MacKenzie wins Viking Classic, Koreans qualify for World Cup

Will MacKenzie became a two-time winner of the PGA Tour over the weekend after he triumphed at the Viking Classic in Madison, Mississipi.

The surfing enthusiast beat Brian Gay and Marc Turnesa in a three-way play-off that lasted two holes to claim the winner’s prize of $648,000. It allowed him to rise to 97th on the PGA Tour’s money list.

The 33-year-old birdied both extra holes after finishing on 19-under 269 after regulatiojn play.

He closed with a four-under-par 68 as did Gay, with Turnesa shooting 70.

MacKenzie is an all-action athlete. Apart from excelling at golf, he is also a professional kayaker and loves to snowboard and rock climb.

He also proved to be a true sportsman after calling a two-stroke penalty on himself for moving a loose impediment in a hazard on the par-five 18th hole on the third day.

It was his second tour title after the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2006.

In the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, South Korea won the Fortis International Challenge to qualify for the World Cup.

The Korean paring of Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae won the tournament by three strokes over the Philippines’ Angelo Que and Mars Pucay.

Italy’s Franceso Molinari and Edoardo Molinari finished on 276, two behind the Filipinos, to snare third place.

The top three finishers qualify for the World Cup at Mission Hills in China in November. Only two strokes behind the Italians in fourth place were the surprising Nigerian pair of Oyebanji Gboyega and Odoh Andrew Oche.

It will be Korea’s first time in the World Cup as they totalled 20-under-par over four days, shooting six birdies on the final day.

On the Asian Tour, Taiwanese veteran Lu Wen-teh thrilled the home crowd when he won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters for a record fourth time.

The 45-year-old shot a final round of one-under 71 for a total of 11-under 277 and a two-stroke win over Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.

Lu went into the tournament as defending champion, having also won in 1994 and 1996.


One Response to “MacKenzie wins Viking Classic, Koreans qualify for World Cup”

  1. John Lynch says:

    It’s nice to see another young buck win on the PGA Tour…I always felt Will MacKenzie has the game to compete and win on tour!

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