Golf: NZ's Long succeeds on PGA Tour

New Zealand golfer Michael Long continued his steady progress with another payday on the US PGA Tour today.

The Perth-based professional finished in a share of 51st place in the Buick Championship in Connecticut to earn his seventh payday in his last nine starts on the tour.

His was the best effort by New Zealanders in a quiet week on the world tours where some couldn't capitalise on promising positions in the final rounds.

Long jumped into the top-30 after his second successive two-under-par 68 in the third round.

But he dropped three shots in the last three holes of the final round, including a double bogey at the 17th for an even-par 72.

This dropped him to a final four-round tally of 279, one-under for 51st placing.

He has worked his way inside the top 200 on the PGA Tour.

Compatriot Craig Perks missed the cut in his return to the tour.

Meanwhile, Hamilton's Steven Alker shared 50th place in the Cleveland Open on the second tier Nationwide Tour.

He shot a final round three-over 74 for a 72-hole tally of 286, two-over. Like Long he was unable to press on in the final round after pushing in to the top-30 after three rounds.

Former Rotorua professional Nick Davey earned his best finish this season with a share of 37th place on the Canadian Tour at the Bay Mills Open today.

Davey also missed his chance to push his way on to the leaderboard on the final day, closing with a five-over par 77 after he was in the top-15 after 54 holes.

Compatriots Ben Gallie and Paul Devenport both missed the cut.

Across the Atlantic, Simon Owen enjoyed his best finish of the season on the European Seniors Tour when he tied for 12th place in the Scottish Open.

The former Wanganui professional closed with a three-over 75 for a 54-hole total of 219 sharing 12th place with former victorious Ryder Cup captain and 25-time European Tour winner Sam Torrance.

Hutt Valley's Gareth Paddison finished 65th at the Morsen International Pro Am in Manchester, on the second tier Challenge Tour, while Hawke's Bay professional Richard Squire finished 75th in his debut.

Lynnette Brooky finished in a share of 22nd place in the weather-affected Finnish Masters on the Ladies European Tour.

Brooky finished with a five-over par total of 147 after a second round even-par 71 at Helsinki with heavy rain restricting the event to just two rounds. Auckland's Liz McKinnon missed the cut.

New Zealand results:

PGA Tour, Buick Championship, Connecticut, par-72:
279 - Michael Long 71 68 68 72, T51
Missed cut: Craig Perks 70 76

Nationwide Tour, Cleveland Open, par-71:
286 - Steven Alker 70 70 72 74 T50
Missed cut: Grant Waite 71 76

Canadian Tour, Bay Mills Open, par-72:
291 - Nick Davey 73 71 70 77 T37
Missed cut: Ben Gallie 79 71, Paul Devenport 78 77

European Tour, BMW International, Munich, par-72:
Missed cut: Stephen Scahill 71 75

Challenge Tour, Morson International Pro Am, Manchester, par-70:
284 - Gareth Paddison 66 73 72 73 T65
288 - Richard Squire 69 73 74 72 75th

Seniors Tour, Scottish Open, Rosburghe, par-72:
219 - Simon Owen 73 71 75 T12

Ladies European Tour, Finnish Masters, Helsinki, par-71 (rain restricted):
147 - Lynnette Brooky 76 71 T22
Missed cut: Liz McKinnon 76 77.

- NZPA