Steven Bowditch putted to the top of the leaderboard on Saturday, and strutted all the way to the 18th-hole finish line on Sunday. The Australian-born Bowditch shot a 3-under par 68 and a course-record 19-under 265 to capture the Soboba Golf Classic at the Country Club of Soboba Springs.
The Soboba Classic is one of two late-season $1 million tournaments on the Nationwide Tour schedule, including a first-place purse of $180,000. Daniel Summerhays also shot 3-under on the day to finish in second place at 16-under. He earned a check for $108,000.
Hemet's Brendan Steele, who began the day five shots back, bogeyed three of his first seven holes and never recovered, shooting an even-par 71 to finish at 11-under, earning $16,500. Bowditch finished with 96 putts in the four rounds, one shy of the Nationwide record for fewest putts in a tournament, set by Grant Waite in the 2004 Miccosukee Championship.
"I putted it pretty good," said Bowditch who made his big move in Saturday's third round, shooting an 8-under 63 ---- including tying a Nationwide Tour record for fewest putts in a round with 18. "Yesterday was really the round that put me in position, but I putted great and today I played better."
Bowditch's only previous win on the Tour occurred at the 2005 Jacob's Creek Open Championship in Adelaide, Australia.
"It's been some of the best times of my life, the journey back," said Bowditch.
"It feels better once you've accomplished something and to lose it and then go back on it, I feel a good sense of achievement and it's fantastic."
He also traveled a significant distance on the Tour money list. Bowditch, who was ranked 76th when he teed off on Thursday, moved up to 11th, with four tournaments remaining. The top 25 finishers on the money list earn spots on next year's PGA Tour.
Bowditch cruised to a comfortable win Sunday. He birdied the first hole, then chipped it in from 75 feet for an eagle on the par-5 sixth to go to 19-under.
He never slipped below 18-under the rest of the way.
"I didn't make many putts, but I didn't miss any," he said. "Short game is really the key to winning out here when you've got a lead."
And he never stopped peeking to make sure he was still in first.
"Those guys who say they don't watch the leaderboard? I don't believe them," Bowditch said. "I was watching every step. I just feel that it changes your shot selection a little bit, so yeah, I looked at the board.
"It actually looked nice, not scrolling down on the Internet, but looking up."
Steele, who played on the course while at Hemet High, was accompanied all weekend by a large gallery made up of family and friends.
His rough start on Sunday was followed by 10 consecutive pars. He eagled the final hole, but managed just one birdie in the round.
"I would have taken any kind of birdies ---- tap-ins, long putts, chip-ins, hole-outs ---- anything," said Steele. "I didn't really care how they'd come, I just wanted some more of them.
"I started hitting the ball right, which has been kind of my problem this year.
I can't really score when I hit it right. I hit it right in the water at the second hole, and hit it right at the par-5, almost in the water. And then I hit it way right at seven, just a terrible, terrible shot."
Of little consolation to Steele was the fact that he moved up three spots, to No. 34, on the money list, with earnings of more than $140,000.
"It was miserable all day," Steele said. "If everyday was like that I would never play golf."
Steele said fatigue may have been his worst enemy.
"I'm really tired," said Steele, who finished up his sixth consecutive tour event. "This is more events than I've ever played in a row. I think I just ran out of gas. I've been everywhere from Tennessee to Utah to Idaho, Texas, over here, and then back to Tennessee on Tuesday. I'm just kind of running low on energy."