Weekly Wrap - Sheehan wins Adelaide play-off

Weekly Wrap :: February 13 to 19

Another busy week in world golf saw action from the Nissan Open in Los Angeles and the SBS Open in Hawaii, to the European tour taking in the beautiful Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia.

On the domestic scene, the Jacob’s Creek Open was held at the pristine Royal Adelaide Golf Course.

The event saw New South Welshman Paul Sheehan win in a play off after posting a final round of 69.

Sheehan defeated West Australian Michael Sim on the second play off hole in tense circumstances, after both players made a meal out of the par four 18th, with Sheehan putting in for a bogey five, whilst Sim ended up with a double bogey six.

The win was significant for Sheehan, as this event was co-sanctioned by the US Nationwide tour, and will provide the New South Welshman with a brilliant chance of making it onto the US Tour next season.

The win launches Sheehan to third on the Australasian order of merit, with earnings of $195,945 this season.

Adam Scott completed an amazing trend for Australian golfers over the past three weeks, finishing in second place to South African Rory Sabbatini at the Nissan Open.

The tournament, held at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, saw the young Australian enter the final day some nine shots off the pace. An amazing final round 64 saw Scott bolster his title defence, only to fall agonisingly short by one shot from the eventual winner, Sabbatini.

Scott, who won the event last year, posted rounds of 68 71 69 64 in what was a remarkably consistent performance, only bettered by Sabbatini’s first three rounds of 67 65 67. The next best Australian was Geoff Ogilvy, who finished tied in 19th place, sitting on five under the card.

Fellow Australian’s Aaron Baddeley, Rod Pampling and Stuart Appelby finished well back in the pack; with former US PGA champion Steve Elkington languishing back in equal 68th place. The current PGA tour money list leader was the event winner Rory Sabbatini, whilst runner-up Adam Scott lies in 12th place, with earnings of US $615,060 so far this season.

The European tour this week headed to Malaysia, held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in the nation’s capital, for the Maybank Malaysian Open. With some of the bigger named Australian’s not involved in the tournament, it was up to little known Australian Gary Simpson to fly the flag. He finished tied for sixth place, sitting on 14 under par, just five shots off the pace.

Now to the LPGA tour event in Hawaii, with the SBS Open being held at Kahuku Hawaii last week. Australian Karrie Webb finished tied in 26th place in the three round tournament. Rachel Hetherington was the next best Australian, finishing in equal 52nd place. South Korean Joo Mi Kim picked up the US $150,000 winners cheque after defeating her fellow South Korean Soo Young Moon on the second play off hole.

This week’s events sees the European tour shift focus to the WGC - Accenture Matchplay, La Costa Resort & Spa, including a field of Tiger Woods, Richard Green and Adam Scott. The event is another to be co-sanctioned with the US PGA tour.

Staying in Hawaii this week, the LPGA tour will feature the Fields Open. So until next week, here’s to straight shooting.

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