Chappell shoots 65 for first win, Hearn finishes one back
HAYWARD, Calif. – Kevin Chappell hit the number and it paid off like a winning lottery ticket at the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae. Chappell posted a 6-under 65 in the final round Sunday and earned his first career title, beating Canadian David Hearn by one stroke and collecting $108,000 in the process.The win moved Chappell to No. 2 on the Nationwide Tour money thru six of 28 events on the 2010 schedule.
Chappelll walked off the 13thgreen in Saturday’s third round and put a number in his head that he thought he needed to get to in order to have a chance to win the Tournament. The Fresno native had just stumbled to a bogey, dropped to 13-under par and fell out of a share of the lead with Hearn.
“I put a number in my head at that point,” said the Fresno native. “I just wouldn’t tell anybody what it was.”
It turned out that Chappell’s magic number was 20, as in 20-under par, which is exactly where he finished after calmly tapping in for par on the final hole and collecting his first win since he captured a one-day, mini-Tour event in Boise, Idaho in 2008.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said the 23-year old. “It’s a surreal feeling but it’s one I could use to.”
Canada’s Jon Mills finished solo third, three back. Doug LaBelle II was alone in fourth, four behind.
Chappell began the final round one back of Hearn but surged to the lead with birdies on his first three holes, forcing Hearn and everyone else to play catch up.
“I knew I had to get off to a quick start because the back nine plays a lot tougher,” he said. “Getting those birdies early just kick-started me.”
Chappell ran off six birdies on the front and made the turn at 19-under, one up on Hearn. The rest of the field was making plenty of birdies too, but they were too far behind to challenge for the lead. Several came close but the outcome would be decided by the final twosome.
“I didn’t know if anyone was making a move. I didn’t hear any roars out there but you never know,” he said. “I knew we were playing pretty good and I thought if I could beat him (Hearn) I thought I’d have a pretty good chance.”
Chappell and Hearn were in the final pairing and much of the back nine felt like match play between the two. Chappell led but Hearn tied it up with a birdie at No. 11. Hearn bogeyed No. 13 to fall one back. The pair switched places when Hearn birdied No. 14 and Chappell made bogey.
“It was almost calming to make bogey there and give up the lead,” said Chappell. “I knew I could play well coming from behind.”
Chappell birdied No. 15 to regain a share of the lead and Hearn’s bogey at No. 16 left him one back. Chappell rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 17 to put him at 20-under and two up with one to go.
“I thought 18 was going to be a walk in the park after that,” he said.
Hearn refused to give in. His second shot at the uphill, 438-yard hole nearly spun into the cup before settling within inches, leaving him a tap-in to get within one.
“We couldn’t see it but I thought he holed it,” said Chappell. “There was a loud roar but it wasn’t a ‘holed it’ roar. I kept telling myself to finish the race. The day wasn’t over. I wasn’t going to be done until I putted out.”
Chappell’s 8-iron from 178 yards climbed over a front bunker and left him 25 feet short of the flag.
“I wanted to hit 9-iron there but my caddie Brandon wouldn’t let me,” he said. “I thought an 8-iron would put me in the bleachers.”
Chappell calmed his nerves, rolled his birdie putt to within six inches of the hole and tapped in the winning putt.
“Kevin is fearless, which I guess you are when you are only 23,” said Hearn, 30, who was looking for his first win since the 2004 Alberta Classic. “On 18, he did what do with a two-shot lead on the last hole.”
When all was said and done, Chappell finally confessed his winning prediction.
“At the beginning of the week I didn’t think 20-under would win this Tournament,” he said. “I thought it might be closer to 2-under.”
Good thing he didn’t bet on that number.
Fourth-Round Notes:
* Tournament officials announced that Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice will return in 2011 to serve as the Tournament host and a professional competitor in the event. Rice, 47, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. The former San Francisco 49er wide receiver shot scores of 83-76 but missed the 36-hole cut. Rice will once again headline the Jerry Rice Celebrity Pro-Am, which will be held on Wednesday of Tournament week. “My main goal has been to help the Tournament be successful and I am happy that we have been able to do that,” said Rice. “I loved working with the Nationwide Tour, the players and all the people here at Stonebrae. I can’t wait to do it again.”
* Jonathan Kaye had a pair of eagles, both on par-5s. Kaye eagled Nos. 3 and 7.
* Leading money winner Bobby Gates finished T26 this week and earned $4,680. He will maintain his position at No. 1 on the money list, a spot he has held since winning the season-opening Michael Hill New Zealand Open.
* Rookie Jamie Lovemark, USC, shot a 6-under 65 Sunday to vault into a tie for fifth, his third top-10 finish in five starts this season. Lovemark was solo third at the season-opening Michael Hill New Zealand Open and was T3 at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open. Lovemark posted a 5-under 30 on the back nine, which included birdies on his final two holes. Lovemark is No. 8 on the money list.
* Kevin Chappell has played the four par-5’s in 16-under this week. He had 14 birdies, one eagle and one par. He was 5-under on the par-4s and 1-over on the par-3s.
* Sunday’s final-round scoring average was 68.889. The scoring average for the week was 70.499.
* The Nationwide Tour moves to Valdosta, Georgia next week for the South Georgia Classic at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club April 19-25.
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