Chalmers misses out on maiden US Tour win
AAP-AFPThe West Australian
Monday, 18 March 2013 11:26AM
Australian golfer Greg Chalmers has posted his second top-10 of the season but missed a big opportunity to land a long-awaited maiden US PGA Tour win.
Kevin Streelman carded a final-round four-under 67 to finish at 10-under and break through for a two-stroke maiden victory from fast-finishing fellow American Boo Weekley (63) while countryman Cameron Tringale (66) was third at seven-under.
Chalmers closed with an even-par 70 to be a further shot back, tied fourth with England's world No.3 Luke Donald (69) and American Justin Leonard (71).
Playing his 316th US PGA event, 40-year-old Chalmers birdied the opening hole of the day and then grabbed another on the ninth to be just one stroke off the lead entering the back nine on Sunday.
But his challenged all but ended with a double-bogey six on the 10th.
Chalmers dropped another shot on 13 before the plucky West Australian closed with birdies on 15 and 18 to record his best finish in American since a tie for fourth at the 2010 Canadian Open.
His top-five result, coming after an equal 10th at last month's Northern Trust Open, should promote Chalmers from 72nd in the rankings to the world's top 60.
He needs to crack the top 50 at the end of the month to gain a first-time start at the Masters.
Streelman didn't make a bogey over the final 37 holes on the tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook and didn't miss a shot over the last 11 holes on Sunday.
Streelman won in his 153rd start on the PGA Tour. The win puts him into the Masters for the second time in his career.
Weekley closed with a tournament-best 63 some three hours before Streelman finished.
Adam Scott dropped off the leaderboard with disappointing rounds of 72 and 76 over the weekend to finish in a tie for 30th at even par, with fellow Australian Marc Leishman (70) after further shot back.
Jason Day (69) was tied 43rd, while Geoff Ogilvy (72) was clinging to his spot in the top 50 rankings after finishing in a share of 63rd place with Stuart Appleby (73).
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