Brett WetterichDonna McWilliam
BROUSSARD, La. - PGA Tour winner Brett Wetterich won the Nationwide Tour's Chitimacha Louisiana Open for the second time, closing with a two-under-par 69 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over University of Florida senior Andres Echavarria.
The 37-year-old Wetterich, the 2006 Byron Nelson Championship winner, finished at 13-under 271 at Le Triomphe Country Club. Also the 2003 Louisiana Open champion, he earned $90,000 for this third Nationwide title.
"I love this place. This course just fits me perfectly," said Wetterich, a member of the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team. "This is a great feeling. I can't be any happier. I held in there the last two days, but it certainly wasn't easy."
Echavarria, from Colombia, shot a 67. Bubba Dickerson (69) was third at 11 under, and John Kimbell (61), Carl Paulson (67) and Rich Barcelo (70) followed at 10 under.
Wetterich had 14 birdies and two pars on four par 5s.
"The key to this golf course is playing those holes well," he said. "I played them really well. You can miss a couple fairways and get away with it sometimes. I hit a lot of good, long drives out there."
Echavarria is preparing for the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Championships.
"It was fun to have a chance to win a Nationwide Tour event, especially with a player [Wetterich]that I grew up watching," Echavarria said. "It's amazing. I had a pretty good shot and missed a couple of short putts, but it's golf. It happens. I'm really pleased with my result."
In his season debut and just a few weeks after becoming a father for the first time, Jon Mills tied for 13th on Sunday.
Mills of Belleville, Ont., shot five-under to wrap up the Nationwide Tour event at seven-under 277, six shots behind Wetterich. Mills climbed 21 places on the leader board Sunday and finished as the low Canadian.
Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., tied for 44th at two under and Matt McQuillan of Kingston shared 62nd at one over. Baryla had vowed last week to donate $1,000 plus half his winnings in Louisiana to Japanese relief efforts. He earned $1,988 Sunday.
"I believe it's important to use my position as a professional athlete to give back," Baryla said in a statement. "While we might be thousands of miles away, this terrible tragedy has affected us all and I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the people of Japan."
Jeff Brooke contributed to this report