16 Mar 2009

NZ Open win a major stepping stone for Prough

7:27 am on 16 March 2009

The winner of yesterday's New Zealand Open golf championship says he's more than achieved his aim in New Zealand, taking a major step towards the game's biggest stage, the PGA tour.

Twenty year old American Alex Prugh (pronounced PROO) proved unstoppable in the final round at the Hills in Arrowtown, firing two eagles and five birdies for a final round eight-under par 64 to finish 19-under for the tournament.

Prugh headed an American trifecta finishing three shots ahead of Martin Piller with Jim Herman, two shots back, and says the result justified his decision to make the trip.

He says he head to New Zealand in the hope he could boost his ranking on the money list so as to give himself a better chance of qualifying for the US PGA.