Vegas winner of Hope Classic

Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif.

Jhonattan Vegas made a 13-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to win the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday, holding off Gary Woodland for his first PGA Tour victory.

The first Venezuelan to win a PGA Tour event, the rookie won in just his fifth tour start despite hitting his tee shot in the water on the 92nd hole of the five-day tournament. Vegas capitalized when Woodland made two poor chip shots.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Vegas, the first rookie to win the 52-year-old Hope.

Vegas and Woodland eliminated defending champion Bill Haas with birdies on the first playoff hole after all three finished the final round at 27-under 333. Vegas is the third straight player to get his first PGA Tour victory at the Hope, joining Pat Perez and Haas.

Playing one group apart, Haas and Vegas both missed short putts on the final regulation hole. A few minutes after Haas botched a 6-footer for birdie, Vegas couldn’t connect from 9 feet, making his only bogey of the final day.

Vegas and Woodland closed with 3-under 69s and Haas shot a 66.

“Seemed like we were out there forever,” Woodland said.

Vegas cut a confident figure on the Palmer Private course earlier Sunday, wearing a neon-peach shirt with starkly white pants and Nike hat. He was followed by his mother and his father, who got his son into the game while selling food and tending a nine-hole course in a remote oil-drilling camp along the Orinoco River.

“Life for me hasn’t been always the best,” Vegas said. “I had to fight to get where I am. I’m a fighter, and if I set a goal in front of me, I’ll die just to get there.”

Ryan Palmer shot an 8-under 64 in the final round to finish fourth at 26 under, while Brian Gay’s 10-under 62 shot him up from 37th place to a tie for fifth with Kevin Na (67) at 24 under.

Mitsubishi Electric Championship

KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii

John Cook birdied five straight holes after the turn to win the Champions Tour’s season-opening event, shooting a second straight 8-under 64 for a two-stroke victory over Tom Lehman.

The 53-year-old Cook had eight birdies in his bogey-free round for a 22-under 194 total and his second straight victory. He finished last season winning the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.