Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain defeated New Zealand’s Steven Alker on the second playoff hole Saturday to win the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
Angel Jimenez earned the win when Alker bogeyed the second playoff hole at No. 18.
“It’s a nice way to start a season,” Angel Jimenez said. “It’s nice to be here winning again in Hualalai. It’s my third time, the last time in a playoff two years ago and now again. It’s nice to start the season with a victory.”
Angel Jimenez and Alker both shot final-round 66s to vault their way to the top of the leaderboard, setting up their playoff. Neither was among the leaders after 36 holes.
Alker missed his birdie putt on the first playoff hole that would have given him the victory.
“I thought I hit a pretty good putt, just maybe a little bit of grain there and it just went left on me,” Alker said. “It was definitely inside the putt — inside the hole putt.
Alker misplayed a bunker shot on the second playoff hole that led to the bogey, his only one of the day. He played bogey-free golf during regulation, carding six birdies.
Second-rounder co-leaders Stephen Ames and Vijay Singh finished tied for third with matching 68s. David Toms shot 66 to finish alone in fifth. Ernie Els, also a co-leader after two rounds, shot 70 to finish tied for sixth.
Angel Jimenez went 67-66-66 for the tournament to earn the $340,000 first-place prize. Alker earned $200,000.
–Field Level Media