MADISON, Miss. — At the 11th hole in the Viking Classic on Sunday, Will MacKenzie was trailing Marc Turnesa by six strokes and thinking it would be great for Turnesa to win his first PGA Tour title.
After all, it appeared Mac-Kenzie would end up fifth or worse.
“There was a time today when I wanted him to win,” MacKenzie said. “When I was so far behind, I really wanted Marc to win it.”
Instead, MacKenzie gave himself a talking to and went on to birdie the par-5 18th three straight times to win in a playoff for his second PGA Tour victory.
“I was sort of chalking it up,” MacKenzie said. “Then I thought: ‘Play well down the stretch, Will. Maybe you can get a couple more birdies and then you will have a solid week.’ ”
A free spirit who dropped out of golf for almost 10 years and lived in his van for five, MacKenzie rallied to beat Turnesa on the second playoff hole after Brian Gay dropped out on the first extra hole.
At the second extra hole, MacKenzie hit the green in two and Turnesa needed three shots. MacKenzie two-putted from 63 feet for another birdie and won when Turnesa missed his 18-footer.
MacKenzie, who was 178th on the money list with $235,997, jumped to 97th with a total of $883,997.
Bettencourt claims first title
JUNCTION CITY, Ore. — Matt Bettencourt won the Oregon Classic for his first Nationwide Tour title, closing with a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over former U.S. Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson.
Former champ leads qualifying
TULSA, Okla. — Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, the 2004 champion, shot a 2-under 69 for a three-stroke victory in stroke-play qualifying for the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.
Simson leads Senior Amateur
FORT WORTH, Texas — Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., earned medalist honors in the USGA Senior Amateur for the second time in three years.
The Associated Press
