PGA Tour veteran Kirk Triplett wins the News Sentinel Open on Nationwide Tour
Three-time PGA Tour winner Kirk Triplett lifted his first Nationwide Tour victory at the News Sentinel Open Presented by Pilot at the sprawling Fox Den Country Club in Tennessee. Triplett managed to edge past the young trailblazers of the tour with a final
round score of four-under, 68 to become the oldest winner on the Nationwide Tour at the age of 49 years four months and 29 days.
“I've play a lot of years on TOUR and I'm sort of in the twilight part of my career but feeling those competitive juices down the stretch and seeing all these great young players made me feel a lot younger,” said Triplett. “The quality of these golfers over
the last 15-20 years has gotten better and better and the game is in great hands.”
Triplett has won thrice on the PGA Tour and his last victory came in 2006 at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. In his 22-years long stretch on the PGA, he won his first title after a painfully long period of time in his 266th start.
Triplett played quintessential golf for his age and conceded just two bogeys in his opening round on Thursday. He remained bogey-free for the rest of the three days over the weekend posting rounds of 67, 64, 68 and 68. He closed with an aggregate of 21-under,
267 to win his maiden title on the tour and a winner’s prize share of $99,000. He managed to finish off two shots better than the nearest contender, Marco Dawson who settled for 19-under.
“It was evolving really slowly today. There wasn't anybody really making a move,” said Triplett. “I just felt if I made a couple of birdies on the front and one or two more.”
Tour money leader J.J. Killeen fell for a disappointing joint 50th giving enough room to former tour money leader Mathew Goggin to reclaim the number spot. Killeen, who has already won twice on the tour, stumbled on a sloppy 74 in the final round
while Goggin remained consistent throughout the weekend to regain the top slot on the tour.
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