KEY POINTS:
New Zealand golfer Josh Geary scored his first top-10 finish on the Canadian Tour yesterday, ending in a tie for third at the US$150,000 ($200,000) ATB Financial Classic in Calgary.
The Mt Maunganui player closed with a three-under 69, including four birdies, only dropping a shot on the tough par-three 17th hole which featured an island green.
"It was unfortunate to drop a shot there because it cost me outright third but I'm pretty happy with my game," Geary said.
"I had a shaky start and had to make some good par saves but then started playing pretty solid."
Geary finished five shots behind former PGA Tour player, American Mike Grob, whose weekend rounds of 65 and 66 lifted him to 24-under for the tournament.
It was a sweet result for Geary, who pocketed US$7400 in prizemoney, after missing the cut in his last two tournaments on the tour.
"I got back and hadn't played on the golf course so I was a little bit rusty," he said.
"I played okay but just didn't quite get it done in those first two tournaments. It was all there but I just wasn't scoring very well."
That all changed in the first round, although his course-record 63 at the Calgary Elks Lodge and GC lasted only one day until broken by American Matt Bettencourt with a 62.
Geary's travelling partner and compatriot, United States-based Brad Heaven, shot a one-under 71 yesterday to finish in a tie for seventh on 15-under.
Heaven opened with a 72 before getting hot to piece together rounds of 64 and 66 in the middle rounds to thrust himself into contention.
Geary's main focus for the season will be the PGA Tour qualifying school in October.
- NZPA
