Golf Update: Kevin Kisner wins 2010 Maylan Classic; bad luck for Geoffrey Sisk
Life is based on your words and actions while Golf is based on your strokes and goals. Mess with them and they’ll mess with you. Play good with them and they can turn your life around in a second.
The Nationwide Tour’s currently underway 2010 Maylan Classic did the same for Kevin Kisner, who ended the final round with a bogey free 67 on Sunday and probably didn’t realize that he was leading in the tournament.
At the championship’s last hole, Kisner managed a 4 foot Par putt. He had a final score of 13 under 271 which made him soar towards the top of the leader board. The 94th ranked was being led by Geoffrey Sisk at the play, who staggered only at the second last hole. Sisk faced a depressing double bogey in the 17th, handing the lead to Kisner at the end.
The 45-year-old faltered from 14 to 12 under ending and finally loosened up his grip on the title. The Maylan Classic win appeared to be a three man race. Alongside Sisk, the favorite Steve Wheatcroft was also playing who ended up with a minus 10 and the fourth place.
Kisner stepped into the tournament’s top five when Sisk failed to achieve a Birdie at the 72nd hole. As Kisner made the last putt, he had no idea of his win. The 26-year-old later told the media that he was in shock after he realized that he had won. He added that this was his first full season on the tour that turned out to be a rather special one. For him, playing alongside the sport leaders and then also leaving 155 players behind is a very special thing.
According to leader board statistics, the game possession was mostly in Sisk’s hands. The play favored Kisner only at the 17th when Sisk overcooked his pitch. He held a 2 stroke lead over his followers in R2 and R3. Kisner climbed to the top for a while when he played a birdie at the 14th. But at 16th, Sisk pulled Kisner back. However, 17th was a tough one for Sisk as his ball landed in a back bunker. He blasted it back to the green at the 367 yard hole but the ball stopped short almost 18 feet from the flagstick. Two more putts also didn’t favor Sisk that much and hence they cleared the way for Kisner’s win.
Kisner is known for his determination and will power. He focused on finishing the game well under 15. Experts believe that his bulldog determination made him fight through. For Kisner, hitting 15 greens out of 18 makes a solid game. He acknowledged that in order to win, he had to make a lot of minus 4 and minus 5 footers but still, he maintained his cool and composure throughout the game
Meanwhile, Kisner’s victory has also raised him from 50th to the 14th place on the money list as he bagged a US$108,000 prize in the tournament. This standing has also qualified him for the 2011 PGA Tour cards since only the top 25 in that list are able to earn the PGA card.
Tags: