It has taken just one start for Dimi Papadatos to make a major step towards a PGA Tour card at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Chile Classic in Santiago.
The NSW Central Coaster made a late decision to play in Chile, using the conditional status he earned at final stage of qualifying school to take his place in the field. Papadatos was exempt into the final stage by virtue of finishing fourth on the 2021-2022 ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and now looks like enjoying an extended stay in the United States.
Four strokes behind at the start of the final round, Papadatos started his final-day charge with two birdies followed by an eagle at the par-5 third hole. He followed up a birdie on 10 with a bogey at 11 before coming home with birdies at 13, 15 and 17 to set the clubhouse mark at 21-under par.
Needing a closing birdie to tie Papadatos, American veteran Ben Kohles made a superb up-and-down from the back of the 18th green, showing steely nerves to hole a four-footer and force the playoff.
The pair traded birdies on the first trip back down the par-5 18th but both went long with their approach shots the second time around.
A two-time Vic Open champion, Papadatos played first, his chip releasing eight feet behind the hole.
Kohles barely made it onto the putting surface with his chip but drained his putt from just inside 10 feet to apply the pressure back onto the Aussie.
Unfortunately for Papadatos, his birdie attempt shaved the left side of the hole as Kohles claimed his first win in more than a decade.
With a cheque for $US90,000 for his runner-up finish, Papadatos earns a start in the next Korn Ferry Tour event and is projected to move up to 17th on the moneylist. That will help to improve his status significantly at the next re-rank and provide the platform to push for a top-25 finish at season’s end.
Fellow New South Welshman Rhein Gibson also enhanced his prospects of a return to the PGA Tour in Chile. Gibson’s tie for 10th will see him remain in fourth position on the moneylist after his win in Colombia in February.
