Saucier, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - David Frost carded a 4-under 68 in Sunday's final round and rallied to win the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic by one stroke.
Frost finished his sixth Champions Tour win at 10-under-par 206. He won despite a penalty on the 17th hole. He dropped his golf ball on his ball mark, which in turn moved, thus causing the penalty.
"Obviously every victory that you do accomplish out here does hold a special place, I don't care who you are. I was in contention quite a few times in the six years I've played here, but you never know when you're really going to pull it off," Frost said. "The competition's very tough, the elements are tough. This week in particular the wind was very gusty."
Second-round leader Kevin Sutherland managed an even-par 72 at Fallen Oak Golf Club. He dipped into a tie for second at minus-9. Tom Lehman shot 2-under 70 to join Sutherland in second place.
Joe Durant carded a 3-under 69 and ended alone in fourth at 8-under-par 208. Woody Austin and Colin Montgomerie both closed with 70s and shared fifth place at 7-under-par 209.
Sutherland was in control through the opening nine. He parred the first four holes before converting a 13-foot birdie chance on the par-4 fifth. He stuffed his approach at the seventh inside two feet and kicked that in for birdie.
After a pair of pars, Sutherland made the turn at 11-under, where he led by two. Things quickly changed on the back nine. He stumbled to a bogey at the 10th. Another bogey at the 12th dropped Sutherland into a tie for the lead with Frost.
Frost poured in a long birdie putt at the 11th and inched within one of Frost with a birdie at the 12th. After Sutherland's bogey at 12, Frost grabbed the lead with a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 13.
The 55-year-old pushed his lead to two with a birdie on the 15th. After hitting the green with his tee shot at the par-3 17th, Frost marked his ball, but as he picked it up, he dropped the ball on his marker and the coin moved. That was 1-stroke penalty.
Frost then 2-putted for bogey to trim his lead to one. He parred the last, then headed to the range to stay loose as the final group finished.
"I have no idea what happened on the back nine today, but I know I made a few birdies and, you know, it was just a very special victory for me," Frost said.
Lehman, who ran off three birdies in a row from the fourth to move to minus-9, had parred 11 consecutive holes from the seventh. At the last, he dropped his approach five feet from the hole. However, Lehman's birdie putt slid by the right edge and that win was Frost's.
Sutherland dropped another shot at 14, then birdied the last to share second with Lehman.
NOTES: Frost earned $240,000 for the win ... His last title came at the 2013 Regions Tradition ... Last year's winner Jeff Maggert closed with a 70 and finished in 14th place at 3-under 213 ... The tour heads to Georgia next week for the Greater Gwinnett Championship, where Miguel Angel Jimenez won in his tour debut last year.
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