Queensland golfer, Matt Ballard, has today won the Desert Summer Series tournament #11 on the “pay to play” Gateway Tour in Arizona, extending his third round lead of three to eventually win by eight over Colorado golfer, Dustin White.

Ballard’s winning total of 25 under par was the result of rounds of 69, 65, 64 and 64. He recorded 31 birdies in his 72 holes to take home the US$19,500 prizemoney.

The 72 hole event was played at the Jack Nicklaus designed Desert Mountain – Chiricahua course in Scottsdale and the David Graham designed Tonto Verde Peaks course in Rio Verde.

Ballard, who has played mainly on the Queensland Sunshine and Von Nida Tours in recent years, was competing in his fifth event of the season on the Gateway Desert Summer Series, finishing 5th in an earlier event in July.

Ballard’s best finish on the Australasian Tour was a 10th at the Australian Open in 2003 at Moonah Links.

Another Australian, Stephen Dartnall from Perth, finished 8th, a last round of 74 perhaps a disappointment. Dartnall was a member of the Australian Eisenhower Trophy team in South Africa last October and has been playing mini tours and the occasional Nationwide Tour event when able to secure a start.

http://www.iseekgolf.com/news/6535-matt-ballard-blitzes-gateway-field
By Bruce Young