Near miss for Dimi Papadatos in Chile
Dimi Papadatos – file photo
NSW golfer Dimi Papadatos made an almost dream start to a Korn Ferry Tour campaign when losing a playoff to American Ben Kohles at the Astara Chile Classic in Santiago.
Papadatos, who was making his debut on the Korn Ferry Tour after gaining conditional status via the Tour School last year, recorded a final round of 65 to come from four shots off the 54 hole pace to set the mark for Kohles who was forced to birdie the last to force the playoff.
With two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes, Papadatos had quickly put himself in winning contention on day four and actually took a share of the lead with one hole to play then the outright lead when Kohles bogeyed the 17th two groups behind.
Kohles, though, would birdie the last to take the event into extra time and although both players birdied the first extra hole, Kohles would birdie again at the second and the title was his.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a win that would have earned him full status on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, it was a form turnaround for the 31 year old two time Vic Open winner who had missed four of his previous five cuts in events in 2023.
As start at the next event on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule in Texas is assured for Papadatos and he now sits in 17th place on the 2023 points table as he chases the possibility of a place inside the top 25 at season’s end to allow a graduation to next season’s PGA Tour.
