Teenage golfer turns pro after NZ win

Updated November 27, 2012 22:22:58

When rising Australian golf star Jake Higginbottom ripped his final drive down Clearwater's difficult 18th hole for a one-shot victory in the New Zealand Open, he knew there was no point waiting to turn professional.

The first amateur since Harry Berwick in 1956 to win the New Zealand Open, the NSW teenager made the decision 24 hours after his last hole heroics to make the switch.

He initially told reporters after his win he would wait until next year.

But the 19-year-old will now make his pro debut in this week's NSW PGA Championship at Mt Broughton before taking on some world class opposition in the Australian Open and PGA Championship next month.

"I made the decision straight after I won," Higginbottom said during a practice round for the NSW PGA at the Mt Broughton course on Tuesday afternoon.

"I always felt I was ready but I didn't really have anywhere to play."

His victory on Sunday solved that problem.

While he missed out a $72,000 winner's cheque because of his amateur status, he did score a two-year exemption on the OneAsia Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia as well as automatic entry into the both the second round of 2013 US PGA and European Tour qualification schools.

The win helped him make his decision, but it was his final drive which convinced him he was ready.

"I knew it was a crucial drive," he said.

"That drive reinforced to me I can trust my swing under pressure, which is good.

"Shots like that one helped my decision. All the shots I hit through that back nine (on Sunday) showed me I could handle it (pressure)."

Had Higginbottom turned professional after he tied for 10th in the Australian Masters a fortnight ago, he would have been able to keep the $72,000 which was split between joint runners-up, Australian pros Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.

"After a win like that I just thought it was time to `give it a crack'," he said.

"Hopefully I'll make that ($72,000) up in other wins."

Higginbottom won't be changing much about his golf game when he enters the pro ranks following a distinguished amateur career.

"I'll have the same philosophy of going out on the course and hitting as many good shots as I can," he said.

"If you do that the results take care of themselves."

He wasn't expecting the pros would be too worried about him moving into the play-for-pay ranks next month.

"Probably not, but it's all part of the learning curve for me," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, nsw, australia

First posted November 27, 2012 22:22:58

View the original article here

Stanley turns agony into ecstasy in Phoenix

Updated February 06, 2012 12:31:00

American Kyle Stanley took advantage of a final-round collapse by overnight leader Spencer Levin to win his first PGA Tour title by one shot at the Phoenix Open in Arizona.

A week after agonisingly squandering a seven-stroke advantage to lose the Farmers Insurance Open in a play-off, Stanley delivered the best possible reply as he closed with a flawless 6-under-par 65 at the TPC Scottsdale.

The big-hitting Stanley birdied three of the last eight holes in dazzling afternoon sunshine to post a 15-under total of 269, finishing one ahead of compatriot Ben Crane (66).

American Levin, who briefly led by seven shots early in the final round in pursuit of a maiden PGA Tour victory, had to settle for third place at 13-under after closing with a 75.

"This feels great," Stanley told reporters as he struggled to hold back the tears.

"I'd just like to thank my Mum and Dad. They've done a lot for me."

Stanley said his family had comforted him at Torrey Pines last week after he had triple-bogeyed the final hole to take that tournament into a play-off which he lost on the second extra hole.

"I don't know what I would have done if I'd been by myself," the 24-year-old added.

"I am just fortunate to have such a great team of people around me. It really meant everything."

Asked how it felt to rebound from the agony of Torrey Pines to the ecstasy of victory, Stanley replied: "That's golf. You need to accept the fact that there are going to be ups and downs. You just can't get too high, you can't get too low.

"I am just thankful. I have had so much support from so many people, people I don't even know. It's really helped me kind of put it behind me and move on. It's been great."

Stanley went into the final round a distant eight shots off the lead and overnight pacesetter Levin briefly found himself seven ahead after his playing partner Webb Simpson bogeyed the opening hole.

However, Crane was fast closing the gap, a birdie at the second, a 33-foot eagle putt at the third and another birdie at the fourth putting him just four off the pace.

Though Levin birdied the par-five third to regain a five-shot cushion, he slipped back with a bogey at the par-three fourth after finding a greenside bunker off the tee.

The cigarette-puffing American also faltered at the par-four sixth, finding bunkers off the tee and with his approach, for his lead to be cut to three.

Crane then missed a nine-footer to bogey the ninth and Levin, who coolly saved par there with a 10-foot putt, reached the turn four ahead of the chasing pack.

Stanley rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the 11th to trim Levin's advantage to three and moments later the tournament leader did well to par the 10th by draining a 12-footer.

However Levin bogeyed the 11th, after ending up in a greenside bunker with his approach, and also the par-three 12th, after finding sand off the tee, for his lead to shrink to one.

Soon after, he was joined at the top by Stanley who birdied the par-five 13th after reaching the green in two and two-putting.

Stanley then snatched the outright lead at 15-under when he rammed home a 12-footer to birdie the par-four 14th.

Levin steadied his nerves with a much-needed birdie at the 14th where he rolled in a 14-footer to regain a share of the lead.

However, he then tumbled back when he double-bogeyed the par-five 15th after ending up under a cactus with his drive and finding water with his third shot.

There was no way back for Levin from there and Stanley tightened his grip on the title with pars on his final four holes.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 06, 2012 12:15:57

View the original article here