Nisbet scores PGA title
Coast golfer attributes win to fitness guru wife
GOLD Coast-based Dan Nisbet lauded wife Ashley for getting his body in shape for a Coca-Cola Queensland PGA triumph that never looked possible a week ago.
Nisbet (66-63-63-64) on Sunday was a six-shot winner at Toowoomba’s tight, treelined City Golf Club with a formidable 24-under-par total.
A pre-tournament putting lesson from coach Richard Woodhouse paid off big time because he reaped 24 birdies and three eagles to capitalise on his length off the tee.
When a niggling left shoulder injury forced his third midtournament withdrawal of the past year at the World Super 6 in Perth there was no guarantee he would play six days later.
A cortisone injection gave him freedom but it his daily partnership with Ashley, an accredited strength and conditioning coach, that is essential.
“Ash does all my rehab, warm-ups and mobility stuff before rounds to get me feeling good,” Nisbet said. “Some weeks, the shoulder feels fine and we just have to manage it at the times it doesn’t.
“It’s great to win and see the game plan work because I did back my strength off the tee all week.”
The Caboolture product has won three times in 12 months and will fly to the 100th NZ Open in Arrowtown this week to defend his title.
Three birdies on Sunday’s outward nine all but sealed the PGA and he made it certain on the 448m 10th when he hit an eagle.
Golf mate Matt Stieger showered Nisbet in champagne on the 18th green to celebrate. “Matty sprayed me with warm beer when I won in NZ so I got him to promise it’d be cold and the good stuff if he had the chance again,” Nisbet said with a laugh.
* Outside Coffs Harbour, Norway’s honorary Aussie Marianne Skarpnord (70-72-69-69) won the Australian Ladies Classic by two shots from Perth’s Hannah Green.