Robert Gates wins New Zealand Open
January 30, 2010
QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (AP)—Robert Gates became the 13th player to win hisNationwide Tour debut, closing with a 2-over 74 on Sunday for a one-strokevictory over Australia’s Andrew Dodt in the tour’s season-opening New ZealandOpen.
Gates, the 6-foot-6 former Texas A&M player who played the Canadian Tourlast year, had a 14-under 274 total at The Hills. He opened with rounds of 65,67 and 68 in the event also sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Gates, three strokes ahead entering the round, had a double bogey on thepar-3 16th to fall into a tie with Dodt at 14 under, but Dodt followed with adouble bogey of his own on the par-5 17th. Dodt birdied the final hole for a 72.
“I didn’t hit really many bad shots at all. I got some bad breaks andthat’s golf,” said Gates, who earned $108,000. “I was fortunate the firstthree rounds to get a lot of great ones. Andrew played an absolutely wonderfulback nine.”
Former Southern California star Jamie Lovemark (68) was third at 12 under.
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