San Jacinto, CA – Ted Potter, Jr. birdied the second playoff hole to outlast Andres Gonzales and Miguel Angel Carballo and win the Soboba Golf Classic.
Potter, who birdied the 72nd hole to get into the playoff with Gonzales and Carballo, birdied both playoff holes -- which were played at the par-five 18th. Carballo was eliminated after parring the first, and Gonzales parred the second.
It's the second win of the year and career for Potter, who also won the season-opening South Georgia Classic. He shot a five-under 66 on Sunday to finish at 14-under 270.
Potter now joins Mathew Goggin and J.J. Killeen among the two-time winners on tour this year. Three wins would earn Potter an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour.
Gonzales needed a seven-under 64, while Carballo shot a six-under 65 to get into the playoff.
Third-round leader Jonas Blixt held the lead with five holes to play, but stumbled to a bogey at the 14th and a double-bogey at the 15th. He birdied the last, but it wasn't enough, finishing with a one-under 70 on Sunday and at 12- under 272 overall.
Jarrod Lyle (67) shared fourth with Blixt.
All three playoff participants needed a birdie on the last to make it, and Gonzales and Carballo needed a birdie on the 17th, as well. But when push came to shove, it was Potter that performed in the most crucial moments.
Potter hit the fairway on the 18th both times off the tee and both times hit his ensuing shot onto the green. Gonzales nearly played his way out on the first playoff hole by hitting into the intermediate rough, but managed to make birdie anyway.
Carballo, who was on the fairway off the tee, managed only a par. When Gonzales hit his second into a bunker on the second playoff hole, it helped Potter's second two-putt birdie in as many holes stand up.
Potter never held sole possession of the lead until emerging from the playoff victorious. It was a combination of Gonzales and Blixt nearly the entire afternoon.
Blixt had been looking for his first professional victory after finishing runner-up twice and third another time in his five previous events. He was right on the cusp, but the late collapse cost him the win.
John Mallinger (67), Luke List (68), Tim Wilkinson (69) and Matt Every (69) shared sixth at 11-under 273. Killeen (69), who once again failed to notch his third victory, finished 10th at 11-under.
NOTES: Goggin (68) finished tied for 21st at six-under 278...Carballo and Gonzales were both seeking their second professional wins as well...Potter will have his first crack at three wins next week when the Nationwide Tour heads to Midland, Texas for the WNB Golf Classic, which was won last year by Nate Smith.
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