LOS ANGELES: Peter Malnati fired a five-under-par 67 to snatch the first victory of his career, triumphing by one stroke to claim the weather-disrupted Sanderson Farms Championship on Monday.
After a front nine which included four birdies and two bogeys, Malnati produced an error-free performance down the stretch, reeling off three birdies and no bogeys, to finish clear of David Toms and William McGirt in second.
Victory completed a dream return to the PGA Tour for Malnati, who played on the junior Web.com Tour last season after finishing 178th in the Fedex points list in 2014.
Malnati, who returned to the PGA Tour after finishing fourth on the Web.com money list, said he finally felt like he belonged on the tour.
“This year I don’t feel like I’m out here as a surprise,” Malnati said after his win, which left him with an 18-under-par four-round aggregate of 270.
“I feel like I’m out here and I belong to be out here. Two years ago I was just so wrapped up in being on the Tour and enjoying it all. This year it feels like business.”
It was a disappointing finish for overnight leader Roberto Castro. Castro had started the day one shot clear of the field after seeing a healthy lead evaporate with a three-over-par 75 on Sunday.
Castro, who had shot a 10-under-par 62 on the opening day, was unable to overhaul Malnati, firing a final round 68 to finish two shots off the lead on 272.
Four other players — Aaron Baddeley, Patton Kizzire, Bryce Molder and Jhonattan Vegas — were also on 272.
The tournament finished on Monday after heavy rain and lighting lashed the course on Friday and Saturday, forcing several lengthy delays.
Spieth back on top, Knox to 31st after WGC
Double 2015 major winner Jordan Spieth is officially back on top of the world after leapfrogging Australia’s Jason Day in the new global golf rankings released Tuesday.
Spieth’s tied seventh place in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Sunday was enough to take the Masters, US Open and FedEx Cup champion back to world No. 1 as Day opted not to play to be at the birth of his second child.
Rory McIlroy started the year as No. 1, but he lost that position to Spieth after the US Open in June and dropped to third after missing the defense of his British Open crown when he injured an ankle playing football.
Day has won six tournaments in 2015, including the PGA Championship in August during a run of four titles in six starts as he reached No. 1 for the first time.
Meanwhile, Russell Knox has soared into the world’s elite top 50 on the back of his victory Sunday at Sheshan International Golf Club.
The Scot has risen to 31st in the rankings from 85th after picking up the first win in the $8.5 milllon WGC event.
The official world golf rankings are usually released every Monday but were delayed by the late finish at the PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship.
Malnati tastes maiden win at Sanderson Farms
