JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tommy Gainey took the lead by stopping a long Eagle putt from the Green on the 13th of the par 5, and he closed at 6 under 66 for a two-shot victory at the constellation Furic & Friends.
Gainey, 50, had to pass the qualifying round just to get into the field at Tim Kuana Country Club. He started his final round four shot behind Matt Gogel, then pulled away in the middle of the back nine to stop Australia’s Cameron Percy.
Percy was one shot when he was tricked into a 15-foot birdie chance on the par 17th. He missed another birdie chance from 15 feet on the final hole, with Gainey rolling on a 6 feet birdie putt to finish at 202 under.
Gainey has had four qualifying rounds this year on Monday. He is currently exempt and has moved to 37th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
“I crushed it for a long time, and in the end I can say that my crushing and hard work paid off,” Gainey said. “Man, your weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
Gogel shot 75 and finished third in the group that included European vice captains Vijay Singh and Thomas Bjorn in last week’s Ryder Cup victory.
This was his final year at Tim Cuana, the popular Donald Ross design. The tournament will travel to Ocean Hammock 60 miles south next year.