LOS CABOS, Mexico (AP) 鈥� Austin Eckroat won the World Wide Technology Championship on Sunday for his second PGA Tour title of the year, shooting a 9-under 63 for a one-stroke victory over Justin Lower and Carson Young.
Playing in the group ahead of Lower and Young, Eckroat birdied the par-4 17th to open a three-stroke lead over Young, then finished with a bogey on the par-5 18th at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante.
Eckroat locked up spot in the top 50 in the FedExCup Fall standings.
鈥淚 think it kind of validates the season that I had, just a great way to cap off and end the year,鈥� Eckroat said. 鈥淚t was really special to do it at an event where the title sponsor, I鈥檓 an ambassador of their company. A cool week.鈥�
Needing an eagle to force a playoff, Young birdied the 18th for a 65.
鈥淚 hit a bunch of good iron shots, especially on the back nine,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚 shot 7 under, so I played good, I can鈥檛 be too mad about it.鈥�
Lower closed with an eagle for a 65.
鈥淚 played well,鈥� Lower said. 鈥淚 said yesterday I had to shoot probably somewhere between 5 and 9 again just to have a chance. Shot 7 and came up one short.鈥�
Eckroat finished at 24-under 264. The 25-year-old former Oklahoma State player won the Cognizant Classic in March at PGA National for his first PGA Tour title.
On Sunday, he didn't have a par until the seventh hole, opening with five birdies and a bogey. He added a birdie on No. 8 and birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably some of the best golf I鈥檝e ever played, just from the start putts were going in,鈥� Eckroat said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, it was automatic out there today, I guess, is how you could call it. It鈥檚 crazy I only won by one shooting 9-under par today from one back. Obviously, everybody was playing well, it was a good battle.鈥�
Max Greyserman was fourth at 22 under after a 65. Joe Highsmith had a 68 to finish fifth at 19 under.
___
AP golf:
The Associated Press
