New Zealand golfer Bradley Iles has enhanced his prospects of joining the PGA tour with a second placing after a play-off at the Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open in Tennessee today.
Iles, who carded a course record-equalling 63 in his final round at the Fox Den Country Club, was eventually bettered
by American Kevin Johnson at the second play-off hole.
But the US$56,700 ($90,000) he banked as runner-up saw him rocket up the second-tier tour's money list from 85th to 21st.
After a dozen tournaments Iles has US$79,003 - a US$22,000 buffer over the 26th-ranked player.
Should he maintain a place inside the top 25 for the remainder of the tour then he will be granted automatic promotion to the PGA Tour - and avoid the difficult Q-school route to qualifying.
There are 17 tour events on the schedule giving the Tauranga right hander plenty of scope to protect his position - and his statistics suggest he is capable of joining compatriots Tim Wilkinson and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell on the PGA tour.
He is ranked in the Nationwide Tour's top-10 for driving distance, putting, sand saves and birdies on par 3s and 5s.
Starting today's final round in a share of 10th, Iles recorded nine birdies in a bogey-free round, a seven shot improvement on his previous round.
A 20-under 268 translated to his best finish on the tour - and a second top-10 finish in five outings.
Iles held the clubhouse lead until Johnson closed with a four-under 68 to set up a sudden death duel on the 18th.
The pair both birdied the par-5 on the first attempt; Johnson then repeated the feat but Iles could only make par to leave the American with the $94,500 ($150,000) winner's purse.
Johnson tied the tour's career victory record and moved within a win of an in-season promotion to the PGA Tour.
A play-off winner two weeks ago at the Rex Hospital Open, Johnson now has six tour victories, matching the record shared by Sean Murphy, Matt Gogel and Jason Gore.
With two victories this season, Johnson is a win away from earning an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour.
Johnson prevailed with a short putt.
"It was maybe only a foot but it sure looked longer than that because of what it was worth," he said.
New Zealand's Steven Alker is currently eighth on the Nationwide money list, so also in contention for a place on the PGA Tour.
- NZPA
Golf: Iles pipped in play-off
New Zealand golfer Bradley Iles has enhanced his prospects of joining the PGA tour with a second placing after a play-off at the Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open in Tennessee today.
Iles, who carded a course record-equalling 63 in his final round at the Fox Den Country Club, was eventually bettered
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