Bettencourt wins Tour Championship and money title
McKINNEY, Texas – Matt Bettencourt was speechless and emotional after winning the Nationwide Tour Championship, and collecting the money title, in front of friends and family Sunday at TPC Craig Ranch.Bettencourt (69) finished at 17-under 267, one stroke ahead of Jeff Klauk who stormed home with 65 to finish at 16-under, alone in second.
Tied for third were Colt Knost (65) and Bryce Molder (71) at 15-under 269. Molder earned $58,000 which was enough to elevate him from 32nd to 23rd on the money list and head back to the PGA TOUR as one of THE 25.
Peter Tomasulo (69) finished fifth at 14-under while Garrett Osborn (69) was sixth at 13-under. Osborn jumped from 47th to 38th on the money list. Players ranked No. 26-40 are exempt into the final stage of Qualifying School.
Bettencourt started the day with a double-bogey before stringing together three birdies in a row at holes four, five and six. Late bogeys at 14 and 16, and a charging Jeff Klauk, left Bettencourt needing a final hole birdie to avoid a playoff. Facing a six-foot putt on the final hole, knowing that both titles were on the line, Bettencourt rolled it right in the middle before throwing his putter in the air and jumping into the arms of his caddie, J.J. Jakovic. A celebration with fiancé, Kelly Rush, his parents, and a few close friends ensued on the 18th green before he signed his scorecard to make it official.
“I’m in shock right now,” said the 33-year-old California native as he was coming to grips with his achievement. “This is what dreams are made off. It’s the coolest thing. Dreams really do come true.”
Bettencourt counts himself lucky to actually finish the tournament after spending several hours in a nearby hospital Wednesday night with kidney stones.
“God is on my side this week,” said Bettencourt. “That could have easily happened in the first round and I would have had to withdraw. My goal at the start of the week was to shoot four rounds in the 60s and I did it.”
Before this year began, Bettencourt had earned $105,427 in career money over a four year period. He was 77th on the money list before the Albertsons Boise Open this year but his run of fifth, first, missed cut, tie for 18th, playoff loss and first, advanced him to the number one position. The victory today was worth $180,000, making it a $447,863 total for the year, bettered only by Troy Matterson ($495,009 in 2005) and Zach Johnson ($494,882 in 2003).
Klauk finished the year in third place on the money list behind Brendon de Jonge (69), who had led the money list since the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic seven tournaments ago.
Knost’s $58,000 check vaulted the Dallas resident from 11th to 6th on the money list.
Aron Price came into the week at No. 19 on the money list. After three rounds of 70, Price zoomed around the front nine in 29 strokes, including five birdies in a row on holes five through nine, shot 65 to advance one spot to 18th.
“I wanted to play well today since it’s the last round of the year,” said Price, who tied for 16th in the tournament. “Walking down ten - I haven’t had that feeling in a long time. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Ricky Barnes (71), who has danced around THE 25 bubble for the latter part of this season, and the past few years for that matter, had a nervous few hours after he completed his round. Barnes felt relieved when David Branshaw (68) failed to birdie the par-5, 18th hole, leaving him at No. 25 while Branshaw, who began the week No. 27, advanced only one spot to 26th.
“I was on the outside looking in two years ago,” said Barnes. “Here, I was No. 22 coming into the event.”
Hunter Haas (72) dropped from 26th to 27th while Chris Tidland (70) fell from 25th to 28th.
Bettencourt had the final word.
“Don’t ever give up,” he said. “Truly believe in yourself because if it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.”
Final Round News & Notes: Kris Blanks (71) and Chris Anderson (73) wore red pants during the final round as a tribute to the host organization, the Salesmanship Club’s, traditional attire…Webb Simpson (64), who turned professional in June and making only his eighth start of the year, moved from 48th to 45th and will be fully exempt on the Nationwide Tour next year…Garrett Osborn (69), the second round co-leader, made eagle at the 471 yard, par-4 10th hole…Josh Broadaway (66) holed a bunker shot for eagle at the final hole to stay in the top-40 on the money list and earn an exemption into the final stage of Qualify School…Bogey-free rounds were registered by Vance Veazey (69), Chad Ginn (70) and Jeff Klauk (65).
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