Aussie James Nitties wins the Midwest Classic on Nationwide Tour
Last week’s Nationwide event turned out to be predominantly Australian when 28-year-old James Nitties clinched his first Nationwide Tour title at the Midwest Classic with a lead of five shots. Playing exquisite golf all throughout the weekend, Nitties pulled
in stunning rounds of 65, 63, 65, and 65 to accomplish his career best finish, taking down maiden title of his career.
“I thought the boys were hot on my heels the whole back nine,” said Nitties, who owned a one-stroke lead after 54 holes. “This is the kind of course where a one-shot lead feels like nothing. You know all the guys are going to be going nuts making birdies.
Everyone was flying up the leaderboard.”
Nitties’ final round of six-under, 65 was good enough to take the better off the rest of the field of the event and went over to post an aggregate of 26-under, 258, which also happens to be the second best winning score of the Nationwide Tour history. The
player pulled in seven birdies and dropped just one shot in the final 18-hole stretch.
Nitties who hails from Melbourne and has been playing on the Nationwide Tour for quite some time, displayed excellent composure on the final day and did not cave into the immense pressure of the final holes. He sank several birdies from long hauls of no
less than 20 feet.
“Usually I'm a streaky putter,” said Nitties, whose best finish on the tour came in the Mexico Open in June where he finished for a joint fourth. “I'll putt good for one round and then not hole anything the rest of the week. This week I actually holed the
putts I should hole and then made the most of my opportunities.”
Another Australian Nick Flanagan and Jonas Blixt finished for a joint second while three players tied for the fourth spot including Jason Kokrak,Josh Geary and J.J. Killeen.
Killeen, who has already won two back to back events in the current season, shot into contention right in the opening round but could not keep up with the pace later in the weekend. Although finishing for a joint fourth, Killeen has amassed enough earnings
to finally topple Mathew Goggin as the tour Money Leader and is now the number one on the Money List.
Killeen made his move earlier in the round when he pulled in a stunning eagle at par-five, 4th but fell for a disastrous triple-bogey at par-four, 15th to fall behind. He finished with an aggregate of 20-under, trialing Nitties by six
shots.
Nitties has now soared to number 12 on the money list with his winner’s share of $99,000 and will be hoping to stay in the Top-25 until the end of the season.
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