Piercy wins Barbasol Championship for 3rd PGA Tour title

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — Scott Piercy’s surgically repaired elbow and his game seem to be in fine shape.

Piercy won the Barbasol Championship on Sunday for his third PGA Tour title, closing with a 6-under 65 for a three-stroke victory.

He began the season on a major medical extension after surgery on his right elbow early last year. Piercy said that did spark initial fears about how he’d fare upon his return.

“I just knew it was a matter of time coming back and it’s been a long road,” he said. “My whole goal after coming back from surgery was to come back better. The way I played (Sunday) compared to my last two victories was a lot better. I struck the ball so well, so I’d say I’m kind of right where I imagined I would be.”

The 36-year-old Las Vegas player made a 57-foot birdie putt on the second hole en route to his first victory since the 2012 Canadian Open. Tied for the third-round lead with Ricky Barnes, Piercy birdied three of four holes starting on No. 13 and finished at 19 under on Grand National’s Lake Course.

Piercy hit 17 greens in regulation in the final round.

“I struck it beautifully all week and made enough putts to get it done,” he said.

Piercy finished second at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January before capturing the inaugural Alabama event for players who didn’t make the British Open field.

Piercy had a bogey and double bogey on the first four holes Thursday after arriving the previous morning and not getting in a practice round. He appeared quite comfortable on the course after that.

Birmingham native Will Wilcox was second after a 67, virtually guaranteeing a PGA Tour card for next season in just 13 starts. It was his second straight top-10 finish.

“That’s something I never thought in a million years I would have done,” he said.

Wilcox closed with two straight birdies, pumping his fists and hollering after sinking a 60-foot birdie putt on the closing hole. The former UAB player had once made dough at a local pizza place during a short time living in neighboring Auburn and estimated he had 50-60 friends and family members on hand.

“Having my family here, you always dream about doing something like that in front of them,” Wilcox said. “Just the good vibes were flowing this week. It just worked out so well. My aunt and uncles, they’d never seen me play. The fact that I could finish solo second in front of them was pretty shocking.”

Barnes, University of Alabama junior Robby Shelton and South Korea’s Whee Kim tied for third at 14 under. Shelton shot 67, Kim 69, and Barnes 70.

Shelton, a two-time All-American, had four straight rounds in the 60s. It was the best finish by an amateur since Phil Mickelson won the Northern Telecom Open in Tuscon, Arizona, in 1991.

Shelton is the 18th amateur since 1940 to finish in the top three.

“It was amazing,” said Shelton, from Mobile. “I played well, that’s all I could ask for. To do this with a sponsor exemption, it’s great. I mean, I’m speechless right now.”

Barnes was seeking his first PGA Tour victory in 202 starts, but finished with a 70 and bogeyed the final hole. It was his best finish since taking second at the 2009 U.S. Open, the only other time he shared a 54-hole lead.

The round was delayed 1 hour, 20 minutes because of rain and lightning before the leaders teed off.

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