Bae wins Tour opener, Bowditch second

South Korea’s Sang-Moon Bae has claimed the first PGA Tour event of the 2014-2015 season, fending off a late challenge from Queensland’s Steven Bowditch to win by two strokes.

Bae entered the final round of the Frys.com Open with a four stroke lead after shooting a third round 65. His lead blew out to six shots midway through the final round but bogies at the 11^th, 13^th and 14^th holes left his chasers in with a chance.

Sang-Moon Bae kisses the champions trophy after winning the Frys.com. PHOTO: Getty Images

“Yeah, I think I was a little nervous, had a little focus, too,” Bae later admitted. “I don't know why. I didn't want to look at the scoreboard, but I did. I looked a lot. That's why I made a lot of bogies on the back nine.”

If there was a turning point in the final round, it was on the par-5 16^thhole. Bae appeared to have luck on his side after he drove into a terrible lie in the rough. He managed to put it out onto the fairway then aggressively went at the back pin with a sand wedge. It took one hop on the firm green and wound up in the rough. Bae hit a clean chip and rolled to two feet for par.

Relieved to get past the 16^th hole unscathed, Bae again went over the back on the 17^th and played another safe chip to tap-in range and hold his two-stroke lead heading into the final hole. Bae missed a putt on the 18^th, but still finished with a two-stroke lead over Bowditch.

Bowditch began his 2014-15 campaign well, as did fellow Aussie Robert Allenby, who finished four strokes behind Bae at 11-under and tied for eighth. This was Bowditch’s fourth top 10 PGA Tour finish of his career and the second time he has finished runner-up in a PGA Tour event. Last season Bowditch claimed the first PGA Tour victory of his career by taking out the Texas Open in San Antonio in March, in the process earning a coveted start at the Masters.

Steven Bowditch hits his tee shot on the 18th tee during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images

Bowditch appeared content with the second place finish. “It doesn't feel like the year has ended quite, but it's nice to get off to a good start for the FedExCup for 2015,” he said.

Victorian Cameron Percy finished tied for 26^th in his first PGA Tour start since earning his Tour card with a victory on the Web.com Tour earlier this year.

It was a tightly contested final round with five players tying for third. Americans Bryce Molder and Hunter Mahan, South Africa’s Retief Goosen, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Scotland’s Martin Laird all finished at 12 under (276).

Mahan looked to make a run when he holed out from 91 yards on the 13^th for eagle, which put him within two shots of the lead. However, Mahan then bogied the 15^th and followed with a par on the par-5 16^thhole after a bunker shot cost him a chance at birdie.

This was only the second PGA Tour victory for Bae, his first coming in 2013 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons in Dallas.

LEADERBOARD

1. Sang-Moon Bae (S.Kor) 66-69-65-73 – 273

2. Steven Bowditch (Qld) 73-68-67-67 – 275

T3. Bryce Molder (USA) 70-69-69-69 – 276

T3. Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 70-67-69-70 – 276

T3. Reteif Goosen (RSA) 69-71-66-70–276

T3. Hunter Mahan (USA) 70-68-68-70–276

T3. Martin Laird (Scot) 67-67-71-71–276

ALSO

T8. Robert Allenby (Vic) 70-71-66-70–277

T26. Cameron Percy (Vic) 69-70-70-73–282