Tense finish opens the Gates - Monday, 1 February 2010

Robert Gates saw a six-shot lead with 11 holes to play whittled away by Australian Andrew Dodt in the final round of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open today, but the 2m American stood tall down the final two holes to win by a shot.

It was the first Nationwide Tour event for the 24-year-old Florida-raised, Texas-based Gates and, apart from the first purse of $US108,000 in the $US600,000 tournament, the rookie professional has earned a full exemption on the United States secondary tour for two years and a three-year exemption on the Australasian Tour.
 
Despite a four-over back nine of 39 and a final round of two-over 74, Gates held off Dodt, who had a disastrous double-bogey on the par-17th after drawing level with the leader after 70 holes, by a shot, finishing on 14-under 274, a stroke ahead of Dodt and two clear of American Jamie Lovemark, whose four-under 68 matched the best of the day.
 
Victorian Michael Curtain dropped three shots in four holes midway through the round to finish alone in fourth place on 11-under 277, a shot ahead of fellow Victorian, Mark Hensby. The leading New Zealander for the third time the tournament has been played at The Hills was Mount Maunganui’s Josh Gearry, whose two-under 70 left him seven-under and in a tie for ninth.
 
When Gates had his first double-bogey of the tournament on the par-3 16th hole – his tee shot went into the hazard – he was caught by Dodt, who parred the hole after almost finding the creek himself.
 
The swing went the other way on the penultimate hole, Gates holing a 8ft par putt after driving into the hazard and Dodt dropping two after finding the same hazard and suffering more mishaps before holing out.
 
Even then the Australian was not finished. He holed a 22ft birdie putt at the last, ensuring the American could not afford to miss his 3 footer for par. The putt was true from time it left the putter.
 
``It was no more than three feet and I hit a great chip (from back of 18th green). I told Andrew’s caddy before he putted it that he was going to make it because he had played great all day and I have to give him a lot of credit.
 
``He fought very hard and made a great putt at the last and I really had to focus. I can’t tell you how many three-footers I’ve hit in my life-time, but that’s one I will definitely remember. I practice them a lot and I told myself it’s just another three-footer so get up there and hit it straight in and it went in,’’ Gates said.
 
``I felt good enough out there though it might not look like it. I hit almost every shot where I was looking to hit it – the only mishit was at 16 when it went into the water.’’
 
``It was tough conditions and the wind made it a great challenge. Andrew started to make putts when he needed to and it tightened up quick but in the end I was happy how it ended up.’’
 
Gates said just winning was more satisfying than any of the rewards that accompanied it.
 
``The trophy is nice and the cheque helps, but just knowing this week that I was able to play against some of the greatest golfers in the world and I was the best gives me encouragement that I’m doing things right.’’
 
Dodt was gracious in defeat, saying he had met Gates for the first time on Saturday. ``He’s a great guy and I’m happy for him – I wish him all the best.’’
 
Dodt, an Asian Tour player for the last two years, said he never gave up even when trailing by six shots, but added that he ``missed heaps of putts.’’
 
``If someone said I’d be second at the end of the week I’d be pretty happy with that.’’
 
He said his disaster at the 17th was the result of a ``terrible tee shot’’.

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