John Rollins wins Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

John Rollins survived a late wobble to win the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open by three shots from fellow American Jeff Quinney and Scotland’s Martin Laird. It was Rollins’ third PGA Tour title.

John Rollins wins in Reno

John Rollins survived a late wobble to win the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open by three shots from fellow American Jeff Quinney and Scotland’s Martin Laird. It was Rollins’ third PGA Tour title.

Rollins looked to be coasting during the final day as he reached the turn with a six-stroke advantage over the field. But three bogeys between the 12th and 15th gave the 34-year-old cause for concern. In five previous tournaments, Rollins has lost out when taking the lead into the final round.

“After I bogeyed 15, I sort of kicked myself in the butt and told myself I'm not going to let this tournament get away from me,” Rollins said. “Luckily, we ran out of holes and we came out on top.”

Scotland’s Martin Laird finished strongly with a closing 69. A birdie on the final hole ensured he would share second place with Jeff Quinney.

“It's nice to birdie the last," Laird said. "The difference between second and third is a whole bunch of money and a whole bunch of FedExCup points.” Laird has climbed nearly 50 places to 130th on the money list.

Rollins’ victory pushed  his season’s earnings over the $2 million mark. It’s only the second time in nine years on the PGA Tour that the American has achieved that feat.

Ryan Palmer, Rollin’s closest challenger going into the final round, closed with a disappointing 73 to drop down into a tie for fifth with Germany’s Alex Cejka and Kevin Na of the USA.

Legends Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada Aug 6-9, purse $3,000,000, par 72

1    John Rollins (USA)    70    62    67    72    271    $540,000 T2    Martin Laird (Sco)    72    67    66    69    274    $264,000 T2    Jeff Quinney (USA)    69    69    70    66    274    $264,000 4    Joe Ogilvie (USA)        70    68    66    71    275    $144,000 T5    Alex Cejka (Ger)        72    69    68    67    276    $109,500 T5    Kevin Na (USA)        71    70    67    68    276    $109,500 T5    Ryan Palmer (USA)    69    68    66    73    276    $109,500 8    Rod Pampling (Aus)    67    70    73    67    277    $93,000

Player scores listed in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?