Story highlights
Mark Wilson clinches a two-shot win at the wind-delayed Humana Challenge
Winds of over 35 mph saw many players complete their third round on Sunday
A final-final round 69 secured Wilson his fifth career PGA Tour title
American trio Robert Garrigus, John Mallinger and Johnson Wagner finish second
American golfer Mark Wilson battled high winds and a charge from three of his rivals before clinching a two-shot victory at the Humana Challenge, earning his fifth PGA Tour title.
Wilson holed a 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th to complete a final-round 69 at La Quinta’s PGA West and finish 24 under par for the tournament as darkness descended on the California course on Sunday.
The Illinois native began Sunday by playing the final three holes of his third round, after gusts of up to 35 miles per hour had stopped play on Saturday.
But Wilson saw his three-shot lead wiped out as his compatriots Robert Garrigus, John Mallinger and Johnson Wagner all took advantage of low-scoring conditions on the Palmer Private Course – one of three used for the tournament.
Garrigus (68) led the field until a bogey at the 17th saw him slip back and finish alongside last weekend’s Sony Open winner Wagner (65) and Mallinger (66) on 22 under.
“Robert and I, going back and forth, we really enjoyed that,” Wilson told the PGA Tour’s official website after winning the pro-am event formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic.
“It just came down to 18, and I didn’t want to give him a chance to make that putt to tie me. That’s what we play for. You want somebody to win it, not necessarily to lose it.”
Wilson’s first win since the Phoenix Open in February 2011 moved him up to second place in the early-season FedEx Cup standings behind Wagner. The 37-year-old also pocketed a winner’s check for just over $1 million.
“We really couldn’t see much,” Garrigus, who completed a third-round 61 earlier in the day, said of the dark and challenging conditions.
“I could barely pick up the flag on 18. We had a great day, and it got pretty dark. I wish I could have read that putt a little better.”
An eight-under 64 from American Jeff Maggert saw him finish fifth on 21 under, one stroke clear of Australia’s John Senden (67) and 2001 PGA Championship winner David Toms (68).
The 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (71) finished tied for eighth on 19 under alongside fellow Americans Bobby Gates (67), Ben Crane and Brandt Snedeker (71).
Matt Kuchar, a member of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team, carded a 65 after starting on the back nine to finish on 15 under in a four-way tie for 22nd place.
World No. 11 Kuchar finished level with Josh Teater (69), Bob Estes (68) and Canada’s Stephen Ames (70).
Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson also started on the back nine and finished in a five-way tie for 49th on 10 under.