Date: October 15, 2012
Author: Omnisport

Presnell well placed to join PGA Tour

Shawn Stefani claimed his second Web.com Tour title of the season with a convincing five-stroke victory at the Miccosukee Championship ahead of Australia&aposs Alistair Presnell who finished second. The American closed the final round with a three-under 68 to finish at 15-under overall at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. Stefani&aposs second victory of the year, following on from his triumph in May&aposs Midwest Classic, sees him move up to fourth on the top 25 money list with $303,311. Presnell, meanwhile, is poised to join the USPGA Tour for the first time next year. The Australian&aposs four-under 67, which included six birdies, not only secured outright second and $64,800 in prize money but elevated him to 19th place on the money list with $187,342 after starting last week at 55th. With the top 25 players earning a berth on the PGA&aposs main tour, Presnell is now in prime position with just two tournaments remaining – the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open and Tour Championship. Presnell moved to within just three strokes of the lead at one stage during the fourth and final round but Stefani rose to the challenge and held on for victory. “I was thinking the way I started in my mind that it would have been good enough that I might have a chance,” Presnell said afterwards. “But he had made a couple of good saves and a couple of nice birdies and all in all he was really steady all day. “The shots he mishit he was able to recover well and he holed some good putts. I just slowed a bit too much on the back nine and made a few too many pars.” American Russell Henley (six under) placed third, while compatriots Steve LeBrun (five under), Kevin Tway and Christopher DeForest (both four under) completed the top five positions in Miami. Meanwhile, Australians Cameron Percy and Scott Gardiner remain on track to progress to next season&aposs main tour. Percy ended the event at two under, and in a tie for ninth alongside counterpart Aron Price and Americans Morgan Hoffman and Travis Hampshire. The 38-year-old&aposs display consolidates his 10th-placed position on the money list with $244,118, while Gardiner, who finished joint 13th with countryman Steve Allan at one under, remains 14th on $222,685.