Rhein Gibson – photo Getty Images
Australian Rhein Gibson has today won his second career Korn Ferry Tour event with a four shot win over American Kevin Dougherty at the Astara Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia.
Gibson’s final round of 64, was highlighted by two eagles over the closing nine including one at the last to come from one off the 54 hole pace and edge clear of Dougherty over the closing stages after being locked in a battle with him over the front nine.
Having missed two of his first three cuts this season, Gibson’s win will now move him to 3rd on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points table and have him in the running for a potential return to the PGA Tour later in the year, the top 30 now earning PGA Tour cards for 2024.
The win will also improve the former Lismore golfer from outside the top 1600 in the world ranking to just inside the top 500.
“Pretty surreal really,” said Gibson. “Last year was a tough year, not gonna lie. I knew I was playing well and played well last week in Panama, kind of continued that into this week.
“I love coming here, I love the place. Just kind of things went my way and I played well and made some putts. Yeah, to think I come away champion is kind of crazy.”
Gibson had made the decision not to go back to Korn Ferry Tour School late last year and instead rely on past champion status to gain starts and it has paid off almost immediately.
“Yeah, it was definitely a conversation I had to have with my wife. I wasn’t sure how much more golf I was going to do. Decided not to go to Q-School, thought I’d take a chance on past champion status. Worked my butt off this fall and this wintertime, kind of got my game in shape.
“I’ve got Scott Couch to thank for that, out of Canada, he’s been helping me a lot. Yeah, the game felt good coming here. I love the place. I knew I could contend and a good round yesterday kind of put me in contention. To go out and do what I did today was just insane.”
Not only was it a good week for Gibson, his fellow NSW golfer, Brett Drewitt, another former PGA Tour player, finished 3rd this week and just one shot out of second place.
For Drewitt, it follows a 4th and 8th place in earlier events this season and will see him in 8th place in the rankings.
West Australian Curtis Luck also had a solid week when he finished 19th which follows a 14th place last week heralding a slow but steady return to form for the former US Amateur Champion.
