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Brads best finish

Post by: Reece Lightning

// June 15th, 2009 // News

Kiwi golfer Brad Iles has dished up another solid performance on the American Nationwide Tour.

Brad was the clubhouse leader at 20 under after a final round 9 under 63 at the Knoxville Open in Tennessee. The final round blitz meant he had to wait for the five groups behind him to come in. While Ilses was waiting he almost cracked open a couple of coldies because he thought he wasn’t a chance, but as it unfolded it turns out he had to get the spikes back on and play some more golf.

American Kevin Johnson surrounded his lead and eventually finished 72 holes tied with the Kiwi so back out they went to slug it out in a playoff. Johnson, who had also won in a playoff just two weeks ago and Ilses both birdied the first playoff hole so they went back down the 18th once more. On the second playoff hole Brad’s birdie putt just sat on the lip and giving Johnson the tourney with a tap in birdie.

It’s Brads best performance on the Nationwide Tour, his previous best finish was 4th place finish at the Oregon Classic late last year and now sits at 21st on the Order of Merit. His performance is rather impressive when you consider the fact that in July 2004 he suffered a serious brain injury which resulted in a three day coma. The injury occurred due to a golf-cart accident after competing in the Players Amateur tournament at Belfair Golf Club in South Carolina.

Apparently Ilse went off to Vegas for a wild celebration and fair enough. Recently described by US Open Champion Michael Campbell as ‘the best talent to come out of New Zealand in a long time’, the 24 year old Iles is aiming to be in the top 10 of the world rankings by 2015 and with more results like this we can hopefully see him on the PGA Tour next year.