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As it turned out, Lederer's prediction was right on the money.
The Phoenix-based professional shot the lowest score of anyone in the final round, carding a 5-under 66 and holding off a late surge from Clay Ogden to hold on for a two-shot victory Sunday at San Juan Country Club — his first win as a professional.
"It hasn't really sunk in," he said just before accepting the oversized winner's check. "As an aspiring professional golfer, this is a big step for me. It's my first professional victory of any consequence, and obviously, the money will be a great benefit to me as I continue along the path, hopefully to the PGA Tour."
Lederer took control of the tournament early in the round, recording an eagle on No. 1 en route to a 4-under par start through his first five holes of the day. Birdies on No. 12 and No. 14 brought his score to 16-under, but
Normally a prime opportunity for an eagle, especially for someone who hit the ball as far as Lederer did throughout the tournament, No. 15 almost became Lederer's undoing. He hit his drive into a sand trap to the right of the fairway, and found himself in a tough position. He managed to put his second shot back into the fairway, but his approach came up short of the rock wall protecting the front of the green, forcing him to take a drop and a penalty stroke for an unplayable lie. After finally reaching the putting surface on his fifth shot, Lederer two-putted for a double bogey, shaving his four-shot advantage over Ogden in half.
Any momentum Ogden may have gained was quickly quelled on No. 16, however, as Lederer's approach shot landed within four feet of the cup, setting up an easy birdie putt that helped seal the tournament.
"I thought I was going to be tested on the back nine when I ended up against that wall," Lederer said. "I thought it could be a disappointing day, but I just stuck to what I'd been doing all week — just trusting God. The last thing you want to do in that situation is get down on yourself. There were three holes to go and it was a close game, and I needed to hit some good shots coming down the stretch."
As Lederer accepted congratulations from the throng of spectators and fellow players surrounding the 18th green, Ogden couldn't help but to think back to some of his missed opportunities — especially on No. 15, where he had a chance to make a birdie but instead had to settle for a par.
"Jeremy got off to a really quick start and I got behind a little bit," said Ogden, who shot a final-round 68 to finish at 13-under for the tournament. "I felt like I hung in there pretty well, so I can't complain. I feel like I played pretty well today, but I let two pretty good birdie opportunities slip away on No. 14 and No. 15."
Lederer also withstood an early challenge from amateur Luke Tanner. Spurred on by a large group of spectators following his group with Chris O'Connor and Nathan Lashley, the Farmington High grad and Fort Lewis senior-to-be began his day with three consecutive birdies and was just one stroke behind Lederer at the beginning of the back nine, before double-bogeys on No. 12 and No. 14 derailed his championship hopes. Tanner finished tied for fourth with John Cook, five strokes behind Lederer and one behind Lashley, who took third.
"This was, by far, the best I've done in this tournament," said Tanner, whose score of 204 through three rounds was 25 strokes better than his effort in 2007. "Last year, I had a bad tournament. I've always struggled in this tournament, but this year, I'm more mature."
While Lederer and Ogden were tearing up the par-71 layout, the final grouping of Brian Kortan, Luke Symons and Nick Mason had its issues. Kortan, who was tied for the lead with Symons after the third round, struggled all day with difficult pin placements en route to a final-round 75, dropping him into ninth place. Mason managed a 3-over 74 to tie Kortan, while Symons, one of two amateurs to make it into Sunday's field along with Tanner, had a rough round as well, shooting a 73 to finish six strokes off Lederer's pace in sixth place.
"The course got the best of us today," Symons said. "Those greens were brutal, and the wind didn't help either."
Lederer had his way with the course all week. He surged into the lead on the first day of the tournament, firing a 65 on Thursday and following up that effort with a 68 on Friday. He trailed Kortan and Symons by one shot entering Sunday's final round, but by posting a score two strokes better than anyone else could muster on Sunday, he ensured the tournament would end the same way it began three days prior — with his name atop the leaderboard.
As the crowds left San Juan Country Club, Lederer already had his sights set on a repeat.
"Absolutely," he said of his prospects of returning to Farmington in 2009. "I'll be back. This is a very well-run tournament, and I enjoy coming here."
Darren Vaughan: dvaughan@daily-times.com
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