Reno, NV (Best E Casino) - Parker McLachlin stumbled to a two-over 74 on Sunday, but still walked away with a seven-shot win at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
McLachlin completed the win at 18-under-par 270.
"It felt like a home game out there," McLachlin said of the fan support. "It was a struggle out there, it wasn't easy. But everyones support just got me through. This just feels so good right now."
This was McLachlin's first tour win and he collected $540,000 for the victory.
"It doesn't feel all that early. It feels like a lifetime coming," said the 28-year-old McLachlin. "It's been a dream of mine since I was about 12. It's just a huge stepping stone for me."
Brian Davis did get within four of McLachlin's lead on the back nine, but played the final five holes at four-over par to close a round of three-over 75. He ended in a share of second at 11-under-par 277, where he ended alongside John Rollins (71).
Harrison Frazar (69), Ryan Palmer (70), Eric Axley (69) and Martin Laird (66) shared fourth place at minus-10 at Montreux Golf and Country Club.
McLachlin, who entered the event with just partially exempt status on the PGA Tour, led by six entering the final round and cruised to nine straight pars to open his round.
While he was doing that, no one really made a move. Davis was also even-par through nine holes with a birdie, a bogey and seven pars.
Around the turn, things started to get a little interesting. McLachlin tripped to a bogey on the 10th and when Davis birdied the 11th, the margin was just four strokes.
McLachlin steadied himself with five consecutive pars, while Davis ran into trouble.
"Brian was playing some great golf," said McLachlin of Davis. "He had a couple of really good opportunities to close the gap. He missed the birdie putt on 13 and I made a great par putt, just like I did on 12."
Davis dumped his approach in a bunker on the par-four 14th. His ball was buried and it took Davis two shots to get out of the bunker. Two putts later, he walked off with a double-bogey.
The Englishman also bogeyed the 15th to drop seven back, but McLachlin tried to let people back into the tournament. After a bogey on 16, McLachlin found water off the tee on 17th.
He knocked his third onto the putting surface, but three-putted for bogey to slide to 17-under. His lead was five, but that changed at the last.
McLachlin drained a 16-foot birdie putt to seal his first PGA Tour win.
"Brian had some opportunities to really put the heat on me and I was feeling it," McLachlin admitted. "I was just gutting it out. I didn't have much left in the tank. I'm spent right now."
Jason Gore closed with a one-under 71 to join Mark Wilson (67) and John Merrick (72) in a tie for eighth place at nine-under-par 279. Bob Heintz, Brenden Pappas and Kevin Na were one shot further back at minus-eight.
