Wells Fargo: Mickelson lapses open door for Ernst

AMERICAN rookie Derek Ernst, who less then a year ago lost to Scottish amateur Graeme Robertson in the college version of the Ryder Cup, beat England’s David Lynn in a play- off to triumph in the Wells Fargo Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.

Derek Ernst, beaten by Scotlands Graeme Robertson in last years Palmer Cup, secures his victory at Quail Hollow. Picture: AP

Ernst birdied at the 18th in his final round at Quail Hollow to move to eight-under alongside Lynn, runner-up to Rory McIlroy in last year’s USPGA Championship, at the top of the leaderboard.

And the American took one hole to claim victory when the two went head-to-head in the play-off on the final hole.

Ernst hit the fairway with his approach, with his second landing on the green, some 15 feet from the hole.

It was in stark contrast to Lynn, whose second shot found the bunker, with his resulting chip flying across the green.

The damage was done with his second chip to eight feet from the hole.

Ernst’s birdie putt just evaded the hole, but the 22-year-old, whose previous best finish was a tie for 47th at last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, tapped in for the win

“This feeling is unbelievable right now,” said Ernst as he savoured his breakthrough success.

Ernst and Robertson, a Glenbervie member who is on the Stirling University team, locked horns in last year’s palmer Cup at Royal County Down.

They met in the last-day singles, with Robertson winning 2 and 1 to help Europe overcome a four-point deficit to win 13½-10½.

Phil Mickelson looked set to claim the title in North Carolina, but bogeys at 16 and 17 took him from one ahead to a shot behind before he missed a 19-footer for the birdie which would have taken him into the play-off.

Nick Watney was joint leader with Mickelson heading into the final day at eight under but a four-over 76 ended his challenge.

Rory McIlroy, who was in contention at the turn, faded in the back nine with a double bogey at the par four 12th starting a decline which saw him finish one over for the round and four shots behind Ernst and Lynn.

Lee Westwood came close but dropped shots at three, 12, 13 and 17 to undo all his good work following birdies at the first, fifth, 10th and 14th.

The win came in Ernst’s eighth start as a PGA Tour member. The Californian’s previous best finish was a tie for 47th at last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Ernst, who is the fourth first-time winner in the last six tournaments at Quail Hollow, won just over $1.2 million and, most important to him, was the two-year exemption that comes with winning.

Robert Karlsson, the Swede who now lives in Charlotte, needed a birdie on the last hole to get into the play-off but made bogey for a 72. That left him in a tie for fourth with Westwood.