Golf: Kiwis tie in top-10 finish

New Zealanders Danny Lee and Tim Wilkinson finish tied for eighth place in the Nationwide Golf Tour's Mylan Classic on Sunday.

England's Gary Christian won the tournament, shooting a 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over John Mallinger.

Lee, who was tied for 45th at the start of the day, shot a sensational nine-under 61 on the final round to rocket up the leaderboard, while Wilkinson shot a 5-under 66.

The 40-year-old Christian earned US$108,000 to jump from 27th to fourth on the money list with US$230,040, while Lee and Wilkinson both pocketed US$17,400.

Lee stayed at 11th on the money list, while Wilkinson shot up from 100th to 77th. The top 25 at the end of the season will earn 2012 PGA Tour cards.

"I'm biting my lip a little bit and I might be struggling. I'm not usually at a loss for words, but this might be one of those rare occasions,'' Christian said. "It's like a dream come true.''

Christian, a former Auburn player, finished at 17-under 267 on the Southpointe course.

"I think it was meant to be this week,'' said Christian, also the winner of the tour's 2009 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic. "Walking down the fairway today I was thinking it's just my time.''

Mallinger closed with a 68. Craig Bowden (66) and Scott Brown (67) tied for third at 15 under.

India's Rahil Gangjee became the third player in Nationwide Tour history to make a hole-in-one on a par 4. He used a driver to ace the 316-yard 15th, and finished with a 70 to tie for 32nd at 6 under.

"I was just trying to get it on the green, that was it. When it's a driveable hole, you think you can get it close and maybe make eagle, but a hole-in-one, nobody thinks about that,'' Gangjee said.

Another Kiwi, Josh Geary, came in at 54th, moving up nine places after shooting a 3-under 68 and dropped on place from 53rd to 52nd on the money list with his US$1920 cheque. Fellow Kiwis Steve Alker and Phil Tataurangi did not make the cut.

 

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