Reno title triumph for Bettencourt
Monday, 19 July 2010Matt Bettencourt recovered from his third-round dip to fire a closing 68 at the Reno-Tahoe Open and win his first PGA Tour title.
The 35-year-old Californian had led outright after the opening round and tied for first with Robert Garrigus after the next, but he dropped three shots off the pace following a round of 75 on Saturday.
However Bettencourt surged back into the lead over the closing 18 holes at the Montreux Golf and Country Club, picking up three birdies over the front nine before making eagle at the par-five 11th.
Despite making a pair of bogeys in his closing five holes, together with a birdie at the 17th, Bettencourt secured a one-shot victory when nearest rival Bob Heintz missed a short putt to force a play-off at the 18th.
Bettencourt earned the top prize of $540,000, by a long way his biggest career pay cheque, having picked up just $106,820 in his opening 21 events of the year.
Heintz shot 69, which was matched by John Merrick and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg, who tied for third place at nine under.
Germany's Alex Cejka was in a group of four on eight under, with Chris DiMarco and Garrigus among those a further shot back.
Overnight leader Scott McCarron, playing at his home course, endured a dismal final round of 81.
He began the day on 10 under but had a lamentable afternoon, posting a triple-bogey seven at the 13th and a double-bogey five at the short 16th.
The 45-year-old American, three times a winner on the PGA Tour, finished tied for 35th but was not the only third-round high-flyer to plummet on the leaderboard.
John Mallinger, who had been tied for second, shot a 77 which included a nine at the par-five ninth after finding deep rough, and Canadian Graham DeLaet followed a 62 with a 78 which contained three double bogeys.
