ID :
106549
Sun, 02/14/2010 - 17:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/106549
The shortlink copeid
Presnell wins Victorian PGA by a stroke
Melbourne professional Alistair Presnell admits thoughts of the magical 59 caused
late nerves as he shot a phenomenal 12-under-par 60 to snatch victory in the
Victorian PGA Championship by one stroke.
The 30-year-old equalled the Australasian tour record of 60 now shared with Ernie
Els (2004 Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne) and Paul Gow (2001 Canon Challenge,
Castle Hill) with his 12 birdie round on Sandhurst's North course on Sunday.
He could have had the mark all to himself and earned international headlines with a
59 - a score managed only a handful of times worldwide in tour events - if he'd
holed a 1.5m birdie try on the par 5 17th.
But Presnell still birdied the 18th from the same distance to equal the record and
snaffle the title at 22-under 266 from overnight leaders Kurt Barnes and David
Bransdon who shot closing 67s.
He had started the day a distant six shots from the lead in a share of 20th but
raced through the field as he dropped birdie after birdie, including five in a row
from the fifth hole and four in a row from the 11th, on his way to breaking the
course record by three shots.
"Absolutely," said Presnell, when asked if he'd entertained hopes of 59 during a
round where he missed just one green in regulation and needed only 23 putts.
"Probably early on the back nine when I birdied 11 and 12 and 13.
"But then also a few nerves crept in too and I kind of lost it with about four to
play. To be honest I didn't even know what I had after I played the last hole.
"I mean 60, I'm stoked with that but 59 if I could have holed a five-footer on the
fourth or the 17th, it would have been great but I also holed a few 20-footers
today."
Presnell is no flash in the pan.
His first tour win came in the 2009 Moonah Classic and he went on to perform
consistently well on the Nationwide Tour in the US, just missing a card to join the
2010 US PGA Tour when 28th on the money list.
"I head over to the Nationwide Tour on Thursday for a couple of events in South
America so this is a fantastic way to start the season," added Presnell after
collecting his modest $16,500 winner's cheque. (
Second place-getters Barnes and Bransdon did it somewhat tougher, having to finish
their rounds at the back of the field in elevated wind conditions that whipped up
after Presnell had completed his dazzling performance
NSW's Paul Marantz saved his best to last shooting a seven-under 65 to finish at
19-under in outright fourth.
late nerves as he shot a phenomenal 12-under-par 60 to snatch victory in the
Victorian PGA Championship by one stroke.
The 30-year-old equalled the Australasian tour record of 60 now shared with Ernie
Els (2004 Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne) and Paul Gow (2001 Canon Challenge,
Castle Hill) with his 12 birdie round on Sandhurst's North course on Sunday.
He could have had the mark all to himself and earned international headlines with a
59 - a score managed only a handful of times worldwide in tour events - if he'd
holed a 1.5m birdie try on the par 5 17th.
But Presnell still birdied the 18th from the same distance to equal the record and
snaffle the title at 22-under 266 from overnight leaders Kurt Barnes and David
Bransdon who shot closing 67s.
He had started the day a distant six shots from the lead in a share of 20th but
raced through the field as he dropped birdie after birdie, including five in a row
from the fifth hole and four in a row from the 11th, on his way to breaking the
course record by three shots.
"Absolutely," said Presnell, when asked if he'd entertained hopes of 59 during a
round where he missed just one green in regulation and needed only 23 putts.
"Probably early on the back nine when I birdied 11 and 12 and 13.
"But then also a few nerves crept in too and I kind of lost it with about four to
play. To be honest I didn't even know what I had after I played the last hole.
"I mean 60, I'm stoked with that but 59 if I could have holed a five-footer on the
fourth or the 17th, it would have been great but I also holed a few 20-footers
today."
Presnell is no flash in the pan.
His first tour win came in the 2009 Moonah Classic and he went on to perform
consistently well on the Nationwide Tour in the US, just missing a card to join the
2010 US PGA Tour when 28th on the money list.
"I head over to the Nationwide Tour on Thursday for a couple of events in South
America so this is a fantastic way to start the season," added Presnell after
collecting his modest $16,500 winner's cheque. (
Second place-getters Barnes and Bransdon did it somewhat tougher, having to finish
their rounds at the back of the field in elevated wind conditions that whipped up
after Presnell had completed his dazzling performance
NSW's Paul Marantz saved his best to last shooting a seven-under 65 to finish at
19-under in outright fourth.
