Jerry Kelly fired a final-round 6-under 66 at Hualalai Golf Course to capture the Mitsubishi Electric Championship by one shot over Colin Montgomerie.
Playing in the final group with the big Scot, Kelly headed to No. 18 down by one, following a bogey on 16. But a final-hole birdie by Kelly, coupled with a three-putt bogey by Montgomerie, gave the title to the American.
Kelly finished the day with five birdies and one eagle, against a single bogey, en route to a three-day score of 18 under.
“I drove the ball very well so I left myself manageable shots in most of the time,” said Kelly, 51, of Wisconsin. “There’s some easy par 4s but there’s also some tough ones and I was just striking the ball well. I didn’t put myself in tough positions too often, I was pretty consistent.”
The win was the third in just nine starts on the senior tour for the former college hockey player. Kelly, who also won in Hawaii on the PGA Tour (2002 Sony Open), earned a first-place prize of $305,000.
Montgomerie, who had led after each of the opening two rounds, finished with a 3-under 69, good for a solo-second finish at 17-under par.
David Toms birdied the 18th hole to reach 5-under 67, and move into the third spot at 16 under, one ahead of Miguel Jimenez who posted a final-day 66. Kirk Triplett (66) was one further back at 14 under to sit alone in fifth.
A group of three players tied for sixth at 13 under, including Fred Couples (66), Scott McCarron (67), and Doug Garwood (69).
Defending champion Bernhard Langer shot 2-under 70 and signed for a three-round 10-under par.
FINAL TOP 10
1 Jerry Kelly -18 (64-68-66) $305,000
2 Colin Montgomerie -17 (65-65-69) $172,000
3 David Toms -16 (67-66-67) $127,000
4 Miguel Jimenez -15 (70-65-66) $102,000
5 Kirk Triplett -14 (66-70-66) $90,000
6 Fred Couples -13 (66-71-66) $70,000
6 Scott McCarron -13 (70-66-67) $70,000
6 Doug Garwood -13 (67-67-69) $70,000
9 Tom Lehman -12 (69-68-67) $50,000.00
9 Vijay Singh -12 (71-66-67) $50,000
9 Gene Sauers -12 (64-68-72) $50,000
THE FINAL HOLE
QUOTABLE
“I’ve had the best mental attitude that I ever have and I put it to the test on 16, I’ll tell you that.”
– Jerry Kelly
