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If former San Diego State men’s golf team member Scott Piercy is doing one thing right, it’s putting himself in position to win on the PGA Tour. But the 30-year-old is still trying to figure out actually how to win. With two holes remaining in Sunday’s final round at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas, Nev., Piercy had his first career PGA Tour win in sight as he stood one shot back of leader Martin Laird on the tee of the par-3 17th hole at TPC Summerlin. But Piercy, who held a share of the lead after three rounds, hit into the water and made double bogey. Then, on the par-4 18th, he hit his approach into the water again en route to another double bogey — he was so upset after the miscue that he snapped his iron over his leg. He ended up shooting a 2-over-par 73, sliding all the way down into a tie for 14th place at 15-under par — four strokes behind the low regulation score of 19-under needed to qualify for a sudden-death playoff. Had Piercy made two pars instead of stumbling down the stretch, he would have reached that playoff, ultimately won by Laird over George McNeill and Chad Campbell. But instead, it’s another instance where Piercy has experience from which to draw the next time he finds himself in contention. It’s the second start in a row where he’s held a share of the lead heading into the final round, as the Las Vegas resident also shot a closing 73 at the Turning Stone Resort Championship earlier this month and familiarly finished four shots back of the leaders (that tournament also needed a sudden-death playoff, which Matt Kuchar won again Vaughn Taylor). While Piercy had a disappointing finish inside the ropes, his life outside golf became richer this week as his wife, Sara, gave birth to son Jett on Thursday. The couple now has three sons. “It’s definitely been a roller coaster,” said Piercy, describing the week after the third round. “I think early in the week it was the anticipation of having the baby. And I think emotionally that wears you down. The golf course has been kind of a quiet retreat from everything; that I can just kind of punk up and down the fairway and take my time doing nothing.” It’s true Piercy has had trouble capitalizing in the final during each of his last two starts, but the PGA Tour rookie, who gained his 2009 card by finishing inside the top 25 on the 2008 Nationwide Tour money list, has guaranteed his 2010 exempt status by earning a combined $197,400 in his last two starts. For the season, he has won $1,032,716, good for 86th on the PGA Tour money list. For complete results from the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, visit PGATour.com. |
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