McKelvey wins by a shot

Former University of Louisiana-Lafayette standout Rob McKelvey didn't think he had much of an advantage this week. Turns out, though, a little local knowledge can go a long way.

McKelvey posted a final-round 68 to erase a four-stroke deficit and win the $450,000 BUY.COM Louisiana Open. He finished at 14-under-par 274 to edge Ian Leggatt and third-round leader Guy Hill by one stroke.

Ryuji Imada fired a 67 to move into sole possession of fourth place, two shots back. Five others tied for fifth, three behind. The win was worth $81,000 and moved McKelvey to No. 4 on the season money list.

"If I had to pick one to win this year, this would be it," said the 1992 graduate, who played plenty of practice rounds on the Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club course. "It feels great. I finally went out and trusted myself and my swing."

McKelvey began the day in a five-way tie for second place and four shots down to Hill, who shared the lead after the first round and held it outright at the 36- and 54-hole marks.

"There are so many good players out here, I knew it would be tough. I didn't play much differently today, I just hit better shots the first three days," said a dejected Hill, who shot 73 Sunday. "I knew I needed a seven-shot lead and I only had four."

McKelvey started his roller coaster charge on the leader with birdies on the first two holes to get to 12-under-par.

"My swing felt good, my tempo was there," said McKelvey. "I knew I was going to make a few birdies and those first two actually calmed me down a bit."

With storm clouds looming on the horizon, Hill was unable to hold off McKelvey, who had eight birdies and four bogeys in his round. McKelvey inched his way up the leaderboard, finally catching Hill on the par-5 14th. While McKelvey was two-putting for birdie to move to 14 under, Hill was two groups back, three-putting the treacherous 452-yard 13th for a double bogey, dropping him to 13-under and out of the lead for the first time since Thursday.

Hill, a University of Florida graduate, met his match on the hole which ironically goes by the name of Gator's Jaw, the most difficult hole on TOUR the past two years. His drive carried the water that guards the right side of the fairway, but then kicked into the hazard.

"I took a bad line with my tee shot," Hill said. "It was a bad decision. That double took all the momentum I had."

It turned out to be the opening that McKelvey needed. The 30-year-old eventually stepped to the 18th tee knowing he was up by one. Suddenly, the tournament was his to lose.

"It's a lot easier to chase somebody than to be the chasee," said McKelvey of his day.

His pitching wedge from 135 yards came up short left, leaving McKelvey about 60 feet to a pin nestled behind a ridge.

"Standing over the chip, I told myself I've done it a million times and I needed to do it once more," he said. McKelvey's sand wedge, bump-and-run stopped about 18 inches from the cup. After tapping in for par, the local hero could only wait to see if Hill could catch back up.

Hill birdied the short par-4 17th to get within one and needed to birdie No. 18 to force the first playoff in tournament's nine-year history. His 35-foot birdie try was right on line, but never made it to the hole.

"I struggled with my long putts all day," said Hill, who had 32 putts for the day. "I can't believe I left it short. I knew when it was about eight feet away it never had the speed."

Leggatt matched the day's best round, a 5-under-par 67, but also came up short on the final hole, missing his birdie attempt from 30 feet. Too bad the 18th wasn't a par-5 for Leggatt, who played the five par-5s a whopping 17-under par for the four days.

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