Jamie LovemarkStan Badz
Springfield, MO - Hunter Haas fired a seven-under 65 Sunday to pick up a six-stroke win at the Price Cutter Charity Championship.
Haas finished the event at 26-under-par 262, one stroke off the tournament scoring record. The victory was his third on the Nationwide Tour.
"This feels great. This is why we play this game. The adrenaline rush, the butterflies on the first tee, it is all of that," said Haas, who earned $112,500 for the win. "That is what makes it so rewarding when you accomplish your goals and defeat the golf course that week."
Jamie Lovemark also fired a 65 to share second place at minus-20. He ended alongside Jason Schultz (66) and Jonas Blixt (69)
Kyle Thompson, the 36-hole leader, shot two-under 70 at Highland Springs Country Club to share fifth with Brandt Jobe (69) at 19-under-par 269.
Edmonton's Barrett Jarosch and David Hearn of Brampton, Ont. tied as the top Canadians at 14-under par, 12 shots behind the winner.
Haas flew out of the gate with birdies on the first two holes to move three strokes clear of Thompson and Blixt.
A bogey on the fifth cut Haas' lead to two, but he came right back with a birdie on the sixth to regain his three-stroke cushion. After Lovemark got within one thanks to an eagle on 11th, Haas birdied the eighth.
"I knew Jamie made a move early," said Haas. "But I just had to focus on my game."
Around the turn, Haas birdied the 11th and 12th to move four clear of Lovemark. It never got any closer from there.
Haas chipped in for birdie on the 14th and closed out the tournament in style with a 12-foot birdie putt at the last.
"It is an easy putt when you have a one-inch break and a five-shot lead," Haas said of his birdie at the last. "I felt comfortable coming down the last few holes, but you can't think that way. You have to stay focused and continue to try and make birdies."
Lovemark had five birdies through nine holes, and his eagle on 11 got him within one. However, he played the last seven holes in even-par with a single birdie and a bogey.
Schultz had a bogey-free round and carded all six of his birdies in the final 11 holes.
Blixt was even-par through 12 holes of his round, but it was an up-and-down round to that point. He had four bogeys, two birdies and an eagle through 12 holes. Blixt poured in three birdies over the final four holes to share second place.
NOTES: With the share of second place, Lovemark pushed his lead atop the money list to over $66,000...Haas moved to 10th on the money list thanks to the win...Haas has won two of the three times he owned the 54-hole lead...After a week off, the tour heads to Tennessee for the Knoxville News Sentinel Open, where Kevin Johnson won last year.