Soboba Golf Classic Moves to Spring 2012

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Ted Potter Jr. wins the
2011 Soboba Golf Classic

Ted Potter Jr., who had three excellent eagle putt chances on the 18th hole to win the PGA Nationwide Soboba Golf Classic on Sunday in a three-way playoff, managed to make a birdie every time.

But that was enough to withstand Andres Gonzales and Miguel Angel Carballo in a sudden death playoff at The Country Club at Soboba Springs.

Potter, a southpaw from Silver Springs, Fla., copped the top prize with birdies on the 18th hole three times within an hour.

                                                  Rodrigo Peña / Freelance Photographer
Ted Potter Jr. hits off the tee on the ninth hole during the Soboba Golf Classic at The Country Club at Soboba Springs on Sunday.

Gonzales' final round 64 lifted him into the playoff for a shot at the $135,000 first prize at the Country Club at Soboba Springs while Carballo, the second round leader, shot 65 on the final day.

Carballo was the first to exit the playoff when he parred the first extra hole. Potter and Gonzales made birdies to continue the trek back to the 18th tee.

"The first three rounds," said Potter, who shot a final round 66, "I had an eagle each day."

Though he didn't eagle on Sunday, he mastered the 18th hole, blistering drives that played from the center of the fairway, leaving him with two cut 7-iron shots and another with an 8-iron. In each instance, Potter's approach shots were sent to the right of the pin which left him with eagle putts.

"I played with Ted yesterday and today," said Gonzales, "and he played unbelievable. He deserved to win."

Gonzales, whose second shot was just short of the green, came up inches short of an eagle on a touchy chip on the first extra hole. Said Gonzales: "It wasn't going to get (to the hole)."

Potter two-putted for birdie, which sent the two golfers back to the 18th tee for a third time.

After an errant drive, Gonzales' approach shot found the back right bunker while Potter was again safely within eagle range. But the Olympia, Wash., golfer gave himself a shot at birdie, blasting a 60-foot sand wedge to within 10 feet.

"I didn't want to leave it on top of the ridge (on the green)," said Gonzales, staring at Potter's ball mark that was a foot away from the cup after his first putt, leaving him with a short tap for birdie to win.

Third round leader Jonas Blixt eagled the sixth hole and rose to 14-under before a bogey and double bogey at the 14th and 15th holes proved disastrous. He wound up tied for fourth place with Jarrod Lyle at 272.

Potter, who has won twice this season (South Georgia Classic in May), is one PGA Nationwide victory away from a "battlefield promotion" to next year's PGA Tour with five events remaining in 2011.

He's now third on the Nationwide money list ($362,934) , a top 25 finish also netting him a spot on next year's Tour.