Fairfax native finishes in tie for third; Love wins
In the last PGA Tour event of the year, Fairfax native Steve Marino was in position for his first victory. But tied for the lead with veteran Davis Love III with seven holes left, Marino faltered while Love thrived to win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
At Magnolia Golf Club, Love shot a 25-under 263 (66-69-64-64) to beat Tommy Gainey by a stroke and claim the 20th victory of his distinguished PGA Tour career.
Marino finished five strokes back at 268 (65-66-66-71), tying for third place and finishing the season with more than $2 million in earnings. Marino, 28, fell just short of finishing in the top 30 on the money list and gaining an automatic invitation to the 2009 Masters.
The W.T. Woodson and University of Virginia graduate was tied with Love at the turn Sunday and matched Love’s birdies at No. 10 and No. 11. But his round began to unravel at No. 13 with a duffed chip shot that led to a bogey. Two holes later Marino 3-putted from 60 feet for another bogey.
Love scrambled for pars on the final two holes Sunday, including a tough bunker shot to 3 feet on the 18th, to hold off a late charge from Gainey, who shot 30 on the back nine at Magnolia and closed with a 64.
Love’s victory gave him a lifetime exemption on the PGA Tour. Among active players, only Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have won more than 20 tour events.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
