Calgary's Steve Ames, right, jokes with Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas after making a long drive at the Telus World Skins game at the Glen Arbour golf course in Halifax on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
July 31, 2012 - 2:50 PM
HALIFAX - Through 18 holes, defending champion Jhonattan Vegas never trailed at the Telus World Skins Game.
But England's Paul Casey needed just one shot to bring Vegas – and the house – down in a $100,000, closest-to-the-pin shootout to capture the two-day event.
After only one skin and $15,000 on at Glen Arbour Golf Course, Casey finished with eight skins and $185,000 thanks to a brilliant stroke in the shootout.
Vegas, who led after the opening day and throughout regulation play, finished second with five skins and $85,000.
He was shut out on the back nine despite never losing the lead until Casey took the final four skins in the tiebreaker.
Sweden's Carl Pettersson (three skins, $60,000), Calgary's Stephen Ames (one skin, $15,000) and American Lucas Glover (one skin, $15,000) rounded out the field.
After the final four holes carried over, every player remained in contention for the title, resulting in a 125-yard, closest to the hole shootout.
Earlier, Casey made a playful appeal to take things seriously on the back nine before play resumed, but his relaxed playing partners shrugged off the suggestion with easy grins and chatter.
When Casey rolled in a long-range birdie putt to win two skins and $45,000 on No. 13, he was met with a big hug from Ames – not exactly the type of support these athletes display on a weekly basis.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012