffs.

The other Aussie to make the cut in Idaho was Matt Jones, who shot 66-71-72-70 to finish five under and T53. But the reigning Emirates Australian Open champion still has much work to do after withdrawing from the first playoff event and still sitting T72 overall.

Each of Rhein Gibson, Brett Drewitt and Cam Smith missed the Idaho cut and sit T48th in the finals rankings.

The third playoff event is in Columbus, Ohio, this week at the Children’s Hospital Championship with the Tour Championship a fortnight later in Atlantic Beach, Florida.