Alberta, Canada – Joe Panzeri carded a 2-under-par 70 on Friday to win the ATB Financial Classic by a pair of strokes.
Panzeri was ahead by three entering the final round, marking the second straight year he held the 54-hole lead at this event. A season ago, he squandered that lead and ended in third, but he delivered Friday, finishing 72 holes at 17-under-par 271 for his second PGA Tour Canada win.
"This year, I was trying to soak it in a little bit more and enjoy it," said Panzeri, who moved into third place on the tour's Order of Merit with the victory. "I enjoyed it a lot more coming down the stretch. I feel like I handled the pressure at the end pretty well."
Kevin Tucker and Kyle Stough carded matching 68s to end in a tie for second place at 15-under 273, alongside Chris Epperson, who shot 69 at Country Hills Golf Club's Talons Course.
Tony Finau (71) fired a 64 and jumped into a share of fifth with Canadian Beon Yeong Lee (66) at 14-under 274. Matt Marshall (67), Jon McLean (69), Nick Taylor (70), Lucas Lee (70) and Maxwell Scodro (70) tied for seventh at minus-13.
Panzeri opened with a bogey at No. 1, but rebounded with birdies at Nos. 2 and 7 to make the turn with the lead. He parred the 10th, but stumbled to consecutive bogeys from the 11th and fell into a five-way tie for the top spot.
Undaunted, the 27-year-old eagled the par-5 13th to regain a two-stroke advantage. He parred his next four holes, and was ahead by a shot over clubhouse leaders Tucker and Stough entering the par-4 18th.
There, Panzeri split the fairway, stuffed his approach within six feet and drained the birdie putt for a 2-stroke win.
NOTES: Panzeri's other PGA Tour Canada win on came at the 2011 Dakota Dunes Casino Open ... 2012 champion Michael Gligic played in the final group, but he shot 75 on Sunday and tied for 21st at 9-under ... This event was initially scheduled for June 20-23, but was postponed due to torrential rains and flooding in the Calgary area.