Off the tee: Long in range of top 20

By BOB PEARCE

New Zealand golfer Michael Long lost in a playoff for the Lake Erie Charity Classic this week, but has still boosted his chances of getting back on the rich United States PGA tour.

Long, a former New Zealand Open champion, shot a final round of 67 at Lake Erie to finish the Nationwide Tour event at nine under, level with Kevin Stadler and Bubba Watson.

He bogeyed the first playoff hole to drop out of contention and Stadler went on to win three holes later.

But Long's winnings have taken him to 21st on the Nationwide Tour money list - within striking distance of the top-20 who gain automatic US PGA cards for 2005. He has US$78,804 ($124,630) from 12 events.

Steve Alker, the other New Zealand regular on the Nationwide Tour, is in 84th place with US$22,597 from nine events. Manawatu lefthander Tim Wilkinson, who has played as a qualifier, is 115th with US$15,319 from four starts.

Phil Tataurangi, who is sharpening his game on the second-level tour before resuming on the US PGA circuit after a long injury break, was 26th at Lake Erie on two under after rounds of 75, 67, 69 and 75.

New Zealand's regulars on the US PGA tour are having modest seasons so far. Craig Perks, thanks to one top-five finish, is 117th on the money list with US$322,374 from 16 starts. Grant Waite is 159th with US$152,380 from 14.

Over in Europe, Michael Campbell is 45th in the order of merit with €231,862 ($120,000) from 13 events and Steve Scahill is 109th with €93,592 from 17. From limited appearances in joint-sanctioned tournaments Gareth Paddison has earned €47,088, Mahal Pearce €36,418 and Eddie Lee €26,174.

The leading money winner on the European men's tour is South African Ernie Els with €1,269,903. He is also third on the US list with US$3.2 million.

The quiet achiever of New Zealand professionals is Waikato's David Smail, who plies his trade in Japan. Last weekend he was equal eighth in the Mizuno Open at 11 under par - winning 2.9 million ($42,000).

Smail is 46th on the Japanese tour money list with 9 million from seven tournaments.

Campbell at 80th is the only Kiwi in the top 100 world rankings. Smail is 140th, Perks 235th, Tataurangi 237th, Scahill 344th, Pearce 351st, Waite 437th, recently turned pro Brad Heaven 478th and Long 491st.

With only a couple of chances to qualify remaining, Campbell is likely to be the only New Zealander in the British Open this month.

New Zealand women on the European continue to prosper. In the latest event, the KLM Open in Holland, Lynnette Brooky was eighth equal while Gina Scott was equal 30th.

Both have played eight events this season. Scott is 14th on the money list with €46,652 and Brooky is 16th with €42,311.