Lamely notches first career US PGA win in Puerto Rico
Source: Agencies |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
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DEREK Lamely had to contend with a rain-delayed start, slow play on a soggy course, and tamping down his inevitable nerves as he inched closer to notching his first win as a rookie on the US PGA Tour.
But the 29-year-old American emerged out of the pack with easygoing style, shooting a 66 on Monday to win the Puerto Rico Open by two strokes.
He finished at 19-under 269, setting a tournament record at Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico, a scenic palm-fringed 7,526-yard course which was deluged by rain early in the competition.
Kris Blanks shot a 69 and finished alone in second at 271.
Steve Wheatcroft finished at 16 under, tied for third with Brendon de Jonge, and James Nitties.
"I just kept on trying to make birdies, I kept on trying to be aggressive," said Lamely, who teed off on No. 10 in the final round, the first player to win in that position since Keith Clearwater at the 1987 Colonial Invitational.
The victory was worth US$630,000 to Lamely along with PGA playing privileges through 2012.
Holding up a crystal trophy, Lamely was thrilled to hold back a field of challengers whom he was playing nine holes ahead of, no matter if the world's top-ranked players were on the US mainland at the World Golf Championship stop, the CA Championships.
"I'm still a rookie out here, even though I just won. There's tons I can learn still," he said.
On his last hole on Monday, the par-4 450-yard ninth, Lamely's chances appeared to take a hit; his tee ball sailed some 10 feet out-of-bounds, with two small palm trees just ahead. But he lifted the ball with his 8-iron, dropping it on the sloping green some 20 feet from the pin.
His first putt left the ball about a foot away and he dropped it for par. He broke out in a grin as he shook hands with the golfers in his grouping, Sweden's Peter Gustafsson and Argentina's Daniel Barbetti.
Then the waiting game began.
Lamely had to watch his competitors for more than two hours to see if he'd be overtaken.
But the 29-year-old American emerged out of the pack with easygoing style, shooting a 66 on Monday to win the Puerto Rico Open by two strokes.
He finished at 19-under 269, setting a tournament record at Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico, a scenic palm-fringed 7,526-yard course which was deluged by rain early in the competition.
Kris Blanks shot a 69 and finished alone in second at 271.
Steve Wheatcroft finished at 16 under, tied for third with Brendon de Jonge, and James Nitties.
"I just kept on trying to make birdies, I kept on trying to be aggressive," said Lamely, who teed off on No. 10 in the final round, the first player to win in that position since Keith Clearwater at the 1987 Colonial Invitational.
The victory was worth US$630,000 to Lamely along with PGA playing privileges through 2012.
Holding up a crystal trophy, Lamely was thrilled to hold back a field of challengers whom he was playing nine holes ahead of, no matter if the world's top-ranked players were on the US mainland at the World Golf Championship stop, the CA Championships.
"I'm still a rookie out here, even though I just won. There's tons I can learn still," he said.
On his last hole on Monday, the par-4 450-yard ninth, Lamely's chances appeared to take a hit; his tee ball sailed some 10 feet out-of-bounds, with two small palm trees just ahead. But he lifted the ball with his 8-iron, dropping it on the sloping green some 20 feet from the pin.
His first putt left the ball about a foot away and he dropped it for par. He broke out in a grin as he shook hands with the golfers in his grouping, Sweden's Peter Gustafsson and Argentina's Daniel Barbetti.
Then the waiting game began.
Lamely had to watch his competitors for more than two hours to see if he'd be overtaken.
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