MacKenzie, Estes pull away in third round of Reno-Tahoe Open

RENO, Nevada - Will MacKenzie's first birdie on the back nine came at just the right time.

MacKenzie led by as many as three shots during Sunday's final round of the $3 million Reno-Tahoe Open but needed to drop a 10-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to wrap up his first career PGA Tour title.

Entering Sunday's final round of the tied for the lead with Bob Estes, MacKenzie found himself in the same position on 18. Both players set up makable birdie putts with their approaches but Estes pulled the string on his birdie putt from 15 feet and settled for par.

MacKenzie then seized the opportunity, draining his putt to cap a 1-under-par 71 for a winning total of 20-under 268.

"It is just a wonderful experience," MacKenzie said. "I'm just really happy to have a home out here on the PGA Tour for the next two years for sure. Now you are freed up to play, hopefully win more tournaments."

Estes signed for an even-par 72 to finish at 19-under 268.

The win will go a long way toward making 2006 a memorable season for MacKenzie after a start that was anything but. He came into Reno having missed more cuts (11) than he had made (10) this season, with his best finish a 23rd at the BellSouth in April.

Now MacKenzie is adding the first prize of $540,000 to his career total which was $472,686 entering this week.

Tied for the lead with Estes entering the final round, MacKenzie birdied two of his first four holes while Estes stumbled out of the gate with a double-bogey at the first.

"I knew I might make some mental mistakes but you know it was great to make those early birdies," MacKenzie said. "I hit some good shots and felt like I was in real control of my ball early on."

Four years removed from his last tour victory, Estes entered the third round with a one-shot lead after setting the tournament's 36-hole scoring record. He was not nearly as sharp over the weekend on the Montreux Golf and Country Club course, playing the weekend in 4-under after a 15-under start through two rounds.

"I was patient and composed all day long I just still wasn't there with my golf swing," Estes said. "I'll be working on that and hopefully do better next time."

Trailing by three shots after 11, Estes put some pressure on MacKenzie with consecutive birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 to pull within one shot. After MacKenzie bogeyed 18, the two were tied once again heading to 18.

"Thank goodness we were playing in threesomes," MacKenzie said. "I wouldn't have gotten a good read from Bob Estes' line but John Cook gave me a fantastic read."

Joe Ogilvie made a run up the leaderboard Sunday after he absolutely torched the back nine and signed for a course record-tying 10-under 62. Ogilvie fired a 28 on the back nine, tied for the second lowest nine-hole score on tour this season.

Ogilvie birdied every hole on the back nine except the par-4 13th. He had 11 birdies and one bogey for his round to finish third at 18-under 270.

Daniel Chopra signed for a 69 to finish fourth at 17-under.

Two-time defending champion Vaughn Taylor was not entered, instead playing in the $7.5 million WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

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