BEAUMONT, Calif. -- Brett Melton of Monee, Ill., second a year ago, rallied with 66 the final round Wednesday to win the third annual PGA Western Stroke Play Championship at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club.
Trailing by four strokes after the first round and by six after the second, Melton won by a stroke, 208 to 209, over first- and second-round leader Robert DeRuntz of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. DeRuntz closed with 73.
"I heard he missed a bunch of putts, one for a birdie on the last hole," Melton said. "It can be tough to play with a big lead. You can slip into a protection mode. It was easier for me. I all I had to do was go play, let it rip."
After opening with a pair of 71s, Melton made the final turn in 33, then carded five birdies and two bogeys on the last nine holes. He earned $3,500 from the $19,325 purse.
A teaching professional at Green Garden Country Club in Frankfort, Ill., Melton, 31, was the runner-up to Don Berry of Brooklyn Park, Minn., here a year ago, 203 to 210. Berry was not in the 62-player field this year.
The Stroke Play was the last of three tournaments in the 2006 Callaway Golf PGA Western Winter Championships. Previous winners were Jon Fiedler of Camarillo, Calif., in the Senior Stroke Play Championship and the team of Mike Zaremba of Pueblo, Colo., and Micah Rudosky of Cortez, Colo., in the Senior-Junior Team Championship.
Callaway Golf PGA Western Winter Championships
PGA Western Stroke Play Championship
PGA of Southern California GC, Beaumont, Calif.
Champions Course, 7,129 yards, par 72
Brett Melton, Monee, Ill., $3,500 71-71-66-208
Robert DeRuntz, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., $2,000 67-69-73-209
Mike Zaremba, Pueblo, Colo., $1,512.50 72-70-69-211
Jeff Cranford, LaQuinta, Calif., $1,512.50 69-70-72-211
Brad Stormon, Temecula, Calif., $1,300 69-74-72-215
Tim Parun, San Diego, Calif., $1,150 76-73-67-216
Bob Sowards, Columbus, Ohio, $1,150 71-72-73-216
Kevin Syring, Demarest, N.J., $900 75-74-68-217
Ron Skayhan, Huntington Beach, Calif., $900 71-71-75-217
Bruce Nakamura, Vista, Calif., $900 71-70-76-217
Greg Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo., $578.75 75-72-71-218
Matt Call, Castle Rock, Colo., $578.75 75-72-71-218
Chris Starkjohann, Encinitas, Calif., $578.75 71-75-72-218
Jim Gormley, Redondo Beach, Calif., $578.75 73-71-74-218
Tony Rohlik, Mesa, Ariz., $401.67 75-74-70-219
Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo., $401.67 75-69-75-219
Craig Plumley, Laguna Niguel, Calif., $401.66 76-68-75-219
Erik Billinger Highlands Ranch, Colo., $326.67 75-74-71-220
Mike Fergin, Santa Ana, Calif., $326.67 72-75-73-220
Eric Evans, Walnut, Calif., $326.66 69-77-74-220
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