Golf: Wilkinson misses elusive victory

Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson remains in contention to win his first title on the Web.com Tour at the News Sentinel Open in Tennessee. Photo / Getty Images.

Kiwi golfer Tim Wilkinson has missed out on an elusive Web.com Tour victory today despite shooting a five-under final-round 66 at the News Sentinel Open in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Wilkinson, who has secured his PGA Tour card for next season after a strong showing on the second-tier circuit this year, is the Web.com Tour's most consistent player who is yet to win an event in 2013.

The Manawatu 35-year-old looked a solid chance to change that this weekend but ended up having to settle for a share of sixth at 14-under, two strokes back from eventual winner Peter Malnati, who carded a six-under 65 in the final round to claim victory.

Four players finished in a share of second at 15-under and at one point a multi-way playoff looked on the cards to determine the winner but Malnati made one of his eight birdies for the day at the par-five 18th to settle the argument before extra holes were needed.

Wilkinson came in to the weekend in ninth position on the tour's money list and could move up a spot or two courtesy of this week's pay cheque.

Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Steven Alker produced a one-over 72 in his final round to slip back to a share of 50th.

Alker fired a four-under 67 in the second round to make the cut but couldn't pick up enough strokes during the weekend to make a decent charge up the leaderboard.

The Hamilton professional is right on the cusp of hanging on to his spot in the Web.com Tour's top 25 players on the order of merit and will likely need to make another cut in the final event next weekend to keep his place.

Kiwi Danny Lee, who was 12th on the Web.com Tour's money list before the weekend, didn't play in Knoxville but is in no danger of falling out of the top 25.

Next week's tournament is the Cox Classic in Omaha, Nebraska, which rounds out the season before a four-tournament finals series takes off that finishes with the Web.com Tour Championship from September 26-29 on Dye's Valley Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.