Rod Perry wins playoff to claim Event No. 4 of PGA Tournament Series

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Starting the day six shots back, tied for 22nd place, Rod Perry didn’t think he had a chance of winning Event No. 4 of the PGA Tournament Series at PGA Golf Club.

Twenty holes, eight birdies and an eagle later Friday, Perry didn’t have a chance.

He had the trophy.

RELATED: Event No. 4 Leaderboard | Perry wins Event No. 3 in playoff

Perry birdied the second hole of a playoff – the second time he’s done that in three days – to beat Omar Uresti after an amazing 9-under 63 in rainy, windy conditions on the Wanamaker Course. Perry was 10-under on 20 holes.

“I’ve shot 61 or 62 on some shorter courses, but the 63 is a really good round for me in these conditions on this course,” said Perry, the teaching pro at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange, Fla.

Perry needed an eagle-birdie-birdie finish to get into the playoff at 9-under 135 against Uresti (66), who made more than 350 starts on the PGA Tour.

Perry made a 5-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to earn $5,000, solidifying his lead on the PGA Tournament Series money list to $12,550. Perry also birdied the second playoff hole to beat Scott Berliner in Event No. 3 on Tuesday.

“It would be nice to win the money title because that means I would have played some good golf against some really good players,” said Perry, who skipped the second event.

Uresti had a chance for the win, but the PGA Professional at Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas left his 12-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole just short of the hole. He also missed a short birdie putt on the 16th during his bogey-free 66.

“It was a little disappointing to miss those opportunities late,” Uresti said. “I figured if I shot a good, solid round I would have a chance, but I really didn’t see any 9-unders out there.”

Nicholas Latimer-Zabor finished third alone at 137 after a 69. Rick Schuller made his seventh career hole-in-one on the 165-yard 11th hole during a 70 that left him tied for fourth place with Kirk Hanefeld (71) and Anthony Aruta (70) at 138.

“What was nice was I hit that 7-iron pure,” Schuller said. “It landed just short and went right in.”

Bob Sowards, who led after a first-round 66, dropped to seventh after a 73. “I hit the ball well enough, but I couldn’t get it in the hole,” Sowards said.

The PGA Tournament Series is presented by Golf Advisor.