Golf: Wilkinson falls in final round in Memphis

Tim Wilkinson has shot the round of the day in Memphis to rocket up the leaderboard. Photo / Getty Images

Tim Wilkinson fell out of contention during the final round of the St Jude Classic in Memphis on the PGA Tour as he plummeted down the leaderboard today.

The Manawatu left-hander began the day with an outside chance of challenging for his maiden PGA Tour crown but a five-over 75 meant he eventually finished in a share of 45th.

A bogey and a double bogey on the front nine did him no favours and he carded two further bogeys and another double on the back nine before two late birdies helped him salvage some respectability. Wilkinson was slated to move up to 179th on the FedEx Cup standings.

Fellow Kiwi Steven Alker was steady in his final round as he carded a one-under 69 to finish in a share of 22nd, his best result on tour this season.

Alker, who was projected to jump to 173rd on the FedEx Cup standings, was left to regret a costly 74 in his third round, which pushed him out of contention after he was in third at the halfway point of the tournament.

But given the Hamilton professional had made only four cuts in his previous 13 appearances this season, he would likely have been pleased with his efforts.

Argentina's Fabian Gomez won the event at 13-under following a final round of 66.
Englishman Greg Owen was second at nine-under.

Danny Lee wasn't in the field this week as he prepares for the US Open.

Meanwhile, at the Thailand Open, Mark Brown was the best of the Kiwis as he finished in a share of 34th at five-under yesterday. Korean K.T Kim won the event at 21-under.

Ryan Fox and Gareth Paddison were also in the field at the event, which is co-sanctioned with the OneAsia and Japan tours, but they missed the cut.