Hadwin masters field at Valspar

WIN OVER CANTLAY

DOUG FERGUSON PALM HARBOR, FLA. • Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. only wanted a chance to win on the final hole Sunday at the Valspar Championship. He could have done without the selfinflicted drama.

Hadwin lost a two-shot lead with one swing on the 16th hole when his tee shot sailed into the water and led to double bogey. The 29-year-old kept his wits and closed with two pars, the final one good enough for a one-shot victory over Patrick Cantlay.

The victory sends him to Augusta National and the Masters for the first time, even if it means altering a honeymoon trip to Tahiti.

Hadwin is getting married March 24.

“I just wanted a chance to win coming up the last, and I had that chance,” Hadwin said.

Hadwin closed with an even-par 71, and it was hard work to the end. Tied for the lead, and with Cantlay having come up short into a bunker, Hadwin went just over the back of the green against the collar of the fringe. He used the leading edge of a sand wedge to send it down the slope to within two feet from the cup.

Meanwhile, Cantlay came out well short of the bunker, and missed his 15-foot par putt, setting the stage for Hadwin’s tap-in winner. Cantlay finished with 68.

David Hearn (70) of Brantford, Ont., tied for 18th at 4 under, Graham DeLaet (67) of Weyburn, Sask., finished 22nd at 3 under and Nick Taylor (74) of Abbotsford was 62nd at 5 over.

Hadwin is the third Canadian to qualify for the Masters, joining RSM Classic winner Mackenzie Hughes and 2003 champion Mike Weir.

Hadwin finished at 14-under 270 after a duel that featured big putts along the back nine of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.

The Canadian had a fourshot lead with 10 holes to play when Cantlay started to apply enormous pressure with an approach into three feet at No. 9 and a 15-foot birdie putt to start the back nine. Cantlay had 7 feet for a third straight birdie on the par-5 11th when Hadwin holed a birdie putt from 25 feet to keep a two-shot lead.

The big blow appeared to come at the par-3 13th, where Cantlay hit a 7-iron at the flag and came up about 8 feet short.

Hadwin played it safe out to the fat of the green, and his 55-foot putt swirled into the cup to keep the lead at two shots when Cantlay made his birdie

Cantlay made his fifth birdie in six holes with a 20-footer on the par-5 14th, only to fall two behind again with another poor bunker shot on the 15th.

Cantlay was only 1 of 6 in sand saves for the week.

That’s when Hadwin let him back into the mix one last time.