Brenden Pappas wins Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open
Brenden Pappas of South Africa was declared the winner of the Pacific Rubiales Bogotá Open Sunday when lightning cancelled the third round and forced the Nationwide Tour to enter the tournament as a 36-hole event in its record book.
The 40-year-old Pappas posted rounds of 67-66--133 (-9) for his first two trips around Bogota Country Club. Pappas' group had played three holes before players were pulled off the golf course for the last time just before 2 p.m.
Floridian Matt Every finished second having shot a pair of 67s in the first two rounds.
As it turns out, Pappas' birdie on his 36th hole on Saturday was the margin of victory over Every.
Five players including Colombian David Vanegas tied for third at 7-under par.
Mother nature was at least a co-winner alongside Pappas, with rain being a factor every day of the PGA TOUR's lone sanctioned event in South America. The first round was not completed until Saturday and the last putt of the second round not was holed until 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
The goal of Nationwide Tour officials was to complete a 54-hole official money and official tournament on Sunday. As a result of only playing 36 holes, Pappas earned $108,000 in official money and is credited with an unofficial win.
"This was a hollow victory because it's unofficial," the winner said. "We didn't get to play 72 holes, but it's a victory nonetheless."
Pappas rededicated himself to his game this year after suffering through a disappointing year on the PGA TOUR in 2010 when he finished 197th on the money list.
"My goal this year is to be No. 1 on the money list and it hasn't been in the past," the 1993 University of Arkansas graduate said. "I had some very stern conversations with myself in the off season, trying to decide what I actually wanted to do with my game. It must have paid off. I'm in the waning light of my career so I've got to get it done right now. There's no more tomorrow or next year."
Pappas took a moment at the trophy ceremony to thank the people of Colombia for welcoming the Nationwide Tour for the second year in a row. "This was my first trip to Bogota and it was fantastic," he said. "The people are such spirits and the golf course was a terrific old-styled course, the kind the players love to play."
The last time the Nationwide Tour had a 36-hole finish was the 2008 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship, with Darren Stiles declared the champion.
After opening the 2011 season in Panama and Colombia, the Nationwide Tour plays its first tournament on U.S. soil, the Chitimacha Louisiana Open, March 24-27.
