CARY, NC – Jerry Kelly was understandably all smiles following a final-round 67 that earned him his second SAS Championship title win in five years at Prestonwood Country Club on Sunday.
Before actually placing his hands on the championship crystal, Kelly had to wait for Padraig Harrington to give him the opportunity to do so.
With both tied at 13-under par, Harrington, the World Golf Hall of Famer, needed to par the final hole to force a playoff.
As the packed gallery watched his ball break left of the hole from eight feet away, the celebration began for Kelly, posting his 12th career PGA Tour Champions win.
Harrington’s bogey on 18 became more significant than Kelly’s, his only one of the day, one that nearly denied him the win.
It’s your day – get after it
Beginning the final round three strokes off Harrington’s 36-hole lead at 11-under par, Kelly started by carding birdies on three of his first five holes (1,3,5).
Subsequent brides on 10,12, and 13 helped propel him to a two-stroke lead over the Irishman, who bogeyed the par-4 ninth hole.
Kelly appeared prepared for a clean finish on his round, but an aggressive birdie attempt from 25-plus feet from across the green left him with some work for a par attempt which he subsequently missed.
Fortunately, Kelly’s putting miss and eventual bogey was matched by Harrington’s – the one that made the difference.
Notables: Harrington’s runner-up finish marked his sixth top-10 finish of the season, which includes two victories (Hoag Classic, DICK’S Open)…Shane Bertsch closed his fourth SAS Championship with a 2-under 70 to finish solo-third at 10-under 206.
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