Rocco Mediate wins Frys.com Open

Forty-seven-year-old Rocco Mediate claimed his first PGA Tour title since 2002 with a one-stroke victory over Alex Prugh and Bo Van Pelt in the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club.

Rocco Mediate
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Forty-seven-year-old Rocco Mediate claimed his first PGA Tour title since 2002 with a one-stroke victory over Alex Prugh and Bo Van Pelt in the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club.

Mediate took a three shot lead into the final round but, through steady rain on Sunday, his advantage was slowly eroded. After 13 holes the veteran was five-over-par on the day and, after 15 holes, had lost his lead.

But he rallied as the sun attempted to poke its head through the clouds. On the par-3 16th he made a crucial birdie then, on the 17th, he holed his second shot from 116 yards to regain the lead.

It was the fourth straight day that Mediate had holed a full shot for an eagle. On Thursday he aced the par-3 3rd, on Friday he holed from some 160 yards on the par-4 4th and, in the third round, he found the cup from 111 yards on the par-5 15th.

"I don't know how to explain it," Mediate said. "Over the past three weeks everything was coming along and I was playing better. Last week I was pretty solid all four rounds and this week went bonkers."

Mediate made a solid five-foot putt at the last for par to take the title and a two-year tour exemption.

"I have a job again," Mediate said. "I'd signed up for Tour School and that's where I was headed until about half an hour ago."

Alex Prugh and Bo Van Pelt ended the week in a tie for second while US Ryder Cup star Rickie Fowler fired a good final round of 69 to lift himself into fourth place.

Frys.com Open CordeValle Golf Club, California October 14-17, purse $5,000,000, par 71

1   Rocco Mediate (USA)   64   65   67   73   269   $900,000 T2   Alex Prugh (USA)      69   66   66   69   270   $440,000 T2   Bo Van Pelt (USA)   65   69   65   71   270   $440,000 4   Rickie Fowler (USA)   69   65   68   69   271   $240,000 5   Chris Tidland (USA)   70   65   68   69   272   $200,000 T6   Graham DeLaet (Can)   68   68   71   67   274   $146,071 T6   David Duval (USA)   68   65   71   70   274   $146,071 T6   Ryuji Imada (Jap)   65   67   69   73   274   $146,071 T6   Will MacKenzie (USA)   66   68   71   69   274   $146,071 T6   Kevin Stadler (USA)   71   67   67   69   274   $146,071 T6   Charles Warren (USA)   71   65   67   71   274   $146,071 T6   Tim Clark (RSA)      68   69   66   71   274   $146,071

Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
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?

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