Golf: Long finishes third in Nationwide Tour event

New Zealand golfer Michael Long moved into the top 20 on the US Nationwide Tour money list with a season-best third placing at the Virginia Beach Open today.

Long shot four birdies in a final round of three-under-par 69 to move from a tie for fifth overnight to outright third on a total of 14-under 274.

He was six shots behind Australian winner Andrew Buckle, who also carded a final round 69, and one shot behind second-placed Justin Bolli of the United States.

The result moved Long from 34th to 17th on the secondary Nationwide Tour money list with season earnings of US$64,188 from eight tournaments as he bids to regain his PGA Tour card.

Fellow New Zealanders Grant Waite and Steven Alker both missed the cut.

- NZPA