Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - J.B. Holmes scrambled for a bogey on the final hole of regulation on Sunday, but it was enough to give him a 1-stroke win at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Holmes, who won for the third time on the PGA Tour, shot 71 in the final round and ended at 14-under-par 274.
"It's just been a long journey for me. I've had some ups and downs, so it's a great feeling to be out here and get one done. I'm happy the way the year's going so far," said Holmes, who has had three surgeries since his last victory in 2008.
Jim Furyk, the 2006 winner, finished nearly two hours ahead of Holmes, but watched from the locker room to see if there would be a playoff. It was not to be however. Furyk fired a 7-under 65, the low round of the day, to take second place at minus-13.
Martin Flores managed a 72 in the final round. He took third at 12-under 276. Jason Bohn (70) was one stroke back at minus-11. Reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose shot a 71 for the second straight day to end alone in fifth at 10- under-par 278.
Brendon de Jonge shot 80 on Thursday, but came back with three straight rounds in the 60s, including a closing 69, to gain a share of sixth at minus-9. He was joined there by Kevin Kisner (73).
Rory Sabbatini (67), 2010 champion Rory McIlroy (70) and Roberto Castro (70) tied for eighth at 8-under 280.
Phil Mickelson struggled to a 4-over 76 to slide into a share of 11th at minus-7. He cost himself his first top-10 finish of the season.
Holmes fell back into a share of the lead after stumbling to a bogey on the par-3 second. He reeled off five straight pars and was back in the lead as Flores bogeyed the third and fourth to fall off the pace.
At the eighth, Holmes rolled in a 5-footer for birdie to move to 13-under. Furyk joined him there when he chipped in for eagle on the 15th.
However, Holmes regained the lead with a short birdie putt on the 10th and he made it two in a row with a 33-foot birdie effort at No. 11. He stretched his lead to three shots with a birdie on the 15th.
The tough closing stretch loomed for Holmes, and he nearly gave it all back. He missed the green at the 16th and chipped to 10 feet, but failed to make the par putt.
That trimmed his lead to two. Holmes made par on the par-3 17th, but drove into the trees on No. 18. His second remained in the rough, then he chipped to 45 feet.
Furyk, who had started packing his bags, stopped what he was doing to watch what Holmes would do.
After his poor chip shot, Holmes managed to 2-putt for bogey and the win.
"Nobody is real comfortable on those last three holes. You can definitely have some disasters there," Holmes said. "I felt good going all day. I played well and hit the driver good all day. It was a good day for me."
Furyk had three birdies between the fifth and ninth to make the turn at minus-9. He posted back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 before his chip-in eagle at 15.
That burst gave him a share of the lead, but Furyk parred the final three holes to end one back.
"I felt good about it. Not really any mistakes. I put the ball in play a lot, hit a lot of greens, but I wish I could have gotten one more down the stretch," Furyk said. "I had a 3-putt back on 10 that ends up being a thorn in my side, but it was a really good finish. It was nice to be in contention again."
NOTES: Holmes collected $1.242 million for the victory ... Holmes earned a spot in the field at the Players Championship with the win ... Last year's winner Derek Ernst stumbled to a 74 in the final round and fell into a tie for 30th at 3-under 285 ... The tour heads back to Florida next week for the Players Championship, which will be missing its reigning champion Tiger Woods, who continues to recover from back surgery.
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