Midland, TX (My Sportsbook) - Garrett Willis held off a hard-charging Chad Collins to win the WNB Golf Classic on Sunday, shooting a four-under 68 in the final round to win by one stroke.
Willis captured his second career Nationwide Tour win -- and first in four years -- at 20-under 268.
Even more important, perhaps, was the $94,500 Willis pocketed for first place. The check moved him to No. 6 on the money list and locked up his return to the PGA Tour, where he won in 2001.
The top 25 players on the year-end money list earn PGA Tour cards for next year.
"It's an almost surreal feeling. I was kind of expecting this grand explosion of emotion and I suppose that will come at some point," said Willis. "This is our job and what we set out to do each year."
Collins fired a 10-under 62 to climb from a tie for 30th place into solo second at 19-under 269, also clinching a PGA Tour card for next season. He earned $56,700 and moved to No. 9 on the money list with four events remaining.
He nearly rallied for his second win.
Teeing off almost three hours before Willis, Collins scorched the Midland course for 10 birdies in a flawless round. He was already nine-under par through 13 holes when Willis teed off.
When Collins two-putted for a closing par at the 18th, Willis was making birdie back at No. 4 to re-gain a share of the lead.
He wasn't surprised to be playing catch-up.
"I didn't think the biggest challenge would come from the final groups. I thought somebody would come from way behind us," Willis said. "Typically, guys go low early. There isn't any pressure and they can just fire away. Somebody always posts something low."
Willis bogeyed No.5 -- and he later bogeyed the 17th with a two-shot lead -- but in between he collected three birdies. And that was just enough to earn the win.
"I do watch the leaderboards, but I didn't see too many early on," said Willis. "I saw the one at No. 9 and knew Chad was in the house at 19 (under). I felt like if I just stayed patient I'd make a couple of birdies. I knew that if I could shoot one-under on the back I'd be fine."
Darron Stiles and Jin Park both shot rounds of six-under 66 to share third place at 17-under 271. Esteban Toledo (66) and Keoke Cotner (69) tied for fifth at 272.
