Golf: Wilkinson in top-20 finish

New Zealand golfer Tim Wilkinson earned a top-20 finish in the US$650,000 ($935,520) Nationwide Tour Championship in the United States today.

The Palmerston North left-hander completed his maiden season on the second tier Nationwide Tour in a share of 19th place in the season-ending tournament at Prattville, Alabama.

His closing round of two-over-par 74 left him on one-over 289 for the event, 13 shots behind the winner, David Branshaw, of the US.

Wilkinson, 27, qualified for the highlight event of the Nationwide Tour by being among the top-60 money winners on the tour.

He had income of US$101,397 entering the Nationwide Tour Championship to sit in 50th place on the moneylist.

The top 20 earn promotion to the PGA Tour next year, among them Australian Steven Bowditch, who finished fifth today to consolidate his high placing following his second placing in the New Zealand PGA Championship in Christchurch in March.

- NZPA