Skip Kendall
U.S. veteran Skip Kendall picked up his fourth career Nationwide Tour title when he won the season-opening Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship on Sunday.
Eighteen years after his first title on the second-tier circuit, the 47-year-old made a 25-foot birdie putt on the last hole at Country Club de Bogota in the final round Sunday to edge fellow Americans Andres Gonzales and Andrew Svoboda by one stroke. Kendall shot even-par 71 to finish at 10-under 274.
Svoboda, who shared the lead with Kendall heading into the final round, had a chance to force a playoff but missed a 20-foot birdie putt.
The victory and its $108,000 (U.S.) prize gives Kendall a running start in his bid to return to the upper-tier PGA Tour, where he last played regularly in 2010. The top 25 Nationwide earners at the end of the season get a promotion.
He is the fourth oldest to win on the Nationwide Tour. Record-holder Kirk Triplett, who tied for fourth place Sunday, captured the 2011 News Sentinel Open at 49 years 4 months 29 days.
Brad Fritsch of Ottawa was the low Canadian, tying for 50th place at two over. Stuart Anderson of Sooke, B.C., shared 72nd place at 11 over in his debut as a member of the tour.