Sunday 26 March 2017 21:50, UK
Andrew Johnston's bid for a maiden PGA Tour title came up short at the Puerto Rico Open as DA Points produced a remarkable final round to claim a two-shot victory.
Fan favourite Johnston was just one stroke off the lead when he rolled in his fourth birdie putt of the day at the 10th, but "Beef" faltered down the stretch as bogeys at 13 and 17 took him out of contention.
Retief Goosen turned back the clock as he vaulted into the clubhouse lead on 18 under after closing with a flawless eight-under 64, but he had to settle for a share of second with Bryson DeChambeau and Bill Lunde as Points clinched his first win since 2013.
Points was one behind Chris Stroud overnight, but he raced into the outright lead as he birdied the opening five holes and looked likely to cruise to the finish line before his remarkable charge hit the buffers when he bogeyed two of the next three holes.
The 40-year-old journeyman slipped back into the pack with another dropped shot at the 10th, and he remained two off the pace until getting back on track with a birdie at 13.
Points followed that with further birdies at the 14th and 16th which lifted him back to the top of the leaderboard, and he made absolutely certain of his third career victory with his ninth birdie of the round at the last to cap a rollercoaster 66.
Two-time US Open champion Goosen propelled himself into the running with five birdies in six holes from the fifth, and he picked up further shots at 14 and 18 to set the clubhouse target.
The South African veteran was joined at 18 under by DeChambeau, who birdied three of the final five holes to return a 67, while Lunde birdied four of the first six holes but could not maintain his challenge as he played the remainder of his round in level par, salvaging a 68 with birdies at 13 and 17.
Sam Saunders, the grandson of late legend Arnold Palmer, fired a bogey-free 65 to finish three off the pace, while PGA Tour rookie Johnston was a further two shots adrift.
Johnston was two off the lead overnight following his faultless 66 on day three, and he continued to keep the mistakes off his card while making three birdies in five holes from the third.
Another putt dropped for birdie at the 10th, but the popular Englishman had the wind taken out of his sails with his mistake at the 13th, and his bogey at 17 dropped him into a tie for 10th place.
