Gareth Paddison of New Zealand. Photo / File.
New Zealand golfer Gareth Paddison has finished in a share for third at the SK Telecom Open after a final round three-under par 69.
Paddison leapt into contention with three birdies on the front nine at the South Korean tournament, before reeling off nine straight pars to finish at eight-under
for the tournament, finishing two shots behind Korean winner Jinho Choi.
Although he posted a second consecutive bogey-free round, the left-hander couldn't quite muster up the run he needed on the back nine, finishing alongside four others at eight-under par.
With several players struggling on the back nine, there were moments when it seemed like Paddison could be in the mix for a playoff, but Choi put those hopes to bed with a birdie on the final hole to take the title at 10-under, one shot ahead of compatriot Soomin Lee.
Fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox looked like he'd be joining Paddison in the mix for the top of the leaderboard after birdieing his first two holes, reaching eight-under at the turn to be in third place alongside Paddison.
